North squad enjoys two top results

NORTHUMBERLAND’S senior side sits at the top of Senior County Championship Division Two after victories over Cumbria (11-0) and Lanarkshire (6-5).

With Philip Pahatouridis, Lucy Dixon and Eleanor Laws all returning to the squad, North’s hopes were high.

Pahatouridis started slowly against Cumbria, dropping his opening set before taking the next two.

The other singles were all taken in straight sets - including a good win for Catherine Thomas over Northumberland Bronze winner Emma Gillespie 21-19, 21-18.

Garrylee McMullen and Pahatouridis, fresh from making the final of the Northumberland Gold, took the top-string doubles comfortably to clinch the match and, after sharing two 21-19 sets, Ryan Jelley and Eddie Burgess took their decider 21-16 to take North’s points tally to seven.

Shu En Lee and Vivian Tan took their doubles in two and Thomas and Eleanor Laws came back well from a set down to claim sets two and three 19 and 18.

The mixed proved equally comfortable, Jelly and Dixon (left) and Pahatouridis and Laws both straight-sets winners to complete the whitewash.

Against Lanarkshire, Pahatouridis took his opening set 21-17 and the second 21-10.

McMullen was embroiled in a three setter with Scottish junior international Jack MacGregor but he eventually emerged victorious 21-18 in the third.

The ladies’ singles produced the rarity of a defeat for Shu En Lee against current Scottish No. 2 Holly Newall.

An excellent three-set win from Dixon at second string saw North keep their noses ahead at 3-2 going into the doubles.

McMullen and Pahatouridis then took the top doubles against MacGregor and Keith Turnbull.

Thomas and Laws shared two sets to 19 before establishing control to clinch their decider 21-10 and keep North’s noses in front at 5-4.

Jelley and Dixon took the topstring mixed in two sets and McMullen and Tan went close, just being edged out 21-18.