Division One title contenders settle for a share of the spoils

It was clash of the titans in the Sunderland and District League Division One, as two of the prime title contenders, Brandon Air and Thompsons slugged it out.

The very first match of the night gave a foretaste of the arduous battle ahead when Geoff Salter and John Williamson exchanged ends that included 119 and 18-20 margins.

Eventually, Salter edged the marathon contest, 13-11 in the decider.

New Air signing Jevon Chan then scored an impressive debut win over Martin Schapira, his effective serving instrumental in a four-end victory.

Andrew Wilkinson led Thompsons’ fightback, recording a hat-trick despite dropping an end to Chan.

When Jamie Lupton notched a set, defeating Williamson 15-13 in the fourth end, Brandon had nosed in front, 5-4.

The scene was set for the crucial final match, and Salter mounted a spirited comeback from 2-0 down against Schapira, drawing level with two 11-9 ends.

However, Schapira regrouped and employed his forehand loop in consistent fashion. Allied with some sterling retrieving, Schapira secured the fifth end 11-6 to bring the curtain down on a hardfought draw.

Elsewhere, a Richard Wilson treble helped Unionist Club A to a 7-3 success over Brandon Bullets, and there were big wins for Backspin A and St Chads.

Durham City Bombers are in the throes of a winning streak in Division Two, confirming their promotion-chasing credentials.

Their latest success came at West CA C, where Jeff McKenna’s performance proved pivotal. Michael Hepworth’s strategy sent their encounter into a deciding end, but McKenna solved the riddles being set by Hepworth’s defensive web to prevail 11-2.

Ian McPherson also grabbed three sets, but was pushed to 11-7 in the fifth by Jason Gargett.

Alan Whitwham, Gargett, and Hepworth all registered consolation sets against an outof-sorts Nigel Tree but Bombers recorded a 7-3 win.

At Silksworth IM, Alan Bickle motored into top form as he accounted for the West B opposition in convincing manner.

For the visitors, Dave Barber and Mike Lyons out-pointed Howard Brown and Dave Craddock, but Craddock recovered to score two sets, including beating Barber in straight ends.

The final contest saw Lyons roar into a 2-0 lead against Brown, but Brown’s consistently tenacious returns ground down his opponent who eventually succumbed, 11-8 in the fifth; Silksworth triumphing 7-3.

It was a closer affair when East Boldon Bandits met Brandon Crusaders.

The game between Sophie Richardson and Alan Perry seesawed until Richardson took the decider, 11-8.

Crusaders’ Brian Childs came from behind to overtake Ryan Campbell 11-9 at the death, and was also extended to a fifth end by Richardson.

Childs had no answer against Istvan Franko, but Bandits trailed 5-3 before Campbell overcame Perry and Franko proved his anchor-man status by out-muscling Paul Dale 11-9 at the end of five competitive ends to complete a maximum and earn a share of the spoils for his team.