Bombers suffer set-Back but remain on course for the title

Durham City Bombers were held to a draw by Backspin B as teams returned to table tennis action in the Sunderland & District League.

The home team’s Alan Livingstone defeated Daniel Hutchinson 11-8 in the fifth end to preserve an unbeaten record.

John Cook overcame Ian McPherson in four ends, and Alex Nicholl beat the same opponent by the slimmest of margins, 14-12, in another tense decider.

Lee Maher broke the hosts’ monopoly of last-gasp wins when he came through 1412 against Cook and, despite being held, Bombers remain firmly on course to finish top of Division Two.

At the other end, there were welcome victories for West CA C and St Gabriel’s C.

West won the ‘derby’ against the B outfit thanks to a captain’s innings from Alan Whitwham. His treble swung the contest 6-4 in C team’s favour.

St Gabriel’s C players shared the load against Brandon Crusaders as David Revell, Stephen and Geoff Young notched two apiece.

Pivotal sets saw Geoff Young come through a gargantuan battle against Joe Childs, 21-19 in the fifth. Young also paired up with Revell as they grabbed the doubles contest 11-8, Gabriel’s winning 7-3 overall.

There were also five-enders at Silksworth IM where the home team beat Redby CA 6-4. The doubles match produced the closest as Howard Brown and David Craddock edged past Ken Tweedy and Amanda Paxton 14-12.

Elsewhere, Unionist Club B were held to a draw by St Gabriel’s D.

Although Richard Karczewski took man-of-the match honours, there was a fine double salvo from Gabriel’s recent signing Howard McCain, which included an impressive dismantling of the experienced Dave Bannon.

Brandon Devils maintained their grip on the Division Three scene with an 8-2 triumph over Backspin C. This match featured a maximum from John Spencer who was well supported by John Foster (2) and Edward Nicholson (2).

Debbie Irwin provided the twin consolation for the visitors.

It was a closer affair at Brandon Fire where Henderson Leisure posted a 6-4 victory.

Paul Henderson and Ted Stephenson scored two apiece with Billy Raine chipping in a set.

Battling Brandon’s show featured a Christopher Leishman hat-trick achieved with last-end victories over Stephenson and Henderson, 11-7 and 12-10.

Anthony Merton-Smith also reduced the arrears, taking the fifth end against Raine, but was defeated in another decider by Stephenson, 13-11.

Another tight encounter was played out between Durham City Scorpions and East Boldon Cowboys.

Will McCallum hit a maximum for the Cowboys, with Colin Byers adding two.

The Scorpions bit back with sets from Paul Salkeld, Harry Veitch (2), and Oliver Wilkinson.

Elsewhere, Brandon Energy defeated St Gabriel’s E 7-3 thanks to Colin Pritchard, Neil Richards and Peter Gregory. Gabriel’s Joe Miller staved off the Energy’s force, completing his consolatory haul when he took the final set against Pritchard, 11-6.