Win edges Brandon Air closer to title

In race for Division One championship glory in the Sunderland & District Table Tennis League, Brandon Air came through a stiff test of their title credentials as they muscled past a strong opposing line-up at West CA.

The home team drafted in top player Anthony Barella, but the wheels came off their hopesinthefirstsetasAir’sJevonChandisposedofBarellain four ends.

Jamie Lupton contributed a double, with Bailey Pye gaining West another point when hethwartedthepreviouslyunbeaten Chan, 11-6 in the fifth.

No such problems for Brandon’s Jack Cope as he completed a hat-trick with a straight-game victory over Barella.

Their 8-2 triumph from a tough trip leaves Air eight pointsabovethechasingBackspin A.

Lower down, Durham City Aces defeated Brandon Bullets 7-3.

Despitethe7-3reverse,Bullets have established a healthy safety cushion between themselves and the bottom two relegation places.

The closest encounter in Division Two saw East Boldon Bandits and Brandon Crusaders share the spoils.

PaulDaleeventuallysawoff thechallengeofRyanCampbell in the final end, but Jeff Hope hauled Bandits level with a four-end win over Alan Perry.

SophieRichardsonaddeda double,impressivelydispatching Brian Childs 11-7 in successive ends but, after opening up a 2-0 advantage over Perry, stuttered before taking their fifth end 11-6.

Campbell appeared set to emulate his team-mate when he went 2-0 up against Childs, but the determined Crusader laid siege and was rewarded withanail-biting18-16success in the final end.

InDivisionThree,thepacesettingWestCADandDurham CityScorpionsbothpostedemphatic wins on their relentless surge towards achieving promotion.

Elsewhere, there was a tightly-contested affair between Durham City Magic and Brandon Fire.

The first match pitted Ross Clennell against John Parkin. After four ends, the score was lockedat2-2,withParkin’ssuccesses both being by the merest two-point margin.

Eventually, Parkin secured Fire the point by taking the deciding end 11-8.