The only way is up for North table-toppers
THE Northumberland county team of Chun Yin Yu, Andy Wilkinson, Graeme Barella, Christine Burke and Lynsey Storey gained promotion from Division 2A of the County Championships with a great unbeaten performance at Draycott.
Newcastle University student Chun and Barella both won 11 of their 12 sets.
They were ably backed up by the rest of the team, who all contributed to their success.
North started off on Saturday with an 8-2 win over South Yorkshire, followed by a 7-3 success against Staffordshire - but were then held to a draw by Cambridgeshire.
On day two they drew with a very strong Worcestershire side, beat Hertfordshire 6-4 and clinched promotion with a 7-3 victory over Warwickshire Seconds.
Chun and Wilkinson had been in direct opposition two days earlier when the Chinese player came out on top and helped North East Chinese Association to a 7-3 victory over Cramlington Casuals.
That result means the Chinese club are now favourites to win the Premier Division of the Northumbria League this season. ■■THE Northumbria League team of Sree Kanakala, Israel Shodeinde and Jack Cairns did well in the National Junior League North East Division.
They defeated Darlington 6-3, Ormesby 6-3 and Darlington B 9-0.
However, they lost 8-1 to a very strong Swerve side and finished the first weekend in second spot. ■■THE Northumbria League Handicap Cup competition produced several close matches in the second round.
Ouston B team of David Byers, Kevin Richardson and Tom Fowle defeated Cramlington Spartans after being 4-1 down.
Two sets each for Bob Sanderson and Tom Manuel helped Tyneside C to overcome Matfen Tribunes by the same score, Nigel Tree with two wins for the beaten side.
Ten-year-old Jessica Yang was in tremendous form for Cramlington Magpies, seeing off two 13-year-old boys Alan Roskilly and Ojas Aggarwal as well as Roskilly’s father - all off scratch.
Veteran Aubrey Drapkin also accunted for the two boys to put the Magpies into round three.