North’s star Alam just cannot lose

NORTHUMBERLAND’S senior team registered a win and a defeat on the first weekend of the Senior County Championship Division Two.

They lost 7-4 to Lothian but then bounced back to overcome Yorkshire Fourths by the same scoreline.

The day, however, belonged to Ashraf Alam - promoted from the second team on the back of an unbeaten season - who did not lose a set all day.

Garrylee McMullen got North on the scoreboard against Lothian but Philip Pahatouridis went down to the experienced Stewart Ferns in three sets to level it up.Alam (left) then saw off Keith Campbell in two sets but the ladies found the Scots too strong and North trailed 3-2 going into the doubles.

Alam and Pahatouridis took the top string game in two sets, closely followed by McMullen and Richie Eaton, to restore North’s lead at 4-3.

Lothian’s ladies were to prove too strong, though, as the Scottish side ran out winners.

Against Yorkshire, both Pahatouridis and McMullen started well, taking their opening sets.

Back came Yorkshire, though, to level both games before McMullen (left) ran away with his third set 21-8 and Pahatorudis re-established control to take his decider to 15.

Alam soon backed that up by taking the third-string game before both ladies claimed their opening sets, Emily Harrison against sometime doubles partner Abby Downing.

Again Yorkshire fought back to level at one set all, Catherine Thomas being unlucky to go down 23-21 after a dispute over the score.

Harrison could not get ahead, though, in her decider - but Thomas was not to be denied and secured her deciding set 21-15 in determined fashion.

It was 4-1 to North and, with the men maintaining their good form from the morning - both pairs prevailing in two sets - the match was sealed at 6-1.

Harrison and Martin-Brand made that 7-1 with the minimum of fuss but Laws and Thomas went down in three sets, having taken their opener 24-22.

Eaton and Laws took their opening set in the mixed and came close, only going down 21-19 in the second - but that was to be it for North as they clinched their first win of the season.