Premier Division
Teams from Cramlington Table Tennis Club now have a chance to occupy the top two places at the end of the season. The Reivers team of Dale Aitkenhead, Gary Sangster and Ellis Cooper backed up by Geoff Salter and Mark Christie are currently the leaders by four points but they have only two matches left to play. The Casuals squad of Andrew Wilkinson, Barry Richardson, Steve Penman and the Barella brothers, Graeme and Anthony are lying second but have two matches in hand and are the favourites to take the title. Third placed NESLC Eagles also have two matches in hand and their team of Jim Stamas, Richard Wilson and Rob Reed are still in contention.
At the other end of the table Riding Mill A and Cramlington Tigers are virtually doomed to relegation.
Division One
Newton A team of Anthony Ainley,John Russell and Graeme Bell have already guaranteed a swift return to the top flight and look like going through the season unbeaten. Seaburn Dene, who also came down from the Premier Division last season should also go straight back up. Chris Dixon, Rod Roberts and Ken Bowman are in second place, five points ahead of Mortimer’s squad of David Cutler, Micky Grimes, Dave Bannon and Dick Karczewski and have a game in hand.
North Fire A have struggled to get a full team out all season and are favourites to be relegated along with Cramlington Cobras.
Division Two
Mick Hope, Alan Livingstone, Caron Guthrie, Robert Renton and Charlie Mouzon have all helped to put Springwell B at the top of the division, having gone through the season unbeaten and it is now highly unlikely that anyone will catch them. Second place is still up for grabs with YMCA North Tyneside B (Jim Robertson, John Carr, John Fisher and Don Catley) ,Ouston A team of Mark Rodgers, Neil Rodgers and Mike Lyons and the Birtley squad, Mike Bradley, Bill Edwards, John Rowell, Bob Dodds and Eddie Kennedy all in with a chance.
It is now likely that Saints and Old England FATTS will be playing in the third division next time round.
Division Three
By playing highly rated Chun Yin Yu in this division the North East Chinese Association have ensured that they will be promoted from division three. Terry Kwong and Kit Robinson have both backed up the young University Student, who narrowly lost in the semi finals of the Northumberland Closed, and their side are now top of the table.
Matfen B team of Alex Holliday, Dave Swan, John Henderson and Philip Spencer are six points behind but do have a game in hand and either team could finish on top.
Cramlington Dragons are doomed to relegation and either NESLC Codgers or Sacrison Comets are likely to go down with them.
Division Four
The promotion places are already settled and the Brandon and Byshottles team which features two leading youngsters in Simon Knopf and Max Duffin should go up as champions along with the YMCA North Tyneside
team of veterans, Ramon Pini, Ron Bain and Gerry Meller.
Handicap Cup
This has reached the quarter final stage with only one Premier Division side, Byker A, left in and drawn away to Cramlington Spartans from the third division. Ouston A and Saints meet in an all second division clash, Third division Matfen C entertain fourth division YMCA N.Tyneside C and Newton B from the second division take on third division Cramlington Corinthians.
Aubrey Drapkin
March 19, 2015