CONSECUTIVE victories by the narrowest of margins has kept Newton C in the race for promotion from Division Four in the Northumbria Table Tennis League.

The Tyne Valley side followed up a 6-4 triumph on their travels to Cramlington Ravens with a win by the same scoreline at home to Ouston.

To secure the points against Cramlington, Julian Manuel won all three games and David Neal two with the two combining to clinch the doubles.

Wynford Thompson ended with maximum points in the match-up with Ouston, with Manuel winning two of his games with the two securing the extra point with the wins in the double.

Riding Mill A edged out Matfen A 6-4 in Division One as their two players of Peter Stempczyk and Mark O'Connor were on top form by boasting 100 per cent records.

Philip Rainford and Chris Kilby won the doubles match-up for Matfen who were awarded wins for Rainford, Kilsby and Neil Forsyth due to Mill forfeiting a third player.

Riding Mill B enjoyed contrasting fortunes, beating North Fire A 7-3 after going down to the same score at Old England Jacks.

Securing the points against North, Maurice Cheek won three, Shirley Gelder two and Edward Coxon one with Cheek and Gelder winning their doubles.

They only had two players for the trip to Old England, otherwise known as Great Lumley, in Durham, with Gelder and Cheek both winning one singles game and then their double.

Cramlington Swifts provided tough opposition for both Matfen B and Matfen C in Division Two, holding both to 5-5 draws.

The B team earned the points courtesy of two wins from Alex Holliday and singles from John Henderson and Swan, Holliday and Swan securing the extra point.

It followed the C team‘s stalemate with Nigel Tree scoring two points, with Stephen Oxley and Keith Hodges getting one apiece. The doubles was won by Hodges and Tree.

The encounter started a busy run of games for Matfen C, who quickly followed it up with a 6-4 win over Cramlington Trojans then a 6-4 loss to NE Chinese Association C.

Oxley and Hodges secured two points and then the double to help them to victory over Cramlington, Tree earning the other point.

But they were to fall short against the Chinese Association, Hodges again with two singles wins and Oxley and Tree with one apiece.

Two wins each from Anthony Ainley and John Russell was not enough for Newton A as they lost narrowly to NE Chinese Association A in the Premier Division.

Mark Perrin travelled to Cramlington Dragons alone to try to slay his opponents, and he came away with two points from a possible three for Matfen D in the 8-2 reversal in Division Three.