MAINTAINING their great start to the season, Hexham moved up to second spot in Division Two.

A hard-fought 3-2 victory over fellow promotion contenders Primrose, of Jarrow, made it five wins from their opening six fixtures, seeing them keep the pressure on at the top.

They went into the game on the back of a similarly slender 3-2 win over Chester-le-Street, with Paul Satow and Damon Watts repeating their sterling efforts the previous week with convincing wins.

Recovering from injury, Watts dazzled his opponent with his latest luminous orange Nikes, while Satow stuck to his tried and tested drop volleys.

Adrian Alderton sealed the win with controlled performance against the hard-hitting Derek Allan.

In a contrast of styles, Alderton managed to get his short game working to earn a 3-1 victory.

Stalwart Andrew Wilkinson is still looking for his top form as he went down 3-1, while team captain Tom Ewen put up a captivating battle with experienced Tony Hockey with his rival edging it 3-2 as the game, featuring excellent rallies, swung back and forth.

Hexham II have been unable to add to victories over Consett II and Northern V earlier in the season as they prop up the rest of Division Four.

They fell to successive 4-1 defeats to Sunderland III and Boldon with Joe Anderson and Jon Steward securing the respective games, with Steward and Guy Jepson winning their match-ups in the 3-2 defeat to Scotezzi.

Hexham III have tasted success three times from their opening seven games in Division Seven as they occupy a midtable spot.

Anderson recorded a consolation in the 4-1 loss to Northumberland VI last time out, but they were on form to thump Consett V 5-0 the week before with Anderson, Paul Edmonds, Kristen McCluskie, Jim Chambers and Dave Robson all winning their encounters.