Nunthorpe B vs. Tyne & Wear Cadets: Bruins made hard work of the first quarter closing the 50 point handicap by only six points.

Bruins applied a 3-2 pressing defence in the second quarter and began to dominate the game by forcing errors from the inexperienced Tyne & Wear girls.

Hermione Wappatt hit 23 first half points to make a major contribution to the 43-72 half time score.

In the third quarter Bruins held Tyne and Wear to only 6 points making the score after 30 minutes 68-78. Hermione Wappatt was again the main contributor assisted by Lisa Roughley and Jacki Tyerman.

The ten-point gap was closed after 4 minutes in the final quarter when the score reached 82 all. Bruins then relaxed a little and allowed Tyne & Wear to trade baskets giving a 9th minute score line of 89-87. The last score of the game was a three-pointer from Jacki Tyerman to seal the win for Bruins.

Bruins Hermione Wappatt 35, Jacki Tyerman 16, Lisa Roughley 15, Rebecca Blake 12 and Elizabeth Pate 12 Cadets Sarah Blackman 12 and Lauren Loader-Young 11

East Durham & Houghall Comm. Coll. Ladies Vs East Durham Academy Ladies

The home Houghall College team started with a 40 point lead as Judith English almost single headedly gave her East Durham Ladies the victory over their close rivals. As the game progressed it became evident that the forty point lead was not necessary as Judith English started quickly out of the blocks whilst East Durham Academy tried to gain back as much of the beginning deficit as possible as quickly as possible.

K. Dean was up for the task in hand with her opening quarter tally of nine points including a brace of 'trays'. Each of the eight Houghall Community College players added to the score board during the game, however none of them were able to add more than three points meaning that the main offensive duties would always land heavily on English's shoulders. Judith English proved up for the task scoring a game high 34 points, most of which occurred in the 'middle' two quarters. The forty point lead that was imposed on Academy was always too much to ask for the away side who were not without some impressive performances of their own. Lynch and Dean were the two Academy ladies to make the greater marks for the away squad. Even with the large starting lead East Durham College still won the game impressively by a score of 144-82.

Top Scorers ED&HCCL Judith English 34 EDAL G. Lynch 23, L. Dean, A. Rodriguez-Thomas 18, L. Hitchings 13.

Division 3

Durham Knights Vs Norton

It was a close game at the Maiden Castle Sports Centre last week as the Durham Knights defeated Norton. Durham darted out to take the early advantage in the first quarter while Norton's offence was still arming to the game. Callow and Finmore making the early running for Durham and Norton respectively. Sam Butterworth rolled out eight important points as Durham slipped up a little. The teams traded baskets in the third quarter Sam Butterworth's 10 points for Norton stacking up against Callow's 12 points for Durham, who were trailing at the change of half 35-38. It was the third quarter that saw Norton begin to embark into foul trouble, which gave Durham a number of free-throws which let Durham restore a little of their opening quarter lead. Robert Bingham started off the final quarter well for Durham with six early points that gave the home side an eleven point lead. From that position however, Norton still managed to wage one more spirited fighting comeback with Butterworth and Martin Kelsey managing to clamber back up to Durham's total. There was not enough gas in the tank though as Durham's lead was

enough to see them through to the win 73-69. Top Scorers Durham S. Callow 22, Robert Bingham 18, James Hedge 15, Tejen Barbezof Norton Sam Butterworth 29, Martin Kelsey 15, Mark Finmore 14

Ladies Division

Durham Knights Vs Tyne & Wear Cadets

The Tyne and Wear Cadets struggled throughout this match up. Durham, who have struggled to arrange matches as so are unable to keep build much form showed their all-round depth, spreading the ball around to all areas of the court.

Led by Grundy and Maguire the Knights were able to shut down all but Lauren Loader-Young of the Cadets in a game which may kick start Durham's season. Durham win the game 69-42. Top Scorers Durham S. Grundy 12, L. Maguire 10 Cadets Lauren Loader-Young 22

Division 2

'Specsavers' Wear Valley Wolves Vs Belmont Pumas

A hotly contested Division Three game awaited these two teams. The Wolves grasped the lead after the first quarter and were able to hold onto a sizable advantage of fourteen point by half time. Belmont Pumas began to find their stroke helped by a flurry of three-pointers early in the third quarter from Steven Graham. Top Scorers Wolves Sam Attah 34, Dave Storey 15, Craig Dawson 12 Pumas Mark Elderkin 17, Steven Graham 15, Paul Elderkin 13, Ashafe El Nayal 13, Ian Hewitt 11.

F6 Div 3 Cup

Belmont Cougars Vs Wear Valley Wolverines

The young Wolverines could not match the Cougars dominant shooters and rebounder's who showed high quality from start to finish. Belmont won 86-49. Top Scorers Belmont Lee Shepherd 17, Paul Elderkin 17, David Waldock 15 Wolverines Michael Hall 20, Ian

Hirst 14.

Div 2

Old Hought's Vs Middles' College

The Old Houghtonians, who were before this night yet to lose a game this season, suffered their first defeat at the hands of a team five places below them in Division Two. Middlesbrough had a slender, nine point lead at the change of half. Middlesbrough won 93-83. Even with Anthony Burdis unavailable for the match, Houghton's four players in double figures could not match Middlesbrough's ten players all having scored at least one basket. Houghtonians Philip Smailes 26, Ian Burlinson 18, Luke Jenner 17, Paul Carr 15 Middlesbrough Stuart McGarry 19, Daniel Armory 15,

Tanar Adu 15, Michael James 14.