North-East Premier League: Esporta Sunderland, the defending champions in the Northern division of the NEPL, emerged victorious by 3-1 against David Lloyd Newcastle last weekend.

Adam Barratclough and Ainsley Kershaw proved hard to beat with two more successes while second couple Guy Galpin and Nathan Lundy added one more.

World ranked James Nelson and junior Mattjew Lott, David Lloyd's first pair, gave Barratclough and Kershaw a close first set with a 1-1 score at the interval but faded in the second. Two German students as second pair were unfortunate not to pick up any points for the home team.

Esporta have two wins to top the early season table but neighbours Puma Sunderland struggled in their second fixture, an understrength team going down away in Middlesbrough against Tennis World by 4-0.

David Lloyd Newcastle 1, Esporta Sunderland 3: Matthew Lott and James Nelson lost to Adam Barratclough and Ainsley Kershaw 5-7 1-6, bt Guy Galpin and Nathan Lundy 6-3 6-3; Stevan Muehleissen and Oliver Schu lost to Barratclough and Kershaw 5-7 3-6, lost to Galpin and Lundy 6-7 5-7.

Tennis World Middlesbrough 4, Puma Sunderland 0: Nigel Beavers and Michael Probert beat Iain Lunley and Joe Valks 6-0 6-4, bt Graham Fowler and Nick Osmond 6-2 6-2; Matthew Jackman and Kevin Rudd bt Lumley and Valks 3-6 6-3 6-2, bt Fowler and Osmond 6-2 6-2.

Red group: Morpeth 4 (33), Jesmond II 4 (36).

Orange group: Beverley Park 6, Rothbury 2.

Yellow: Cullercoats 6, Burnmoor 2; Ponteland 8, Wylam 0; Ponteland 0, Cullercoats 8; Blaydon II 5, Burnmoor 3.

Green: Lanchester 0, Durham Archery 8; Blaydon 8, Lanchester 0; Durham Moor 1, Hild and Bede 0.

Blue: Shotley and Benfieldside 8, Blaydon III 0; Tennis Factory 8, Stocksfield 0; Durham Archery III 7, Blaydon III 1; Stocksfield 0, Shotley and Benfieldside 8.

Indigo: Barnard Castle 0, Bishop Auckland 8.

Violet: Durham Archery II 0, New Blackwell 8; Bishop Auckland II 8, Eldon Grove 0; Eldon Grove 4 (38), David Lloyd Stockton 4 (34); Bishop Auckland II 1, Durham Archery II 7.

White: Great Ayton 7, Stokesley 1; Great Broughton and Kirby 1, Nunthorpe 7; Nunthorpe 3, Great Ayton 5