Whitfield's Building Services Durham and Cleveland Men's League

Nunthorpe have successfully defended their title, finishing the 2001/2 campaign 20 points ahead of Morton, realising a total of 219 points from 11 wins out of 14 fixtures. Captain Neil Harrison, a national standard player, who lives In Stokesley, has seen his squad members very much rise

the occasion of keeping the title gained handsomely last season.

All six regulars and three substitutes are local people, even if living away at present. Ian Williams has played second string. Kirk Andrews, Alec Howard, and Malcolm Leech are also from either Marton or Nunthorpe. The last named took over from Howard halfway through the season, following his Injury, as

fifth string. Graham Lewis travelled to play from his home in Sheffield whilst both Harrison and occasional player Richard Leonard who worked away also made the journeys for fixtures such was the team spirit.

John Redding and Richard Painter also assisted the cause.

"These players are all very loyal club members." said Roly Harrison, the club's honorary president: "Another pleasing feature is that they all also started as junior members at Nunthorpe and have developed through the years. We are proud to have no imported players." Nunthorpe also won the title 30 years ago, when known Teesside SC. There had been no such success for the first 20 years of existence, as Ormesby SC.

Norton finished second, despite losing twice only. With an inferior scoring aggregate. They were fourth last time and finished their programme with a hard fought 32

success away at third placed Darlington, the home side collecting ten points to their own nine, plus bonus. David Barnett and Rob Wytcherley were the winners for the home team, with Mark Hockburn, Andy Wesson and Norman Turnbull successful for Norton.

Sedgefield had made a strong surge up the table after a bad start to finish fourth, but went down to Sunderland 41 in the final fixture. They just

missed relegation last time. Yarm did just that this season with two wins only but an average of nine points a match!

Promoted Aykley Heads finished well adrift of the rest and will return to division two, without a single victory in their first season at the top.

Final matches: Nunthorpe 2(9); DARLINGTON 3(9).

N Harrison lost to D Barnett 03, 1

Williams beat J Gedye 30, C Lewis

beat R Wyteherley 30, M Leech lost

to G Bishop 23, R Painter lost to P

Crowther 13. Sedgefield 1(5)

Sunderland 4(12) 1 Douglas lost to

B Beeson 03, J Larcombe lost to J

Tate 30, P Dodds lost to 1 Rylton 2

3, S Toes lost to G Harvey 03, D

Collins beat J Henderson 30.

Darlington 2(10), Norton 3(9) D

Barnett beat A Cross 30, A Roes lost

to M Hockburn 13, J Gedye lost to A

Wesson 13, R Wytcherley beat I

Anderson 30, L Granger lost to W

Turnbull 23. Sunderland H&RC 1(6)

Darlington 4(13) J Tate lost to D

Barnett 03, 1 Hylton beat J Godye 3

1, C Harvey lost to R Wytcherley 0

3, M Robinson lost to G Bishop 23, J

Henderson lost to N Little 13.

Bannatyne's Health Club at Belmont in Durham took the Division Two honours, with 236 points from thirteen wing and one defeat to finish 46 ahead of ChesterleStreet, who

had been promoted the year before.

The team of veterans and Junior veterans were obviously quite dominant; but are likely to decline the promotion to the very tough first division. That will allow the runnersup to replace Aykley Heads if approved.

Marc Van Laempoel, Rob Miller, Brian Graham, Neil Bunyan, and Bob Spence were the Bannatyne's principal players. They finished the season with a 32 away win over

nearest challengers CheaterleStreet;

with pride mostly at stake, as the group title was already acquired; and by 32 at home to Darlington II.

Yarm II and Bedale will be relegated to be replaced by Redcar II and Darlington III, the leading pair in Division Three. Redcar, promoted in 2001, were clear winners, but Darlington just held off Guisborough 11 and Sedgefield II. Darlington IV and Aykley Heads 11 will be relegated, and replaced by the division 4's A and B groups winners Bannatyne's 11 and Norton IV.

Other issues: DIV 4A: relegated

Sedgefield 111; DIV 4B: relegated

Darlington V. DIV SA: promoted

Yarm IV, relegated Nunthorpe V; DIV

SB: promoted Aycliffe IV, relegated

Sedgefield IV. DIV SIX: promoted