Thirsk defeated Morpeth 5-3 last weekend to take the second eight consolation event honours in the 2001-2 NECWL. They thus finish ninth in the competition overall and as the White Group runners-up stopped the second best team in the Red Grou. The Northumberland visitors to the wet and windy racecourse ground struck first as Rachel Michie and Anne Roberts took the women's doubles. But Thirsk's men's pair of Richard Able and Nick Hatch squeezed home to square the first round. Morpeth, however, were 21-10 games ahead. Mixed doubles have proved to be Thirsk's forte and salvation frequently this season and so once again Able and Debbie Hannam as second couple won theirs comfortably and left their team not only 4-2 in front, but with an advantage of seven games.

Hatch and Julie Abbott, who have not lost a winter league mixed as a partnership in five years, meanwhile had dropped the first set to Derek Griffiths and Michie. All to play for and as Morpeth took the first two games in the vital and last set of the contest the gloomy weather matched Thirsk's chances. But the home duo dug in and came up with a 7-5 success to take the tie. Thirsk had escaped twice before in the play-off semi-finals and quarter-finals by 5-3 against Nunthorpe and Bishop Auckland after being behind at the interval. They had also just made the second spot in the White Group league before Christmas.

Thirsk 5, Morpeth 3: md R Able and N Hatch bt P Brown and D Griffiths 7-6 6-3; wd J Abbott and D Hannam lost to R Michie and A Roberts 4-6 2-6; mxd Hatch and Abbott drew with Griffiths and Michie 2-6 7-5; Able and Hannam bt Brown and Roberts 6-0 6-3.

Durham Moor trounced neighbours Durham Archery II by 8-0 to win the play-off final for the third placed teams with Neil Alderson, Peter Gregory, Lesley Turner and Marian Goodyear the successful quartet. Moor had previously beaten Durham Archery and Eldon grove after finishing third in the Blue Group.

The fourth and fifth eights have yet to be decided; with Durham Archery II and NLTRSC and Durham High School II v Blaydon II as the finals.