There was a double Junior British League triumph for Darlington at Stoke On Trent last weekend when both boys and girls lifted their respective Second Division division titles.

Having already tasted title success representing Durham County at both junior and senior team level, and reached the finals of the national team knock out competitions, Darlington's youngsters left it until the last moment to snatch victory. The Boys A team were left with the task of beating Retford 6-0 in their final match and hope that joint leaders Uxbridge slipped up against De Vere Natts (Essex). Darlington completed their required whitewash and the title was secured when Uxbridge No 3 Daniel Cooney wasted a fifth set match point and lost when his side led 3-2. The Darlington team of Kevin Wilson, Androw Leighton, Mark Simpson, and David Meads then joined a large crowd to cheer on the Girls A team.

Having led the competition from the start, Darlington faltered when they were held by Grove B 3-3, and lost 2-4 to Rushey Mead (Leics). Darlington's normally reliable No 1 Claire Wilson suffering four shock defeats. However both Stephanie Donnelly and Joanne Meads kept Darlington in the title race and then in the final match they needed only to draw 3-3 with the Grove A team. Wilson hit top form with a gutsy four set win over Jane Easley, and Meads made it 2-0 with a similar win over Grove No 1 Heather Shutt. Grove hit back with Katie Lightowler inching out Donnelly in five sets but Wilson clinched Darlington's second title with a straight sets win over Shutt. The final two matches went Grove's way but the girls stepped up to receive the division trophy, along side the boys team, from ETTA Chairman Alan Ransome.

Darlington's B team came close in Division 4. Four wins foiled an early 2-4 defeat by Irish side Lucan Boys, but their improved performance could only gain them 2nd place to the Irish side. Jonathan de Wind was in fine form winning 8 from 10 with good support coming from Philip Robinson and Simon Donnelly.

The Darlington girls B team were in Division 3 and although finishing 6th, their were a number of good wins for Samantha McCormick (12), Sarah Robinson (10), and Rachel Greener (11).

Sunderland and District Table Tennis Association

Division One

Silksworth CC A , Boldon CA A 5; Southern Stewart and Walker 6, Ryhope IM 4.

P W D L F A Pts

Silksworth CC B 15 13 2 0 121 29 55

Silksworth CC C 15 12 0 3 107 43 46

Silksworth CC A 15 9 3 3 93 57 42

Southern Stewart & W. 15 8 2 5 81 69 35

Boldon CA A 15 7 2 6 82 68 33

West CA A 15 3 1 11 45 105 16

Ryhope IM 15 2 1 12 46 104 11

St John TTC A 15 0 1 14 25 125 2

Division Two

Redby CA A 6, St Gabriels B 4; St Gabriels A 2, Seaburn Dene NC 8; West CA B 6, St John TTC B 4.

P W D L F A Pts

Seaburn Dene NC 13 12 1 0 107 22 49

West CA B 14 8 2 4 68 72 31

St Gabriels A 14 5 3 6 67 73 26

Silksworth Comrades 12 6 2 4 58 62 26

St John TTC B 14 3 3 8 60 80 20

Redby CA A 14 3 3 8 57 83 20

St Gabriels B 13 1 4 8 52 77 15

Division Three

Boldon CA B 8, Redby CA B 2; Redby CA A 2, Redby CA B 8; St John TTC D 6, St John TTC E 4.

P W D L F A Pts

Boldon CA B 13 11 2 0 90 40 45

Redby CA B 14 10 2 2 97 43 43

St John TTC C 12 9 2 1 93 27 41

St John TTC D 14 6 1 7 62 78 26

St John TTC E 14 3 1 10 57 83 15

St John TTC F 13 2 0 11 30 90 11

Redby CA A 14 2 0 12 31 109 7

Individual handicap

Third round draw: Brian Taylor (St Gabriels A) (plus 10) v Chris Bale (Silksworth CC B (scr); Phili Dixon (St John TTC C) (plus 9) v Norman Polley (Seaburn Dene NC) (scr); Syd Gooding (St Gabriels A) (plus 13) v Neil Herrington (Silksworth CC B) (scr); Bernie Morris (Silksworth CC A) (scr) v George Carlyon (Ryhope IM) (plus 8); Howard Forster (Redby CA A) (scr) v David Unsworth (St John TTC F) (plus 8); David Bissett (Boldon CA A) (scr) v Stuart Wilson (St John TTC A) (plus 1); Matthew Slater (Boldon CA B) (plus 18) v Tony Gelder (Silksworth CC C) (scr); David Robson (Silksworth CC B) (scr) v Alan Bickle (Ryhope IM) (plus 12).

Matches to be played March 2