Durham League

The top of the Women's Division has a familiar look. Tyneside lead the way, just as they have done for much of the last decade. And, as so often in the past, they are currently unbeaten.

Local league success is founded on the effort which goes into their National League campaign and for that most of the credit belongs to Deirdre Hayes. Success on court, however, is very much in the hands of the younger players which she has nurtured over the past few years, players such as current England international Zoe Vickers, newcomer Natasha Brown, and seasoned campaigners like Sarah Hindmarch.

The rest of the table is not so familiar. Sunderland Nissan and South Tyneside are the teams which usually push Tyneside, but both have been plagued by postponed fixtures. The former have played only four, the latter one less. As a result their ability is not reflected in league position. The Tees, in the shape of Nunthorpe Boro Bruins and University of Teesside, hold the next two spots, with the former in particular enjoying one of their best seasons for some time. The new kids on the block are Newcastle College Wildcats. They produced one of the biggest shocks of the season so far when they knocked Sunderland Nissan out of the Women's County Cup with a 66-53 semi-final win at Peterlee.

Leading scorers for each of the womens clubs in the first half of the season have been:

Tyneside: Zoe Vickers (167 points), Natasha Brown (149), Sarah Hindmarch (148), Kelly Geach (63), Vicky McMurray (30).

Nunthorpe Boro Bruins: Ruth Barron (164), Lisa Roughley (68), Kathleen Ashwell (30).

University of Teesside: Gemma McKimm (117), Helle Harby-Owrenn (51), Emma Davis (50), Shonagh Fullerton (33).

Sunderland Nissan: Judith English (41 points), Gail Barnett (26), Beryl Davison (24).

Newcastle College Wildcats: Gemma McInally (116), Sally McLure (103), Emma Lawrence (57), Simone Rose (39), Anja Sehmisch (37).

Whickham: Julie Chisholm (60), Jayne Straker (44), Kim Websdale (43), Dawn Nicholson (40).

South Tyneside: Maureen Cook (43), Pam Donnelly (37), Jane Scott (35) and Nicola Hughes (23).

East Durham and Houghall Academy: Louis Barnes (68), Natalie McKenley (62), Lucy Hitchings (60), Helen Catteral (24).

Durham Knights: Anna Critchley (61), Emily Ghio (59), Lisa Burton (32).

Durham Women's League

P W L Pts

Tyneside 7 7 0 21

Nunthorpe Boro Bruins 6 5 1 16

Newcastle College Wildcats 6 3 3 12

University of Teesside 5 3 2 11

Sunderland Nissan 4 3 1 10

Whickham 7 1 6 9

E D and H Academy Ladies 6 1 5 8

South Tyneside 3 2 1 7

Durham Knights 6 0 6 6

Top Ten Individual Points Scorers

Women's Division: Zoe Vickers (Tyneside) 167, Ruth Barron (Nunthorpe Boro Bruins) 164, Natasha Brown (Tyneside) 149, Sarah Hindmarch (Tyneside) 148, Gemma McKimm (University of Teesside) 117, Gemma McInally (Newcastle College Wildcats) 116, Sally McLure (Newcastle College Wildcats) 103, Lisa Roughley (Nunthorpe Boro Bruins) 68, Louise Barnes (ED and H Academy Ladies) 68, Kelly Geach (Tyneside) 63