Nomads up against it

As the Sunderland League heads for a short end-ofyear break, it is looking like a bleak midwinter for Old England Nomads at the foot of Division One.

Following a 9-1 defeat at Mount CA, the Nomads’ task of climbing out of trouble appears a forlorn one.

Rod Roberts and Bailey Pye secured three wins apiece for Mount, while Michael Boyce won twice. Pye was forced to a fifth end by Brian Bateman but came through 11-6 in the decider.

Third-placed St Chad’s were rocked early on by Unionist Club A as Richard Wilson notched a splendid, last-gasp 13-11 victory over Keith Weatherby, who won his other two games.

Saints swiftly bounced back off the ropes and Joshua Weatherby was rarely troubled as he rattled off a trio of straight-game wins.

Although well beaten by Dave Cutler and Wilson, Barry Cuthbertson added a set against Mick Grimes as the hosts ran out 7-3 victors.

In Division Two, East Boldon Amigos ominously motored into promotion contention as their regular line-up of David Byers, Jamie Collins, and Jordan Dove won two sets each in consecutive home fixtures against Unionist Club B and Silksworth IM B.

Unionists’ top player, Dave Bannon, proved a tough opponent, but was pushed to a final end by Collins, and his efforts could not prevent Amigos from registering a 6-4 success.

Against lowly Silksworth, Collins and Dove were denied hat-tricks by Jeff McKenna, and Byers fell at the last hurdle against Nigel Tree in Boldon’s 7-3 win.

St Gabriel’s D battled to a fine 8-2 win over Redby CA.