Congratulations to the Northumberland Club and Newcastle University Ladies, who are the new champions of the 2022/23 Men's and Ladies' Leagues respectively!

In the Men's Premier, Northumberland 1 secured their first title since 2013, having lost only two matches all season (both to runners-up Westoe 1). Their top five of Chris Wiggins, Dave Barnett, Chris Garnet, Jamie Mathews and David Breakey proved too strong, with Mathews remaining unbeaten throughout the season.

In the Ladies' League, Newcastle University Ladies 1 have gone one better than last season when they finished runners-up to Northern Ladies 1, by picking up their first title ahead of Tynemouth Ladies 1 and Northern Ladies 1. Uni Ladies number 1 Eve Driver finished with 12 straight wins, only dropping two games, and was ably supported by Jade Pitcairn, Harriett WIght, Emma Turnbull and 'Player of the Division' Erin Vitty.

Both teams will be favourites to add the Men's and Ladies' Northumbria Cups to their trophy cabinets on Finals Night, Saturday 22nd April at the Northumberland Club (5:30pm start).

Here is the final position at the top and bottom of each division of the leagues, with the divisional playoffs still to come!

PREMIER

Champions - Northumberland 1

Runners-up - Westoe 1

Relegated - Benwell Hill and Primrose 1

In the newly-expanded 10-team Premier, Northumberland 1 never looked in danger of loosening their grip on the title, despite runners-up Westoe 1 doing the double over them, which perhaps leaves the pundits guessing over the destination of this season's Northumbria Cup. Westoe, with a strong 1-2 pairing of Liam Gutcher and 'Player of the Division' Chris Boyer, had lost only once in the first half, to eventual third place finishers Newcastle University 1A, but they were always playing catch-up during a second half in which they remained unbeaten. Meanwhile Northumberland, with Dave Barnett playing behind Chris Wiggins at the top of the order, and despite the two setbacks against Westoe, were able to rack up a greater number of 5-0 wins than their rivals due to the strength in depth of their squad, and extended a halfway lead of 7 points to 11 points by the season end. Last season's champions Northern 1 finished fourth to complete the Northumberland Cup positions.

Newcastle University 1A and 1B finished third and fifth respectively and there is little doubt that had the University not split their strength betwen their two Premier teams, they would have been strong contenders for the title they last won in 2018, when they had a single Premier team at full strength.

Meanwhile at the other end of the table Premier newcomers Benwell Hill and Primrose 1 battled hard but were both relegated by some distance, with Northumberland 2 facing a relegation playoff.

The top four Premier teams will compete in the Men's Northumbria Cup at the Northumberland Club with semis on Fri 21st April (7:15pm) followed by the final on Sat 22nd April (5:30pm).

DIVISION 1

Promoted - Chester-le-Street 1 (champions) and Tynemouth 2

Relegated - Hexham 1 and Newbiggin 1

In a very tight finish, Chester-le-Street 1 edged out Tynemouth 2 for the Division 1 title by one point following a final-match 3-2 (17-8) win over Eldon 1, who had to settle for third and a promotion playoff place against Northumberland 2. Northern 2 who had been in contention at halfway fell away in the second half with heavy defeats at Tynemouth and Eldon to finish fourth.

At the other end, Hexham 1 were relegated straight back to Division 2 and Newbiggin 1, who had started the second half with four wins out of five to give themselves a lifeline, lost their last three matches to fall 11 points short of safety and leave Westoe 2 to contend the relegation playoff.

DIVISION 2

Promoted - Northumberland 3 (champions) and Boldon 1

Relegated - Consett 1 and Sunderland 3

Northumberland 3, with Over 60s British Nationals champion Bryan Beeson in their ranks, showed consistent dominance throughout the season, remaining unbeaten 25 points ahead of runners-up Boldon 1 whose only defeats all season were to the champions. Boldon almost made it back-to-back promotions last season, finishing third, but have been good value for their promotion this season. Northern 3 in third finished a massive 56 points behind Boldon but still 31 points ahead of Tynemouth 3 in fourth place, and Northern now go into a promotion playoff against Westoe 2. 

Down at the bottom, all three newly-promoted teams found themselves in trouble with Consett 1 and Sunderland 3 both being relegated automatically and Eldon 2 unable to escape the relegation playoffs, falling 2 points short of Primrose 3.

DIVISION 3

Promoted - Boldon 2 (champions) and Northern 4

Relegated - Tynemouth 4 and Chester-le-Street 2

Boldon 2 were always in control of this division as they cruised to a 40-point winning margin over runners-up Northern 4, who themselves finished a comfortable 27 points ahead of their nearest rivals Hexham 2. It was a tight finish for third place with only 7 points separating third, fourth and fith, Hexham securing the promotion playoff place (against Eldon 2) ahead of Northumberland Ladies and Northumberland 4.

Tynemouth 4 were relegated for the second season in succession, along with Chester-le-Street 2, whilst Boldon 3 will try to maintain their Division 3 status in the relegation playoff.

DIVISION 4

Promoted - Newcastle University 3 (champions) and Northern Juniors 1

Relegated - Tynemouth 5 and Northumberland 5

Newcastle University 3 and Northern Juniors 1 continued their surge up the league with back-to-back promotions, University finishing unbeaten 13 points clear of runners-up Juniors, with a massive gap to third place, where Consett 2 will compete in the promotion playoff against Boldon 3.

Tynemouth 5 (who technically withdrew from the second half having conceded for the third time in their final match) finished bottom and were also relegated for the second season in succession, whilst Northumberland 5 went straight back down again, leaving Eldon 3 to contend the relegation playoff, with Sunderland 4 escaping by two points.

DIVISION 5

Promoted - Hexham 3 (champions) and Boldon 4

Wooden spoon - Consett Development

This division was closely contested, with Hexham 3 eventually emerging as champions by 16 points ahead of runners-up Boldon 4, with Tynemouth Social finishing just 3 points behind Boldon and having to settle for third place and the playoffs. Socials' defeat by Hexham followed by their victory over Boldon was crucial in securing the title for Hexham, but also gave Socials an outside chance of second place if they could pick up 18 points in their final match against Consett Deveopment, but they fell four points short of their target.

Consett Development finished bottom, despite a stronger second half performance which saw them achieving a win over second-bottom Ashington.

LADIES' DIVISION 1

Champions - Newcastle University Ladies 1

Runners-up - Tynemouth Ladies 1

The title never really looked in doubt for Newcastle University Ladies 1 once they had beaten their nearest rivals Tynemouth Ladies 1 in the final match of the first half to open up a 7 point gap. With Eve Driver in imperious form, and Tynemouth number 1 Fiona MacFarlane not playing after halfway, the University Ladies eventually extended their lead to 42 points with further back-to-back wins over Tynemouth in the second half. Last season's champions Northern Ladies 1 finished third with Northumberland Ladies in fourth picking up the final Northumberland Cup place, and Northern Ladies 2 dropping into the Ladies' League Cup competition.

The top four Ladies teams will compete in the Ladies' Northumbria Cup at the Northumberland Club with semis on Thu 20th April (7:15pm) followed by the final on Sat 22nd April (5:30pm).

LADIES' DIVISION 2

Champions - Tynemouth Ladies 2

Runners-up - Primrose Ladies

Wooden spoon -  Newcastle University Ladies 2

Tynemouth Ladies 2 won the Division 2 title losing only once, and finishing 12 points clear of runners-up Primrose Ladies, followed by Northern Ladies 3 and newly-formed Newcastle University Ladies 2.