The Men's League fixtures are now complete - here are the main highlights:
Premier Division
Congratulations to Newcastle University who cruised to the Premier title, with only two defeats all season - both to Northern! This is the University's first title since their return to the top flight in 2013. Tynemouth 1 (champions in the previous two seasons) finished runners-up with Northumberland and Northern securing the other Northumbria Cup places. At the bottom, Tynemouth 2 were finally joined by Newbiggin in the relegation places, after Sunderland's 'Houdini' escape act with two wins over an injury-depleted Alnwick team in the last three weeks of the season, either side of a defeat to Newbiggin which kept us guessing until the final day of the season.
Player of the Division - Michaels Andrews (Northumberland).
Division 1
Northumberland Juniors finished champions with Northern 2 securing a runners-up spot and promotion with a last-match victory over Eldon Leisure, leaving Newcastle University 2 just short in third despite their 11-match unbeaten run which pushed the top two all the way. Sunderland 2 and Northern 3 were relegated, with Concordia 1 securing safety after their victory over Northern 3 in the final match.
Player of the Division - Max Forster (Northumberland Juniors) - again!
Division 2
Congratulations to champions Newcastle University 3, who are the only team throughout the League to remain unbeaten for the entire season. Tynemouth 3 finished runners-up ahead of Primrose 1. Consett 1 and Chester-le-Street 2 were relegated.
Player of the Division - Matthew Morton (Newcastle University 3).
Division 3
A last-match win by Benwell Hill over Tynemouth Social secured the championship for Benwell ahead of Washington 1 who were also promoted, with Tynemouth 4 unable to catch the leaders. Northumberland 4 and Eldon Leisure 2 were relegated.
Player of the Division - Paul Millington (Tynemouth Social) - again!
Division 4
Boldon 1 finished champions and Consett 2 were also promoted as runners-up ahead of Scotezzi Squash. Ashington 1 and Northern 5 were relegated, with Westoe 3 doing enough to escape in the last few weeks.
Player of the Division - Connor Snaith (Boldon 1).
Division 5
Newcastle University 4 held on to top spot, with Primrose 2 also promoted, both teams taking advantage of Concordia 2's defeat at home to Northern Juniors 2 which put Concordia out of contention. Northern 6 were relegated, but Consett 3 did just enough in their final game at Tynemouth 5 to survive by a point and leave Dunston 2 in the other relegation place (however see Division 6 below).
Player of the Division - George Swyer (Newcastle University 4).
Division 6
Northumberland 5 finished champions, with Dunston 3 doing enough to secure the other promotion place over Walker and a fading Eldon Leisure 3. However because Dunston 2 finished in the Division 5 relegation places, under rule 8.3 both Dunston 2 and 3 remain in their current divisions for next season. Down at the bottom, Westoe 4 were relegated, and Ashington 2 had to withdraw.
Player of the Division - Richard Finney (Northumberland 5).
Division 7
Newbiggin 3 go up as champions, with Washington 2 and Alnwick 2 in the second and third promotion places ahead of Boldon 3. Consett 5 thought they had at last secured their first ever win, 3-2 against Northumberland 6, but realised they had played out of order and had to concede their three winning ties to lose the match 5-0!
Player of the Division - Andy Black (Newbiggin 3).
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