National Premier League, North-East Region: Tennis World Middlesbrough moved off the bottom of the Northern Division table following a one game win over David Lloyd Newcastle recently at their Marton base.

The two sides took two rubbers each, but the countback score at the end was 33 games to 32 and gave the home team much needed three points. Sean Damer and James Nelson were unbeaten for the Newcastle team, while Nigel Beavers and Nick Osborne, and Kevin Rudd and Matthew Jackman won once each for Tennis World.

Next Generation York narrowed the gap on leaders Esporta Sunderland to a matter of three points after beating Ripon 3-1, and now have 18 points from four wins and one defeat, whilst the Wearside centre are undefeated. Marius Barnard and Greg Whitecross showed their international pedigree untroubled in two rubbers for York. They even had a comfortable win over the league's most accomplished performers David Drake and Doug Keen, who as a pair lost for only the third time in four seasons!

North Yorkshire have slipped to seventh position through a heavy defeat by David Lloyd Newcastle, but even with eight points could still make the top four playoff, as might fellow lowly placed David Lloyd Stockton, with two fixtures left, as fourth placed Ripon have eleven.

Latest results: Ripon 1, Next Generation York 3; Tennis World Middlesbrough 2 (33), David Lloyd Newcastle 2 (32); D L Newcastle 4, North Yorkshire 0.

Final fixtures: Tomorrow: Ripon v David Lloyd Stockton; Esporta Sunderland v North Yorkshire. Sunday 11th January - Next Generation York v Tennis World Middlesbrough; David Lloyd Newcastle v Puma Sunderland. Saturday, 24th January - T World v D L Stockton; Puma v Esporta. Sunday, 25th January - N G York v North Yorkshire; D L Newcastle v Ripon.

Recent matches: Tennis World beat David Lloyd Newcastle: Nigel Beavers and Nick Osborne lost to Sean Damer and James Nelson 1-6 3-6, beat Chris Bowles and Simon Telfer 6-4, 6-1; Mathew Jackman and Kevin Rudd lost to Damer and Nelson 3-6 2-6; beat Bowles and Telfer 6-1 6-2.

Ripon 1 Next Generation York 3: David Drake and Doug Keen lost to Marius Barnard and Greg Whitecross 4-6 2-6; beat Gareth Adams and Steve Smith 6-2 6-2; Will Brannen and Andy O'Donnell lost to Barnard and Whitecross 1-6 2-6, lost to Adams and Smith 7-5 5-7 6-7.

David Lloyd Newcastle 4, North Yorkshire 0: J Nelson and Michael Ratcliffe beat Steven Preston and Ian Spears 6-3 6-2, beat Roger Awah and Graham Parker 6-0 6-1; Sean Damer and Nikki Peel beat Preston and Spears 7-5 3-6 6-3, beat Awah and Parker 6-0 6-4.

The Southern Division has two teams running away from the rest, and now pretty assured of top four places. These are Lancashire Racquets of Middleton, and Sheffield. It is uncertain as to which of the other contenders will make the third and fourth spots. The leading four in the Northern Division will take on their Southern counterparts in the North East Regional playoff, with first against fourth and so on.

North-East Club Winter League

Fixtures in the eight groups were recently completed, resulting in the following playoff arrangements:

Top eight: Jesmond I v Jesmond II, Blaydon I v Cullercoats, Shotley and Benfieldside v Durham Moor I, Great Ayton v David Lloyd Stockton.

Second eight: Gosforth I v Morpeth, Durham Archery I v Ponteland, Durham Archery III v Bishop Auckland I, Nunthorpe v New Blackwell.

Third eight: Beverley Park v Colllingwood, Durham Moor II v Blaydon II, The Tennis Factory v Wellfield, Thirsk v Durham Archery II.

Fourth eight: DSS v Tynedale, Durham University I or Lanchester v Burnmoor, Bladyon III v Barnard Castle, Stokesley v Bishop Auckland II.

Fifth eight: Rothbury v Gosforth II, Hild and Bede v Wylam, Durham University II or Stocksfield v David Lloyd Stockon II, Great Broughton v Eldon Grove.