Durham and Cleveland SRA Principia League Cups

Scriptwriters could not have thought up two closer and more dramatic endings to the Principia Cup finals than the 15-14 win in the fifth game of the fifth rubber as Ayclifte II beat Chester-le-Street II for the men's honours, and Durham beat defending champions Darlington in a sudden death tie break decider for the women's title.

Mick Anderson was Aycliffe's hero as he stopped Chester's Mike Conway In the first string battle to decide the men's final by 32, winning that crucial content by 1514 in the fifth set. He won the first set, but Conway battled back to lead 21. The Aycliffe man won the fourth, and just held on In the nailbiting fifth to take the honours.

Lee Skinner and Colin Ward had put two wins on the board for Aycliffe at the start of the final, but Dave Middlemast and John Shaw used all their experience to bring Chester back into the contest at 2-2. But the division 5A side, receiving four points each set, had to give a very narrow second best to Aycliffe, of division 4A.

Aycliffe II 3, Chester-le-Street II 3 (+4) 2: Mick Anderson bt Mike Conway 1510 1315 1415 1514 1514, John Snowball lost to John Shaw 1511 1115 815 1415, Neil Ross lost to Dave Middlemast 1115 915 715, Colin Ward bt Paul Gibson 15-9 1511 1315 1513, Lee Skinner beat Richard Davies 1511 1511 159.

Durham won the women's cup for the second time, but only after a tiebreak decider was needed to decide the issue, tied at 2-2, against the holders Darlington 1.

Vicky Smith did this with a 158 extra set win over Sarah Hirst. With the fouraside format for ladies' matches this season, draws are a likely outcome. The final certainly had this, as Micaela Harris and Diane Harker gave Darlington a 20 lead.

But Jean Gillespie and Vicky Smith came back to draw level in games. The number one contest also mattered sets-wise, as even though Darlington led 6-4, a win by Smith to take the title had at best to be by a clean sweep. She lost the opener, however, but came back strongly to collect three in a row knowing at seven games all, she thus gave herself and her Durham team a second chance and proceeded to grasp It firmly, with a few points to spare.

Durham 1 (+4) 3, Darlington 2: Vicky Smith bt Sarah Hirsst 158 (decider), Vicky Smith bt Sarah Hirst 915 157 1511 155, Jean Gillesple bt Tracy Spears 158 1511 1511, Pat Welling lost to Diane Harker 915 1511 1415 1215, Maureen Dewell lost to Micaela Harris 915 915 1015.

Aycliffe had just survived a close contest with Guisborough 11 of division three in the semi-finals. Teenager Skinner gave them a good start again, but Len Allinson drew level for the Yorkshire club, who went ahead through Colin Dodds. John Snowball and then Mick Anderson collected two for a 32 win for Aycliffe.

ChesterleStreet also scraped through by 32 over Redcar II thanks to Paul Gibson, Dave Middlemast. and Mike Conway, whilst Dominic Hill and Nick Pugsley won for Redcar.

Aycliffe 11 (+4) 3, Guisborough 11 2:

M Anderson bt Will McDougall 32, John Snowball bt Andrew Davies 32, Neil Ross lost to Colin Dodds 13, Peter Morris lost to Len Alllnson 03, Lee Skinner bt Phil Harris 30.

Chester-le-Street II (+6) 3, Guisborough II 2; Michael Amer lost to Nick Pugsley 23. Mike Conway bt Noel Pugsley 31, John Shaw lost to Dominic Hill 23. Dave Middlemast bt Adam Reeves 31, Paul Gibson bt Katie Clark 31.

Darlington ladies received a walkover from injury-hit Sunderland In the semis; whilst Durham beat Darlington II by 9-6 with games tied at 2-2. Durham 2 (9), Darlington II (+6) 2 (6); Vicky Smith bt Melanie Albrighton 30, Heather Sinclair bt

Gillian Knights 3-0; Jean Gillespie lost to Janet Duncan 2-3; Pat Walling lost to Aileen Little 1-3.

Mr John Brady of Principia. the Middlesbrough business specialising in bridal and men's formal wear, presented the awards. The event referee was Brian Duke.

Quarter-finals: MEN'S Dolphin 2, Guisborough II ;, Aycliffe 11 4, Nunthorpe V 1; Redcar 11 4, Nunthorpe IV 1; ChesterleStreet 11 3, Aycliffe 111 2.

WOMEN'S: Aycliffe 0, Darlington 11 4; Sunderland H&RC 0 conc, Durham 4; Darlington 4, Bedale 11 0, Sunderland 4 Bedale 0