Durham League - A full programme of Durham womens league fixtures was completed this week and it is beginning to look as though Tyneside are trying to wipe out all of the existing Durham League scoring records.

Three games, three 'ton-up' victories, who can stop them? After scoring 117 and 118 in their first two games of the season, Tyneside managed to top that with a 123-47 success against this week's unfortunate lambs University of Teesside.

Zoe Vickers was unstoppable in collecting 51 of those points, although one record she did fall well short of was the solo scoring total of 62 points in one game. Tasha Brown and Vicky McMurray gave her excellent support with 24 and 22 points apiece, whilst Deidre Hayes and Kelly Geach added 12 each for Tyneside who used all of their vast National League experience to sweep University away. Tyneside led 27-7 after ten minutes, 65-27 by the twentieth, 89-37 with ten minutes left and by the end the students were just waiting for the final whistle.

Sunderland Nissan recorded the first win of their campaign. Newcastle College were their guests and 78-58 was the score as an almost full-strength Sunderland were just too good for the students.

A tight zone allowed the Sunderland guards to steal the ball and score on the break during a first quarter in which Adele Gair scored 12 points and by the end of which Sunderland Nissan led 18-8. Judith English hit 10 points to help stretch the lead to 34-23 by half-time and their dominance of the boards soon allowed them to up the advantage to 56-40 with ten minutes left.

Gair was excellent for her 33 points, whilst English netted 24 for Sunderland Nissan. Sally McLure was on good form for Newcastle College and scored 24 points.

Experience accounted for youth as Northumbria entertained and beat Tyne and Wear Cadettes 58-39 at Newcastle.

Northumbria won the game in the second quarter when their tight zone restricted the Tyne and Wear youngsters to just one measly point, a Laura Calder free-throw. At the other end of court the home side were running in 21 points and the match as a contest was over with Tyne and Wear down 30-13.

Rebecca Davis, Elin Carlsson and Pam Donnelly hit 14, 13 and 12 points respectively for Northumbria whilst only Calder managed double figures with 12 for Tyne and Wear Cadettes.

Durham Knights opened their womens league campaign with a 75-28 defeat at Middlesbrough to Nunthorpe Boro Bruins.

Bruins are on a high with four wins from four games and great defence allowed Knights only one basket in the opening ten minutes. Lisa Roughley and Sarah Hindmarch stoked the Nunthorpe offence up during the second quarter and by the interval they were clear at 35-7.

Hindmarch once again led the Nunthorpe scoring with 28 points, Wappat and Roughley managed 15 and 10 respectively. Kat Abrashkina netted 11 for Dutham Knights.

East Durham and Houghall Academy Ladies also won easily, 80-36 at home to Whickham.

Natalie McKenley and Gillian Walker set the tone early for Academy and if Whickham harboured any thoughts of recovering from a 17-5 first quarter deficit, their hopes were dashed when Academy opened the second quarter with a 12-0 blitz. Basically that it that. Academy led 29-5 and there was absolutely no was back for their guests.

Louise Barnes led the way for East Durham and Houghall Academy with 19 points. Jane Straker and Sue Brewis collected 15 and 11 each for Whickham.

The only mens first division game of the week was another Teesside derby in which Middlesbrough College Academy hosted Norton A. Academy are proving to be a much better side than many people thought and they crushed Norton 111-79.

Academy started on song as three different players shared eight three-point baskets during a first quarter in which they scored amazing 41 points. Norton collected a respectable 26 which ordinarily would be enough to keep anyone happy. Unfortunately they were trailing by 15. The somewhat shell-shocked visitors did manage to stop the procession to their basket during the second quarter which scored 20-19 to Academy, but left Norton trailing 61-45 at the interval.

The second half calmed down a bit as Academy notched a mere 50 points as six players finished the game in double figures; Wayne Robinson (24), Marlon Henry (19), Carl Henry (17), Kieron Achara (17), Kehinde Roberts (16) and Williams Omope (12). Steve Lowde and Steve Butler collected 28 and 25 each for Norton A.

The three teams with the best chances of lifting the second division trophy all won.

Hartlepool Hornets are looking more like champions elect with every game they play and they recorded their fifth win in a row in beating Old Houghtonians 85-67 at Houghton-le-Spring.

Hornets made their move with an 11-0 burst separated by the break between the third and fourth quarters. Hornets buzzed from 57-50 up to 68-50 ahead and in charge.

Graham Ord top-scored for Hartlepool Hornets with 25 points as Dan Bailey hit 20. Best for Old Houghtonians was Simon Wood and Philip Smailes who both netted 18.

Belmont A are also unbeaten and they took the scalp of Hartlepool CJ Hydraulics A with a 80-54 success at Durham thanks to an inspired performance from Lee Davie who was unstoppable when he wanted to be. He scored 20 points for Belmont A. Hydraulics were holding on at 32-21 by the interval, but that was as close as they got as each player that came off the Belmont bench added to their advantage.

Anthony Robinson managed 19 points for Hartlepool CJ Hydraulics A.

East Durham and Houghall College B have strengthened themselves by signing Tom Wood and he immediately showed his worth with 30 points as College beat neighbours Peterlee Video 95-48.

College B opened with an 8-1 three minute burst and never looked back. Half-time had them 39-27 ahead and the second half was one way traffic. At one end of court the College players were queueing up to rattle in 56 whilst at the other end Video could do nothing right.

Jamie Paul added 21 points to the 30 scored by Wood for East Durham, only Sean Percival with 17 was anything like a threat for Peterlee Video.

Division One: Middlesbrough College Academy 111 Norton A 79 .

Division Two: Belmont A 79 Hartlepool CJ Hydraulics A 54 ; Durham Knights 42 Consett Steelers 96 ; Old Houghtonians 67 Hartlepool Hornets 85 ; Trimdon Community College Association 49 Shildon Strollers 72 ; Peterlee Video 48 East Durham and Houghall College B 95 .

Division Three: East Durham and Houghall College C 41 Norton B 77 ; Hartlepool Hawks 93 Young Houghtonians 77 ; Specsavers Wear Valley Wolves 55 Belmont B 71 ; Hartlepool CJ Hydraulics B 76 Spennymoor Exiles 54 .

Womens Division: Northumbria 58 Tyne and Wear Cadettes 39 ; East Durham and Houghall Academy Ladies 80 Whickham 36 ; University of Teesside 47 Tyneside 123 ; Nunthorpe Boro Bruins 75 Durham Knights 28 ; Sunderland Nissan 78 Newcastle College 58