The pressure was on at the start of the Northumberland & Durham League season, with Morpeth's Men's Over 60s 1st team hoping to retain the trophy they won with a clean sweep of victories in 2023.  The first challenge was at Stocksfield, on a rare beautiful day in May.  It was a nail-biting match, with Stocksfield's top pairing proving too strong for both the Morpeth pairs.  But fortunately for Morpeth, Stocksfield did not have strength in depth, and their second pairing were swept aside easily by both Morpeth's pairs, to give Morpeth the win by 35 games to 28, with sets tied at 4-4.

So, on to what on paper would be the sternest challenge, away to Shotley & Benfieldside, who ran the team close to the championship last year.  The match was close, but Morpeth overcame home advantage with a 5-3 (46-37) victory.  The top pairing of Trevor Herron and Paul Ward won all four sets, and the second pairing of Steve Wingate and Guy Rollisson ran their opponents close in every set, gaining one important set to take the tally to five.

From then on it was plain sailing.  In the three remaining matches, Morpeth lost just two sets.  The championship was clinched at home to Beverley Park on 24th July, with a resounding 7-1 win.  The photo above shows Paul Ward clutching the trophy, surrounded by team mates from the day, Trevor Herron, Guy Rollisson and Rod Hall.

Thanks also to Steve Wingate and Graham Fewell, who both stepped in when they were needed to help the team over the line.  A hat-trick in 2025?