CITY PREDATORS beat NEWCASTLE STAFFS 2 in an exciting contest at CitySpace on Saturday. The Northern Counties squad, based at Sunderland University, nearly squandered a 2-set lead when the Staffordshire outfit fought back to level at 2-2 but Predators rediscovered their form to take a decisive lead in the final set and take third spot in Division 2 North on sets difference, equalling the points tally of Manchester Marvels and South Birmingham above them.