Tow Law Area League: Esh Stag's Head pulled out all the stops in the final match of the season to repeat their Championship win of last season when they only dropped one point on their visit to Tow Law Dan's Castle.

The Stag's went into the match trailing Tow Law New Market A by two points but they could only beat the visiting Newhouse Club by three points and this allowed the Stag's to take the title by a single point.

David Murray was the only Dan's Castle player to take a point from the visiting Stag's Head, who had singles wins from Tom March, Colin Tomlinson, Mally Walker, John Hodgson and Dave Hindmoor and they went on to take all three doubles.

Billy Row Club were denied sole ownership of the third place when they could only take three points from their visit to Sunniside Comedian. This result meant that the Club had to share third place with Tow Law New Market B, who had already completed their fixtures. The Comedian had singles wins from Bill Railton, Derek Thompson, Chris Railton and Bob Peacock with Harold Parkin and David Zak taking singles for the visitors, who could only add one of the three doubles.

Results: Tow Law New Market A 6 Newhouse Club 3; Hamsteels Inn 5 Tow Law Rose and Crown 4; Esh McKennas 5 Cornsay Royal Oak 4; Sunniside Comedian 6 Billy Row Club 3; Tow Law Dan's Castle 1 Esh Stag's Head 8.

Wilington League

Willington Club shot up to share second place in the table with Hunwick Joiners Arms after they only dropped one point to the visiting Victoria Club. Ronnie Greensmith gave the Vic a great start by taking the first singles but then the home side took over. They had singles wins from Scott Little, Bobby Jackson, Stephen Hutchinson and Joe Blakey to add to the doubles wins of Colin Walker with Alan Walker and Donald Young with Michael Irwin.

Willington Lion and Unicorn are three points ahead of the joint second placed teams, with Byers Green Royal Oak a further three points adrift.

Results: Byers Green Royal Oak 3 Willington Lion and Unicorn 4; Prospect Club 2 Willington Burn 6; Willington Black Horse Tavern 2 Hunwick Joiners Arms 5; Willington Black Horse Inn 3 Willington Brewer's Droop 4; Hunwick Quarry 3 Willington Cottles 4; Willington New Inn 3 Sunnybrow Brown Trout 4; Willington Club 6 Victoria Club 1.

Crook League

Crook Mill House jumped back into the Championship race when they beat their hosts, league leaders, Crook Belle Vue. The home side managed only one singles through Jack Walker and added the doubles through John Warriner and Dave Hakin. The Mill's points came from Alan Bibby, Peter Clement, Ian Bibby, Mark Nichol and Jeff Ward.

Willington Brewer's Droop were taken to the decider before they beat the visiting Crook Queen's Head A, the Second Division leaders. The home side had singles wins from Jimmy Fleming, John Moores and Dave Gallagher with Tommy Longstaffe, Dave Willey and Phil Hall levelling. In the decider the Brewer's edged through when Vince Conaty and Jimmy Fleming beat Peter Genner and Doug Smailes.

Crook Belle Vue lead the First Division by six points from Crook Travellers Rest B, who are three ahead of Crook Mill House, who have a match in hand. The Second Division leaders are Crook Queen's Head A with a one point advantage over Crook Coach and Horses B with Willington Brewer's Droop eight points behind but with a match in hand.

Results: Crook Golden Fleece 3 Crook Royal Sun 4; Crook Queen's Head B 5 Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 2; Crook Spitfire Club 4 Crook Coach and Horses A 3; Crook White Swan B 5 Stanley Earl Derby 2; Howden Australian 1 Crook Jelly's Bar A 6; Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 2 Crook Travellers Rest A 5; Crook Coach and Horses B 4 Crook White Swan A 3; Crook Surtees 2 Willington Market 5; Willington Brewer's Droop 4 Crook Queen's Head A 3; Crook Belle Vue 2 Crook Mill House 5.

Tow Law and

District League

Top 20 players in the past season: 1st Charlie Donaghy (Tow Law Football Club) played 28, won 23, lost 5, 82.14%; 2nd Harry Dinsdale (Newhouse) 33, 27, 6, 81.82%; 3rd Rob Day (Newhouse) 19, 15, 4, 78.95%; 4th Charlie McGee (Tow Law Football Club) 31, 23, 8, 74.19%; 5th Anthony Ward (Rose & Crown) 32, 22, 10, 68.75%; 6th equal Colin Armstrong (Dan's Castle A) and Graeme Thompson (Newhouse) 34, 23, 11, 67.65% each; 8th Terry Ginty (Tow Law Football Club) 33, 22, 11, 66.67%; 9th Phil Spencer (New Market A) 24, 15, 9, 62.50%; 10th Tom Hauxwell (New Market B) 28, 17, 11, 60.71%; 11th Derek Thompson (Comedian) 28, 16, 12, 57.14%; 12th Tom Dowson (New Market A) 23, 13, 10, 56.52%; 13th John Beveridge (New Market B) 27, 15, 12, 55.56%; 14th Morgan Errington (Comedian) 20, 11, 9, 55.00%; 15th equal Anthony Hird (Dan's Castle A) and David Murray (Dan's Castle B) 33, 18, 15, 54.55%; 17th Alan Ogilvie (Station) 28, 15, 13, 53.57%; 18th Billy Lyle (Tow Law Football Club) 34, 18, 16, 52.94%; 19th Steve Wilkie (Hamilton Row Black Horse) 19, 10, 9, 52.63%; 20th Anthony Lee (Dan's Castle B) 33, 17, 16, 51.52%.

CIU Singles Championship

Second round draw: A. Richardson (Ferryhill) v R. Hodgson (Stanley Empire); J. Dean (Horden Labour & Trades) v J. Lockey (Fishburn); D. Metcalfe (Cockfield) v R. Allison (Chilton & Windlestone); R. Wharton (Fishburn) v S. Wray (Ferryhill); B. Milburn (Stanley Empire) v D. Harrison (Chilton & Windlestone); A. Gray (Stanley Empire) v D. Gardner (Cockfield); K. Wilkinson (Ferryhill) v J. Smith (Chilton & Windlestone); J. Bayles (Grange Villa) v A. Buist (Fishburn). Results to be into the Branch Office by Saturday, 3 April.