Worthington CIU League: Crowtrees A managed to open out a three-point gap at the top of the Second Division after they whitewashed the visiting Belmont.

The home side's winners were Sean Johnston, Sonny Hann, Keith McLauchlan, Steve Armstrong and Phil Whitfield.

Willington, who had shared the top spot, slipped into equal second when they went down in the decider at Coundon. Steven Bennett and Frank Nicholson put the home side ahead but Arthur Goldsborough and Gordon Parkin levelled. In the decider Coundon's Mally Ryder beat Tom Parkin.

Meadowfield joined Willington in second place after dropping only one point at Langley Park, who had Stephen Coates as their winner. The visitors points came from Ian Hodgson, Craig Hughes, Stephen Hughes with a 37 break and Martin Halliday.

Newhouse Club moved up two points behind Willington and Meadowfield after they only dropped one point at Stanley Central. John Maddox, Ronnie Pearson, Ian Dinsdale and John Maddox won for the visitors with Walter Cornell saving the whitewash in the final frame.

Ferryhill A beat the visiting Sacriston by the odd point when they had wins from Glynn Toas, Ian Fawcett and Bernie Jones. Jeff Evans and Ronnie Bradley replied for the visitors.

Steve Cave and Jock Frost won for Wheatley Hill B against the visiting Spennymoor B, but the visitors went to victory with wins from Alan Clarke, Alan Rouell and Gary Easen.

The Third Division is developing into a one horse race as New Durham went ten points clear following their three points home win over Crowtrees B. The home side started well with a win from Martin Wolf, but from that points New Durham took over with wins from Phil Garr, Kevin Scullion, Thomas Cairns and Neil Phillips.

Tow Law B moved up to share second place with Hunwick A after they only dropped one point at Bearpark B, who had Ian Chamberlain as their only winner. The Lawyers had points from Adam Orton, John Warriner, Charlie Donaghy and Eric Lockerbie.

Hunwick A had to stage a recovery act at Leeholme B, where they trailed when Lee Todd and Anthony Forster took the first two frames. Peter Mernor and Neville Blenkinsopp levelled the match and then Des Mason took Hunwick to victory by beating John Proudfoot in the decider.

Hunwick B slipped two points behind after they went down in the decider at home to Leeholme A, to moved up to share fourth place. Arnold Fleming and Trevor Lomax won for Hunwick with Barry Shaw and Alan Roe levelling. In the decider the visiting Karl Thompson beat John Bate.

Durham City also share fourth spot in the Third Division after they only dropped one point to the visiting Fishburn B, who had Dave Blythe as their only winner. The City points came from Eric Wright, Barry Stoddart, Michael Pratt and Brian Dunn.

Ferryhill B won in the decider at Tow Law A. Doug Watson and Alan Spence won for the home side with Dave Nelson and Mark Wilson levelling. In the decider the visiting Billy Roddam beat Alfie Edwards.

Spennymoor A pulled level at the top of the First Division with Wheatley Hill A after they only dropped one point to the visiting Bearpark A, who had Shaun Easter as their only winner. The Moors points came from Michael Pratt with a 68 break, Eddie Rhodes, Paul Atkinson and Paul Biddle.

Wheatley Hill A dropped two valuable points on their visit to local rivals, Fishburn A. Charlie Hirst and John Griffin won for the home side with Ronnie Peacock, Dean Bryden and Alan Hall edging the Hill to victory.

Cockton Hill are in third place in the First Division after almost completing a whitewash win over the visiting Brandon. Harold Lomax, Kevin Mordica with a 30 break, Andrew Aisbitt and George Chapman put the Hill ahead but John Hall saved the duck by taking the final frame.

Wingate took the first three frames of their home match against Old Shildon to move three points behind Cockton Hill. The home side's winner were Dean Jones, Geoff Howe and Steve Allen but Paul Armstrong with a 30 break and Martin Taylor pulled points back for the visitors.

Witton Gilbert moved level with Wingate after they beat the visiting Newton Aycliffe in the decider. Willis Joynes put Witton ahead but Marc Howe levelled. Ian Renwick restored the home lead only to see Ronnie Hall equalise. In the decider Witton's Paul Nord beat Bill Barrigan.

Shotton Palms beat the visiting Sherburn Village in the decider to keep both teams level on points, probably just a safe distance from a relegation spot. John Bower and Michael Bower took points for the Village whilst Barry Hall and Dave Swindle replied for the Palms. The home side edged their way to victory when Paul Hickman beat Peter McGowan on the final black.

Results: Bearpark B 1 Tow Law B 4; Wheatley Hill B 2 Spennymoor B 3; Cockton Hill 4 Brandon 1; Durham City 4 Fishburn B 1; Coundon 3 Willington 2; Wingate 3 Old Shildon 2; Hunwick B 2 Leeholme A 3; Crowtrees A 5 Belmont 0; Fishburn A 2 Wheatley Hill A 3; New Durham 4 Crowtrees B 1; Stanley Central 1 Newhouse 4; Spennymoor A 4 Bearpark A 1; Leeholme B 2 Hunwick A 3; Langley Park 1 Meadowfield 4; Witton Gilbert 3 Newton Aycliffe 2; Tow Law A 2 Ferryhill B 3; Ferryhill A 3 Sacriston 2; Shotton Palms 3 Sherburn Village 2.

Crook League

Crook Olde Horse Shoe A went down to their first defeat of the season when they lost the deciding doubles at Crook Travellers Rest B. The two teams are locked level at the top of the First Division with Crook Belle Vue nine points adrift.

The Travellers had singles wins from Neil Campbell, Michael Burke and Doug Bowey, whilst the Horse Shoe levelled with wins from Dave Walker, Johnny Mason and Brian Johnson. In the deciding doubles the Travellers Michael Burke and Jim Ainsley beat Gavin Witton and Brian Johnson.

Willington Brewer's Droop managed to pull up level with their hosts at Crook Queen's Head B in the lower reaches of the Second Division with a win in the deciding doubles. John Ferens, Alan Saville and Dave Heslop won singles for the Queen's with Dave Gallagher, Billy Wragg and Bob Saunders levelling. In the deciding doubles Wragg and Vince Conaty beat Ferens and Saville.

Crook Coach and Horses B lead the Second Division by 17 points with second placed, Crook White Swan B three ahead of Crook Olde Horse Shoe B.

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

Worthington CIU

Team Plate

Wheatley Hill B pulled off a good away victory over their hosts at New Durham, who conceded 39 points. Kevin Scullion gave the home side a good start with a 23 points victory over Ken Johnson. Tony Thompson kept the home momentum going when he reduced the deficit to five points with a win over Tony Ellison.

The match was thrown completely against the league individual results from the players as Wheatley Hill won all the remaining frames against the home side's three best players. Philip Taylor beat Thomas Cairns by thirty-three points, Steve Cave beat Neil Phillips by seven points and Jock Frost completed the victory by beating Gordon Bowes by twenty-seven points. These results gave Wheatley Hill B progress to the next round by 322 points to 260.

Belmont entertained First Division, Fishburn A and received 87 points start. Alan Buist gave the visitors a good start with a first frame win of nineteen points and the deficit was further reduced when John Griffin won by 60 points.

Tom Robinson senior put in a very good performance for the home side to just lose to the visiting John Carter by one point, a result which left Fishburn just seven behind. Chris Morley became the Belmont hero when he put in a great frame against Brian Quest to win by twenty-six points. This left Tom Robinson junior with thirty-three points start going into the final frame against Brian Quest, who best efforts were not enough as he went down by five points leaving Belmont as the 335 points to 297 winners.

Darlington Monday Night League

Results: Railway Athletic 4, JUC B 0; Darlington CC 2, Darlington Snooker C 2; Hopetown 3, Northgate 1. *Paul McMasters (DCC) 32-point break; P Mellor (Hopetown) 32 break.

January 19: Darlington Snooker A 2, Darlington Snooker B 2; Northgate 2, Darlington CC 2; JUC B 0, Hopetown 4.

Table: Darlington Snooker A 34; Hopetown 34; Railway Ath 28; Darlington CC 24; Northgate 21; JUC B 18; Darlington Snooker B 15; Darlington Snooker C 13.

Team knockout, semi-final draw, February 9: Railway Ath v Hopetown; Darlington CC v Darlington Snooker A. Finalist will play at Darlington Snooker Club on February 23.