Worthington CIU League: Spennymoor A inflicted the first defeat on Wheatley Hill A when the teams met in the First Division top of the table clash at the Hill.

The Moors needed a good recovery and victory in the decider to pull off their win but it still left them a point behind their victims.

Dennis Clish made a great start for Wheatley Hill when he put in a 34 break to beat Eddie Rhodes. Dean Bryden increased the home lead with a win over Karl Welsh. Paul Biddle pulled one back for the Moors with a win over Dave Walker and Paul Atkinson levelled the match when he put in a decisive 62 break to beat Ronnie Peacock. In the decider Wheatley Hill went to their first defeat when Alan Hall lost to Michael Pratt.

Cockton Hill remain in third place in the First Division after they only dropped one point on their visit to Newton Aycliffe. Vickers Bell put the visitors ahead but John Briddick levelled. From that point Cockton Hill took over with wins from Andrew Aisbitt with a 32 break, George Chapman and Harold Lomax.

Wingate share fourth place after they dropped the first and last frames at Bearpark B. Alan Smith and Glen Morton won for the home side with Steve Allan, John Bourne and Dean Jones winning for Wingate.

Witton Gilbert claimed their share of fourth place with a win in the decider at Sherburn Village. Ian Renwick moved Witton ahead but John Bower and Scott Mallaburn edged the home side in front. Paul Nord levelled the match and Witton's John Rooney junior beat Peter McGowan in the decider.

Brandon also moved up to share the fourth spot when they only dropped one point to the visiting Fishburn A. John Carter took the only point for the visitors whilst Brian Graham, John Hall, Colin Goodrick and Graeme Jackson won for Brandon.

Old Shildon are struggling to hold on to their First Division place and went three down against the visiting Shotton Palms, who had wins from Paul Hickman, Jimmy Evans senior and Jimmy Evans junior. The Shildon side fought back to take points through David Waites and Martin Taylor.

Spennymoor B produced the best result in the Second Division when they only dropped one point to former leaders, Coundon. Stuart Neil put Coundon ahead with a 35 break but the Moors then took over with wins from Gary Easen, Phil Wilson, Alan Clarke and Micky Anderson.

Crowtrees A won in the decider at Newhouse to retain a share of the top spot in the Second Division. Phil Whitfield and Sonny Hann put Crowtrees ahead but Paul Wright and John Maddox equalised. In the decider Steve Armstrong took Crowtrees to victory by beating Ian Dinsdale.

Willington stay level with Crowtrees A after they won the decider against the visiting Ferryhill A. Stan Bennett put Willington ahead despite the 30 break from opponent, Bernie Jones. However Glynn Toas and Neil Spender pushed the visitors in front only to see Jeremy Martin level. In the decider, Willington's Arthur Goldsborough beat Steve Wray.

Meadowfield moved into third place in the Second Division, two points behind the joint leaders after they only dropped one point to the visiting Wheatley Hill B. Stephen Hughes, Norman Smith, Craig Hughes and Martin Halliday looked to be pushing Meadowfield to a maximum victory but Jock Frost saved the Hill's whitewash by taking the final frame.

Mark Appleby with a 30 break and Jeff Evans took the first and last frames for Sacriston but the visiting Stanley Central went to victory with wins from David Harrison, making his debut, Norman Rimmington and Jimmy Dufton.

Belmont made a vital victory against the visiting Langley Park to edge their way from the Second Division relegation zone. Mick Short, Billy McGrath, Chris Morley and Tom Robinson junior put Belmont ahead, whilst Lawrence Jones saved the Park from a whitewash.

New Durham stretched their lead at the top of the Third Division to nine points when they won in the top of the table decider at Hunwick A. Gordon Bowes put the visitors ahead but Neville Blenkinsopp and Ian Richardson then won for the home side. Thomas Cairns squared the match. The decider was between the two unbeaten players in the Third Division with Neil Phillips taking New Durham to victory by beating Peter Mernor.

Hunwick A's two points against New Durham kept them one point ahead of the joint third placed teams. Tow Law B moved up to their highest ever place when they only dropped one point to the visiting Durham City, who had Brian Dunn as their only winner. The Lawyers had wins from Adam Orton, John Warriner, Eric Lockerbie and Charlie Donaghy.

Hunwick B share the third place after they went down by the odd point at Crowtrees B. Terry Gibson, Martin Wolf and Paul Moralee won for the home side with Trevor Lomax and Arnold Fleming replying.

Tow Law A slipped to next to bottom spot when they lost by the odd point at Leeholme A, who took the first three frames through Gary Golightly, Karl Thompson and Andrew Roe. In one of the longest frames in league's history Alfie Edwards beat Ray Stubbs to reduce the arrears and Tommy Williams kept the Lawyers defeat to a minimum by taking the final frame.

Ian Chamberlain took the first point for Bearpark B at Ferryhill B but that was their final point. The home side took over with wins from Mark Wilson, Chris Buston, Bill Roddam and Dave Nelson.

Fishburn B edged through to an odd point victory over the visiting Leeholme B with wins from Michael Bell, George Whitelock and Dave Blythe. The visitors had points from Adrian Prest and Anthony Forster.

l All players are reminded that any proposals to change the Association constitution should be written and in the hands of the secretary by Monday, 26 January for consideration at the AGM on Thursday, February 26.

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

National CIU

Singles Championship

Michael Pratt of Chilton and Windlestone produced an excellent display to reach the last 16 of the National Competition when he travelled to Old Benwell Club and beat Robert Dray.

In the best of five frames match Pratt settled quickly to the table and ran in a 48 break, which was sufficient to put him one up. He then dominated the second frame and clinched it comfortably when he knocked in a 66 break. The whitewash was completed when Pratt knocked in an early 34 break and finished the frame with a 31 break.

Worthington CIU

Team Plate

Old Shildon pulled off a very good home win in the First Round when they beat the visiting First Division leaders, Wheatley Hill A by 101 points.

The visitors were conceding 49 points start but Dave Walker cut this to only three when he beat Old Shildon's Malcolm Parsley. However the home side then came with two good frame victories when Peter Coates beat Jack Wright by thirty seven and David Waites put in a 52 break to beat Alan Hall by 43.

The fourth frame produced the battle of the night with Martin Taylor of Old Shildon and Ronnie Peacock going point for point throughout. Eventually Ronnie took the frame at 69-67, but this left Wheatley Hill with an 81 points deficit going into the final frame. With this start, Paul Armstrong was never troubled by the visiting Dean Bryden and took the frame by 20 points to complete a 353 points to 252 victory.

Worthington CIU

Winter Singles

Third round draw: Dave Walker (Wheatley Hill A) v Brian Burks (New Durham); Scott Mallaburn (Sherburn Village) v John Jackson (Bearpark A); Kevin Sample (Brandon) v Sonny Hann (Crowtrees A); Charlie Donaghy (Tow Law B) v Chris Morley (Belmont); Willis Joynes (Witton Gilbert) v Sean Johnston (Crowtrees A); Lee Todd (Leeholme B) v John Bower (Sherburn Village); Vickers Bell (Cockton Hill) v Steve Armstrong (Crowtrees A); Graham Golbourn (Coundon) v Stephen Coates (Langley Park); Peter McGowan (Sherburn Village) v Mark Appleby (Sacriston); John Bourne (Wingate) v Paul Nord (Witton Gilbert); Frank Nicholson (Coundon) v Thomas Cairns (New Durham); Winston Hodgson (Fishburn B) v Keith McLaughlan (Crowtrees A); Dean Jones (Wingate) bye; Stuart Neil (Coundon) v Kevin Scullion (New Durham); Paul Atkinson (Spennymoor A) v Graeme Jackson (Brandon); John Hall (Brandon) v Billy Goggins (Coundon).

Worthington CIU Winter Pairs Championship

Third round draw: Ian Dinsdale & John Maddox (Newhouse) v Phil Garr & Brian Burks (New Durham); John Bower & Alan Greener (Sherburn Village) v George Whitelock & Jamie Hodgson (Fishburn B); Arthur Goldsborough & Jeremy Martin (Willington) v George Chapman & Andrew Aisbitt (Cockton Hill); Willis Joynes & Ian Renwick (Witton Gilbert) v David Harrison & Alan Craig (Stanley Central); Malcolm Peart & Paul Nord (Witton Gilbert) v Bob Reay & Ronnie Peacock (Wheatley Hill A); Michael Pratt & Paul Atkinson (Spennymoor A) v Sean Johnston & Steve Armstrong (Crowtrees A); Craig Hughes & Martin Halliday (Meadowfield) v Charlie Blake & Billy Goggins (Coundon); Dave Walker & Alan Hall (Wheatley Hill A) v Shaun Easter & Glen Morton (Bearpark).

Worthington CIU Handicap Singles

Third round draw: Tony Ellison 21 (Wheatley Hill B) v Dean Jones 8 (Wingate); Vickers Bell 20 (Cockton Hill) v Paul Atkinson -9 (Spennymoor A); Steve Armstrong 7 (Crowtrees A) v Kevin Sample 10 (Brandon); Colin Goodrick 21 (Brandon) v Mark Appleby 21 (Sacriston); Paul Nord 14 (Witton Gilbert) v John Robinson 40 (New Durham); Willis Joynes 12 (Witton Gilbert) v Phil Whitfield 35 (Crowtrees A); Sean Johnston 24 (Crowtrees A) v Alan Hall 14 (Wheatley Hill A); Stuart Neil 6 (Coundon) v Scott Mallaburn 8 (Sherburn Village); Chris Morley 24 (Belmont) v Gary Easen 20 (Spennymoor B); John Bower 18 (Sherburn Village) v Dave Hammond 19 (Wingate); Stephen Coates 24 (Langley Park) v Tony Thompson 18 (New Durham); Jock Frost 18 (Wheatley Hill B) v Peter Laverick 30 (Crowtrees A); Keith McLaughlan 16 (Crowtrees A) v Graham Golbourn 24 (Coundon); Anthony Forster 40 (Leeholme B) v John Hall 40 (Crowtrees B); Sonny Hann 14 (Crowtrees A) v John Hall 10 (Brandon); Stephen Hughes 20 (Meadowfield) v Steve Johnson 40 (Crowtrees B).

Crook League

Crook Spitfire Club looked to be starting the New Year as they left off when they found themselves three down to the visiting Crook Surtees, who had singles wins from Alan Tomlinson, Chris Bainbridge and Paul Ford. However the home side fought their way back into the match with singles wins from Mark Callaghan, Eddie Phillipson and Rebecca Newton. Then they went to victory in the deciding doubles when Phillipson and Callaghan beat Tomlinson and Bainbridge. This victory was not enough to lift them from the foot of the First Division but now they are just one point adrift.

Crook Queen's Head B produced a very good home win against the strong visiting Howden Australian. The Aussie only took one of the singles when Peter Johnson won, whilst the home side had wins from John Ferens, Alan Saville, Colin Cranston, Dave Heslop and Malcolm Gibson. The Aussie recovered to take the doubles through Ian Williams with Peter Johnson.

Crook Olde Horse Shoe A lead the First Division by one point from Crook Travellers Rest B, who are eight points ahead of Crook Belle Vue Club. Crook Coach and Horses B are 16 points clear in the Second Division with the second placed, Crook White Swan B three points ahead of Crook Queen's Head A.

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

Harry Little Memorial Handicap Pairs

Quarter finals draw: Ian Dinsdale & John Maddox 17 (Newhouse) v John Bower & Alan Greener 21 (Sherburn Village); Alan Buist & Peter Davison 23 (Fishburn) v Ian North & Ray Gill 40 (Leeholme); Colin Goodrick & Graham Jackson 20 (Brandon) v Stephen Bennett & Stuart Neill 9 (Coundon); Brian Quest & Charlie Hirst 17 (Fishburn) v Lawrence Jones & Barry Shaw 16 (Leeholme). Winners must inform secretary of acceptable semi-final dates.