Tow Law Scottish Courage League: Tow Law Dan's Castle A had their lead at the top cut to three points despite winning at Tow Law New Market B.

But the second placed Sunniside Comedian almost pulled off a whitewash victory on their visit to Tow Law Station.

The New Market B team managed two singles through Tom Hauxwell and Michael Bell whilst the league leaders from Dan's Castle A had wins from Lee Stockdale, Ian Johnson, Gary Watson and Alan Henderson. The home side took a doubles point through David Spencer and John Beveridge whilst the Castle ensured their victory with doubles points from Alan Henderson with Collin Armstrong and Ian Johnson with Gary Watson.

Christopher Reed put Tow Law Station ahead by winning the first frame against the visiting second placed, Sunniside Comedian. However the visitors then took over and never dropped another frame as they had singles wins from Dave Walton, John Conley, Morgan Errington, Keith Race and John Hildreth to add to the three doubles they also won.

Tow Law Football Club are in third place but have slipped 12 points behind Sunniside Comedian after they struggled to an odd point home win over Hamilton Row Black Horse.

Results: Tow Law Football Club 5 Hamilton Row Black Horse 4; Tow Law Dan's Castle B 7 Tow Law New Market A 2; Tow Law Rose and Crown 3 Newhouse Club 6; Tow Law Station 1 Sunniside Comedian 8; Tow Law New Market B 3 Tow Law Dan's Castle A 6.

Bishop Auckland and District League

The League Singles Championship first round qualifiers were held at eight venues with two players from each going forward to the next stage. The winners from the Crook Coach and Horses were Chris Peacock (Derby) and Kevin Carter (White Swan). The winners from the Bishop Auckland Snooker Club were Stephen Liddle (Olde Horse Shoe) and Michael Hoggart (Snooker Club).

The winners from the Bishop Auckland Football Club were Lee Diaz (Football Club) and Craig Lumley (Football Club). The winners from the Henknowle manor were Craig Robson (Cumberland Arms) and Ronnie Wright (Manor).

The winners from the Witton Park Rose and Crown were Steve Balanaves (Snooker Club) and Richard Walker (Olde Horse Shoe). The winners from the Spennymoor Weardale were Michael Burke (Coach and Horses) and Martin Short (Weardale).

The winners from the Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms were Dave Haygarth (Coach and Horses) and Geoff Proud (Cumberland). The winners from the Bishop Auckland Derby were Stephen Lowther (Derby) and Andrew Delve (Derby).

Willington and

District League

Byers Green Royal Oak held on to their second spot in the table after they beat the visiting Willington Burn by three points. The home side had singles wins from Jeff Morrow, Anthony Binks, Stephen Dawson and Ian Brown, whilst the Burn replied through Joe Chatterton and Gordon Foster. The Oak went to victory by taking two of the three doubles points.

Willington New Inn went down in the decider against the visiting Willington Lion and Unicorn. The singles were shared with Des Ayre, Dominic Milburn and Phil Blyth winning for the New Inn and John Bolam, Paul Williams and Dave Hawkins replying. Alan Lee senior and John Bolam moved the visitors ahead by taking the first doubles but the new Inn squared the match when Phil Blyth and Des Ayre won the second doubles. In the decider Kevin Hill and Dave Hawkins took the Unicorn to victory when they beat Paul Cater and Chris Clough.

Hunwick Quarry beat the visiting Willington Brewer's Droop in the doubles decider. The Quarry had singles wins from Dave Robson, Geoff Moore, Dave Edmundson and Chris Lowe with Billy Wragg and Tony Fleming replying. The visitors levelled the match by taking the first two doubles but Jamie Wragg and Dave Edmundson took the Quarry to victory by winning the decider.

Results: Willington New Inn 4 Willington Lion and Unicorn 5; Hunwick Quarry 5 Willington Brewer's Droop 4; Byers Green Royal Oak 6 Willington Burn 3; Willington Cottles B 7 Prospect Club 2; Sunnybrow Brown Trout 7 Willington Cottles A 2.

SDC Northern Howard Developments League

Played at the Station Hotel, Hurworth

Auckland Area League

Last season's top two met when early season leaders, Spennymoor Voltigeur A visited Bishop Auckland Manor with the home side hoping to avenge an odd point defeat earlier in the season. They started brightly with Steven Webb, Peter Mernor and Jon Tomlinson taking the first three games before visiting captain Darren Briggs scored for the Volti. Bill Turner took the Manor's lead back to three before Tony Biddle reduced it again. Peter Mernor increased the lead again but Kelvin Anderson immediately reduced it. The Manor's John Collinson took the next to again give them a three point lead but Andy Mole took the last point for the Voltigeur to leave the home side two up after the singles. The visitors gave themselves a chance of victory when Darren Briggs and David Graham took the first doubles game but that was to be their last point. Bob Webb and Bill Turner claimed the second doubles game and Steven Webb the captains to give the Manor victory.

Bishop Auckland Beehive visited Spennymoor Wheatsheaf and got off to a flying start when Kevin Hopton, Ian Bainbridge, Steven Gwinn and Maurice Rowell took the first four singles games. Phil Taylor and Ryan Murray pulled two back for the home side but Robert Coatsworth and Kevin Hopton took the visitor's lead back to four points. Paul Gough and Dave Hutchinson reduced the home arrears to two points. Rachel Rowell and Kevin Hopton took the first doubles for the Beehive and Wayne Johnson and Paul Gough the second for the Wheatsheaf. The visitor's Dean Calcutt won the captain's game to give the Beehive a three pints victory.

Results: Bishop Auckland Grand B 5 Bishop Auckland Derby 8; Bishop Auckland King's Head 11 West Auckland Earl of Warwick 2; Bishop Auckland Manor 8 Spennymoor Voltigeur A 5; Spennymoor Voltigeur B 9 Bishop Auckland Grand A 4; Spennymoor Wheatsheaf 5 Bishop Auckland Beehive 8.

Crook Individual

Knockout Cup

There were no shock results in the second half of the first round as all the favourites went into the quarter finals. However Lee Cullinan made it look like a major turn-up was on the cards when he met third placed Johnny Mason and broke in the first frame and cleared up. After Mason broke in the second, Cullinan potted five balls but they inadvertently snookered himself. This allowed Mason to take the frame, settle to his normal standard and take the match without dropping another frame.

In the tightest match of the night, Stephen Heyes took sixth placed David Stephenson to the decider. Stephenson potted the black in the first frame but saw the cue ball slowly sink into a pocket. He levelled in the next but Heyes restored his lead until Stephenson again equalised. In the decider, which was a long tactical battle, Heyes made a tactical error when opting for a free ball but failed to capitalise on his choice and Stephenson edged through to victory.

Results: Lee Scott 3 Stephen Burke 1; David Haygarth 3 Aaron Cowan 0; Johnny Mason 3 Lee Cullinan 1; David Stephenson 3 Stephen Heyes 2.