Hill become early season pace-setters

The Hill had wins from Dennis Clish, Ronnie Peacock, Dave Walker, Alan Hall and Dean Bryden, who finished off a good night with a 39 break.

Spennymoor A went a point behind Wheatley Hill when they dropped a point on their visit to Newton Aycliffe, who had Mark Howe as their only winner. The points for the Moors came from Eddie Rhodes, Michael Pratt, Paul Biddle, who put in a 31 break and Paul Atkinson, who had a 37 break.

Wingate went equal third with Fishburn A when they visited Brandon and clinched their odd point success in the decider. Steve Allen put the visitors ahead but Kevin Sample and Brian Graham moved Brandon ahead. John Bourne levelled the match and then Jimmy Mason took Wingate to victory when he beat Graham Jackson.

Fishburn A also needed a win in the decider to beat the visiting Witton Gilbert. Charlie Hirst put the home side ahead but then John Rooney senior and Willis Joynes edged Witton ahead. John Griffin levelled the match and then Fishburn's John Carter beat John Rooney junior in the decider.

Old Shildon made their first win of the season with an odd point success over the visiting Bearpark A. Steve Mountain put the visitors ahead but Martin Taylor and Malcolm Parsley moved Old Shildon ahead. Glen Morton squared the match but then Old Shildon went to victory when Peter Coates beat Andy Donaldson in the decider.

Cockton Hill were never headed when they beat the visiting Shotton Palms in the decider. George Chapman put the home side ahead with James Evans levelling. Andrew Aisbitt restored the home lead only to see Paul Hickman equalise. In the decider Cockton Hill's Kevin Mordica beat Dave Swindle.

Coundon held on to their top spot in the Second Division with an odd point home win over Langley Park. The home side had wins from Willy Shoulder, Stuart Neil and Stephen Bennett whilst Kevin Keers and Robert Roche replied for the Park.

Crowtrees A took over the second place after they only dropped one point at Wheatley Hill B, who had Ken Johnson as their only winner. Crowtrees points came from Keith McLaughlan, Sean Johnston, Steven Armstrong with a 65 break and Sonny Hann.

Spennymoor B moved up to equal third place with Newhouse after they only dropped one point to the visiting Stanley Central. The home side looked to be their way to a whitewash when they took the first four frames through Alan Rouell, Alan Clarke, Gary Easen and Micky Anderson but Jimmy Dufton stopped the visitors bad run by taking the final frame.

Newhouse shot into a winning three points lead over the visiting Sacriston with wins from Paul Wright, Ian Dinsdale and Ronnie Pearson but the visitors fought back to take the last two points through Steve Bradley and Willy Nixon.

Willington made their first win of the season when they visited Belmont and only dropped one point when Billy McGrath won for the home side. The Willington points came from Bobby Lee, Jeremy Martin junior, Arthur Goldsborough and Jeremy Martin senior.

Ferryhill only dropped one point on their visit to Meadowfield, who had Stephen Hughes as their only winner. The visitors points came from Glyn Toas, Steve Wray, Neil Spender and Adrian Jones.

New Durham hold a one point lead in the Third Division after they only dropped one point at Tow Law A, who had Tommy Williams as their only winner. The visitors' wins came from Neil Phillips, Brian Burks with a 33 break, Thomas Cairns and Kevin Scullion.

Hunwick B occupy second place in the Third Division after they only dropped one point on their visit to Bearpark B. Ian Chamberlain took the lone point for the home side, whilst Barry Fleming, Tom Ward, David Penman and John Bate scored for Hunwick B.

Crowtrees B took over the third place in the Third Division with an odd point home win over Tow Law B. the home side had wins from Terry Gibson, John hall and David Taylor, whilst the Lawyers replied with wins from John Warriner and Charlie Donaghy.

Leeholme B made their first win of the season with an odd point success at Ferryhill B. The home side took the first and last frames through Ian Roddam and Chris Buston, whilst Leeholme B went victory with wins from Adrian Forster, John Proudfoot and John Taylor.

Alan Wilson was the only winner for Fishburn B when they visited Hunwick A, who went to victory with wins from Des Mason, Norman Kirkley, Peter Mernor and Ian Richardson.

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

Kingsway Krugerrand Competition

There were two very different games in last week's section of the tournament. One game saw a comfortable whitewash victory, whilst the other went to five frames and ended in controversy.

Pool teammates, Paul Hickman from Shotton and John Bourne from Horden met with Bourne under the weather from a cold. This showed as he lacked his usual accuracy and Hickman's steady approach won him all three frames. In the first Hickman had built up a good lead and finished off with a 24 break to take the frame at 61-30.

In the second frame Hickman again got among the balls to establish an early lead with a 26 break. Bourne never managed to recover and went down 65-15. A similar pattern was established in the third frame with Hickman putting in a 22 break and going on to take the frame and the match at 86-36.

On the other table Mike Thornton of Darlington met Ronnie Peacock of Wheatley Hill, who was suffering from a frozen right shoulder and unable to use the rest, which he used right handed, whilst playing normally left-handed. In the first frame Thornton scored consistently to win 65-25. The second frame saw Thornton dominate with a 25 break to win 67-13.

The third frame was even until Peacock put in a decisive 22 break to take it at 61-37. There was a similar pattern to the fourth frame, which Peacock levelled the match by winning 61-37. The deciding frame was always close until Peacock put in 20 to go ahead and then took the final red with a pink and the yellow to lead 57-33. His attempt at the green missed but he left a snooker, which Thornton failed to hit and a miss was called. Thornton objected that the referee was wrong and eventually conceded the frame and the match.

On Thursday, November 13 at the Kingsway Club, in Kingsway (above the Lightfoot Institute), Bishop Auckland the first two quarter finals will produce two very good games when Clyde Pearson of Darlington meets Jimmy Evans of Birtley and Steven Armstrong of Crowtrees Club meets Charlie Blake of Middleton-in-Teesdale. The games start at 7.30pm and spectators are welcome with no entry fee.

Worthington CIU Team Knockout Cup

First round draw (matches to be played on or before December 15): Hunwick B v Willington; Fishburn B v Shotton Palms; Tow Law A v Langley Park; Coundon v Spennymoor A.

Second round (to be played on Tuesday, December 16): Fishburn B or Shotton Palms v Wingate; Crowtrees A v New Durham; Ferryhill B v Wheatley Hill A; Cockton Hill v Meadowfield; Sacriston v Ferryhill A; Tow Law B v Sherburn Village; Newhouse v Leeholme A; Stanley Central v Witton Gilbert; Coundon or Spennymoor A v Spennymoor B; Belmont v Brandon; Bearpark A v Tow Law A or Langley Park; Leeholme B v Bearpark B; Hunwick A v Old Shildon; Wheatley Hill B v Crowtrees B; Durham City v Fishburn A; Newton Aycliffe v Hunwick B or Willington.

Crook League

League leaders, Crook Travellers Rest B went down to their first defeat of the season when the visiting Willington Market won by the odd point. The visitors had singles wins from Tommy Barrass, Dave Tobbell, Ian Moore and Paul Briddick, whilst the Travellers had singles points from Neil Campbell and Lee Taylor with Michael Burke joining Lee Taylor to take the doubles.

In the Second Division Crook Jelly's Bar A maintained their unbeaten away record, but have still failed to win at home, when they beat their hosts at Crook White Swan B by three points. The Swan's two points came in the singles when Stuart Miller and Carl Maddison won, whilst Jelly's went to victory with singles wins from Andrew Johnson, Keith Dixon, Andrew Heyes and John Gibson whilst Glynn Vasey joined John Gibson to take the doubles.

Crook Travellers Rest B lead the First Division by two points from Crook Belle Vue and Crook Olde Horse Shoe A, whilst the unbeaten Crook Golden Fleece B are in fourth place only two points adrift with a match in hand. Crook Coach and Horses B are five points ahead of Crook White Swan A and Crook Olde Horse Shoe B in the Second Division, with Crook Jelly's Bar A a further two points adrift.

Results: Crook Coach and Horses A 2 Crook Mill House 5; Crook Belle Vue 5 Crook Travellers Rest A 2; Crook Surtees 2 Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 5; Crook Spitfire Club 4 Crook Royal Sun 3; Crook Travellers Rest B 3 Willington Market 4; Crook White Swan B 2 Crook Jelly's Bar A 5; Crook Queen's Head B 3 Crook Queen's Head A 4; Howden Australian 1 Crook Coach and Horses B 6; Crook Jelly's Bar B 2 Crook White Swan A 5; Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 4 Crook Golden Fleece A 3. Willington Brewer's Droop v Stanley Earl Derby no result - home team fined £2.

Worthington CIU Summer Singles Final

Scott Mallaburn of Sherburn Village became the new name of the Singles Championship Trophy after he beat Willis Joynes of Witton Gilbert in the final played at Fishburn.

In the first frame Joynes got away to the better start and led by 19 but this was wiped out when Mallaburn put in a run of 20 and then went on to clinch the frame with a 27 break. The winning score was 53-35. The second frame was dominated by small breaks followed by some tight safety play. Mallaburn put in runs of 18 and 14 with Joynes replying with two 11's and a 14, which was just enough for him to level the match with a 59-41 win.

The third frame was level throughout until Joynes potted a late red and had a choice of a simple green or a harder blue, which would have been good for position. He decided on the blue but failed with the pot and allowed Mallaburn back to table to clinch the frame at 57-44 with a 20 break.

The fourth frame proved to be all Mallaburn when he got in with an early 21 and then clinched the frame and the match with a later visit for 39 to win 66-2. The match was tight throughout and played in a very good spirit but really decided by the odd missed pot from Joynes.

Worthington CIU

Pairs Final

The final could not have been closer for it was decided on the final black in the match of aggregate scores over three frames. Stephen Bennett and Stuart Neil of Coundon met Gordon Bowes and Thomas Cairns of New Durham at Langley Park in the final, which was dominated by some very good safety play.

In the first frame Cairns and Bowes made small breaks and followed them by tight safety to go into a good lead but were then set back when Neil hit a 27 break. Despite this the New Durham pair took the first frame at 66-47. The second frame followed a similar pattern although the Coundon pair were able to stay in closer touch and a late run of 14 from Neil meant that they only dropped the frame at 43-39 to go into the last with a 23 points deficit.

The packed audience were spell bound by the final frame with every score cheered and the New Durham lead staying in the teens. However on the last red, Bowes came to the table snookered. He manoeuvred the cue ball correctly to hit the red but was unlucky to go in-off. Bennett, who had been playing far below his best, suddenly found his form to take the red with two yellows, green, brown and blue to leave him needing only the pink for victory. He went close but the ball came away for Cairns to pot and leave himself with good position on the black along the top cushion to a difficult pocket. He took on the pot but the ball wobbled to bring Neil to the table. He was left with a similar position that Steve Davies found himself in when he lost the World Championship to Dennis Taylor, but Neil calmly knocked the black in to win 151-142.

Worthington CIU Winter Pairs Championship

First round draw: George Chapman & Andrew Aisbitt (Cockton Hill) v Alan Bower & Michael Bower (Sherburn Village); Willy Shoulder & Mally Ryder (Coundon) v John Rooney sen & John Rooney jun (Witton Gilbert); Stephen Bennett & Stuart Neil (Coundon) v John Wilson & Karl Welsh (Spennymoor A); Willis Joynes & Ian Renwick (Witton Gilbert) v Alan Richardson & Willie Nixon (Sacriston); Tommy Williams & Alf Edwards (Tow Law) v Gordon Bowes & Thomas Cairns (New Durham); Dave Walker & Alan Hall (Wheatley Hill A) v Lawrence Jones & Barry Shaw (Leeholme A); Peter Laverick & Phil Whitfield (Crowtrees A) v Des Mason & Andrew Carr (Hunwick A); Craig Hughes & Martin Halliday (Meadowfield) v Tony Ellison & Dave Blyth (Wheatley Hill B); Jeff Evans & Mark Appleby (Sacriston) v Phil Wilson & Alan Rouell (Spennymoor B); Sonny Hann & Keith McLauchlan (Crowtrees A) v John Robinson & Neil Phillips (New Durham); A. Robinson & W. Bentham (Belmont) v Dave Hammond & Dean Jones (Wingate); Jock Frost & Steve Cave (Wheatley Hill B) v George Whitelock & Jamie Hodgson (Fishburn B); Arthur Goldsborough & Jeremy Martin (Willington) v Chris Buston & Stuart Roddam (Ferryhill B); Malcolm Hughes & Ian Hodgson (Meadowfield) v Peter Davison & Alan Buist (Fishburn A); Kevin Sample & Owen Howarth (Brandon) v Phil Garr & Brian Burks (New Durham); Mark Brown & John Taylor (Leeholme B) v Dave Taylor & Martin Wolfe (Crowtrees B); Billy Roddam & Ian Roddam (Ferryhill B) v Brian Graham & John Hall (Brandon); Neville Blenkinsopp & Ian Richardson (Hunwick A) v John Bourne & Paul Harrison (Wingate); Kevin Richardson & E. Risbridger (Sacriston) v Tom Parkin & Gordon Parkin (Willington); Malcolm Peart & Paul Nord (Witton Gilbert) v Gary Atkinson & Gary Surtees (Sacriston); Steve Johnson & John Hall (Crowtrees B) v Jack Wright & Dean Bryden (Wheatley Hill A); John Bower & Alan Greener (Sherburn Village) v Graham Golbourn & Frank Nicholson (Coundon); Michael Pratt & Paul Atkinson (Spennymoor A) v Tony Thompson & Kevin Scullion (New Durham); Harry Grimes & Jim Dufton (Stanley Central) v Scott Mallaburn & Peter McGowan (Sherburn Village); John Griffin & John Carter (Fishburn A) v Gary Easen & Alan Clarke (Spennymoor B); Ian Dinsdale & John Maddox (Newhouse) v Chris Morley & C. Robinson (Belmont); Wayne Parry & David Louth (Spennymoor B) v David Harrison & Alan Craig (Stanley Central); Charlie Hirst & Wayne Oliver (Fishburn A) v Charlie Blake & Billy Goggins (Coundon); Michael Bell & Winston Hodgson (Fishburn B) v Bob Reay & Ronnie Peacock (Wheatley Hill A); Jimmy Mason & Joe Hennessey (Wingate) v Ken Johnson & Norman Carr (Wheatley Hill B); Graham Jackson & Colin Goodrick (Brandon) v Sean Johnston & Steve Armstrong (Crowtrees A); Shaun Easter & Glen Morton (Bearpark) v Stephen Hughes & John Jackson (Meadowfield). Matches to be played on or before 24 November.

Worthington CIU Handicap Singles

First round draw: Anthony Forster 40 (Leeholme B) v Malcolm Hughes 20 (Meadowfield); John Wilson 20 (Spennymoor A) v Peter McGowan 24 (Sherburn Village); Chris Davison 45 (Leeholme B) v Charlie Blake 7 (Coundon); Graeme Jackson 18 (Brandon) v Peter Laverick 30 (Crowtrees A); Jeff Evans 30 (Sacriston) v Alan Greener 24 (Sherburn Village); Paul Morallee 35 (Crowtrees B) v Thomas Cairns 12 (New Durham); Stuart Neil 6 (Coundon) v Robert Roche 10 (Langley Park); Stephen Hughes 20 (Meadowfield) v Dean Bryden 14 (Wheatley Hill A); Sean Johnston 24 (Crowtrees A) v Karl Thompson 35 (Leeholme A); Alfie Edwards 50 (Tow Law A) v Brian Burks 21 (New Durham); John Bourne 5 (Wingate) v John Jackson 20 (Bearpark A); Willis Joynes 12 (Witton Gilbert) v Lee Todd 40 (Leeholme B); Willy Shoulder 21 (Coundon) v John Hall 10 (Brandon); Phillip Garr 24 (New Durham) v Alan Rouell 20 (Spennymoor B); Billy Goggins 7 (Coundon) v Jimmy Evans 5 (Shotton Palms); Craig Hughes 20 (Meadowfield) v Brian Graham 10 (Brandon); Ian Catterson 50 (Leeholme A) v Phil Whitfield 35 (Crowtrees A); Gordon Bowes 14 (New Durham) v Paul Atkinson -9 (Spennymoor A). There are forty-six byes. Results to be into the League Secretary by 24 November.