Bishop Auckland and District League: Spennymoor Ash Tree moved nine points clear at the top of the table after they only dropped three points on their visit to Crook White Swan.

The home side had singles wins from Stephen Murphy, Carl Maddison and Dave Stewart, whilst the visitors had two singles points from Paul Biddle and Steve Hunter with Richard Turner, Steve Jones and Ronnie McAloon adding one each. McAloon and Hunter took the doubles for the Ash Tree, who completed a good win when Paul Biddle beat Dave Stewart in both captain's games.

Bishop Auckland Derby pulled off a very good odd point home win over Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B. The home side had two singles points from Chris Peacock and one each from Andrew Delve and Wayne King, whilst the visitors went ahead with two points from Paul Armstrong and Kevin Stewart and one each from Steve Balanaves and Mitchell Hopper. The Derby fought back to take the doubles through Stephen Lowther with Wayne Smith and completed the recovery when Andrew Delve beat Paul Armstrong in both captain's games.

Spennymoor Ash Tree have only one match remaining and hold their nine points lead over Crook Olde Horse Shoe, who have two matches remaining. The Shoe are 21 points clear of the third placed Crook Coach and Horses A.

Results: Bishop Auckland Football Club 9 Toft Hill Three Tuns 4; Crook Olde Horse Shoe 9 Tow Law Station 4; Henknowle Manor 11 Crook Coach and Horses B 2; Crook Coach and Horses A 13 Witton Park Rose and Crown 0; Crook White Swan 3 Spennymoor Ash Tree 10; Bishop Auckland Snooker Club A 5 Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms 8; Bishop Auckland Derby 7 Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B 6. Willington Brewer's Droop v Bishop Auckland RAFA Club no result.

Tow Law Scottish Courage League

Sunniside Comedian looked to be going strongly to cut the gap on the league leaders, Tow Law Dan's Castle A, when they raced into a 6-1 home lead over Tow Law New Market A. The home side had singles wins from Ray Johnson, David Walton, John Conley, Morgan Errington and John Hildreth with Ian Turner taking the only singles point for the visitors. Ray Johnson and Dave Walton went on to add the first doubles but the New Market upset the party when Goff Bramfitt with Bill Goodall and Tom Dowson with Ian Turner took the remaining doubles. This result leaves the Comedian two points behind the Dan's Castle A but eight ahead of the third placed, Tow Law Football Club.

Tow Law Station continued their improved form by winning their fifth game from the last six with an odd point home success over Tow Law Dan's Castle B. The singles were shared with Malcolm Boughey, Neil Morrallee and Alan Ogilvie winning for the Station and Lee Stevenson, David Murray and Paul Murray replying for the Castle. The Station went to victory by taking the first two doubles.

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

Auckland Area League

Bishop Auckland Grand A, without three key players, travelled to Spennymoor Hillingdon but the game started very even with the first six singles games going back-and-forth, Dales Briggs, John Taylor and Curtis Simpson winning for the home team and John Rickaby, Alan Sokell and Lee Ellison replying. The home side took over with wins from Barry Walton, John Taylor, Ben Smith and Dale Briggs to give them a 7-3 lead after the singles. The Grand fought back to take the remaining three games with Lee Ellison with Gary McCaskill and Michael Keen with Darras Jones taking both doubles and Alan Sokell claiming the captains game.

Last year's champions, Spennymoor Voltigeur A travelled to the league's newest members West Auckland Earl of Warwick this week and showed no mercy to the newcomers. Dean Mains, Andy Mole, Tony Biddle and Kelvin Anderson won two singles games whilst Darren Briggs and David Graham added one each. Scott Heseltine and Chris Smart took the first doubles for the home side but that was to be their only point as Tony Biddle and Dean Mains took the next doubles game and Darren Briggs the captain's.

Results: West Auckland Earl of Warwick 1 Spennymoor Voltigeur A 12; Spennymoor Hillingdon 7 Bishop Auckland Grand A 6; Bishop Auckland Manor 11 Bishop Auckland Beehive 2; Spennymoor Voltigeur B 10 Spennymoor Wheatsheaf 3.

Durham and

District League

Framwellgate Marquis of Granby travelled to Consett for a top of the table clash with the Stateside and lost by three points. Kevin Rainbow, David Castledene and Dave Harrop all won two points for the Stateside with Rob Hogarth and Davy Bridge adding one each. For the Marquis, Trevor Walton won two games, one of which was an eight ball clearance, with Dave Hodgson, Grame Cumerford and Ivor Lloyd adding one game each.

This victory for Stateside has moved them three points clear at the top of the table with Sacriston Daisy Hill B moving into second place, one point ahead of Framwellgate Moor Marquis of Granby, Durham Snooker Club are a further point adrift.

Results: Consett Stateside 8 Marquis of Granby 5; Horden Big Club 11 Ushaw Moor Winnings 2; Ushaw Moor Catholic Club 8 Spennymoor Voltigeur 5; Bowburn Hare and Greyhound 8 Bowburn Cooperage 5; Durham Snooker Club 11 Witton Gilbert White Tun 2; Sacriston Daisy Hill 'B' 10 Coxhoe W.M. Club 3; Ushaw Moor Flass Inn 5 Bowburn Oak Tree 8; Gilesgate Three Horse Shoes 7 Sacriston Daisy Hill 'A' 6.

County Super League

Spennymoor put themselves in a very strong position to wrestle the Championship from the holders, Horden after they whitewashed the league newcomers, Willington. The Moors had two points each from Paul Biddle, Steve Hunter, Ronnie McAloon, Dave Bromley, Dave Elliott, Richard Turner and Steve Jones.

Crook B moved up to equal third place with Crook A after they came through to beat their hosts at Tow Law by taking the last two points. The Lawyers had wins from Lee Cullinan, Andrew Burrows, John Beveridge and Stephen Turner to add to the two points from David Craggs to hold the match at six each, with Crook B having two points from Johnny Mason and Gerald Parkin and one each from Gavin Witton, and David Stephenson. The home hopes of providing a surprise victory were shattered when Les Scott and Cliffy Owen took the final two frames for the visitors.

The Player of the Year title for the most wins has been won again by Johnny Mason of Crook B. The leading players to date are 1st Johnny Mason 36 wins; 2 John Bourne 32; 3 Gavin Witton 31; 4 Darren Tinkler and Paul Biddle 28 each; 6 Michael Burke 27; 7 equal Trevor Walton, Phillip Cox and James Evans 26 wins each.

The key remaining matches for the top four are Newton Aycliffe v Crook A; Crook B v Spennymoor and Horden v Durham A, whilst Spennymoor's game in hand is at home to Newton Aycliffe.

Willington and District League

Willington Lion and Unicorn pulled off a good away win over third placed Willington Cottles by the odd point. The home side had singles wins from Brett Fleming and Paul Trow, whilst the Unicorn went ahead with wins from Paul King, John Bolam, Alan Lee junior and Dave Hawkins. The visitors then completed certain victory when John Bolam and Paul King took the first doubles, although Cottles fought back to narrow the margin by winning the last two doubles.

Second placed, Byers Green Royal Oak also suffered an odd point reversal when they visited the Prospect Club. The singles were shared when Ces Atkinson, Keith Hirst and Gary Fitzpatrick won for the home wised and Paul Brownson, Ian brown and Gary Slater replied for the Oak. However the Prospect ensured their victory when they took the first two doubles.

Sunnybrow Brown Trout only dropped three points at Willington Brewer's Droop to move nine points clear at the top of the table with the Royal Oak in second place, four points clear of Cottles B.

Results: Willington Brewer's Droop 3 Sunnybrow Brown Trout 6; Willington Burn 4 Willington New Inn 5; Prospect Club 5 Byers Green Royal Oak 4; Willington Cottles B 4 Willington Lion and Unicorn 5. No result: Hunwick Quarry v Willington Cottles A.

Crook Individual League

Michael Burke strengthened his chance of taking the title when he whitewashed Richard Walker to go three points clear at the top. David Stephenson is also in with a strong chance of finishing in one of the leading prize money positions after he whitewashed Doug Bowey, who also suffered a similar fate at the hands of Adam Martin. Neil Campbell, also still in with an outside chance of landing a top four place, dropped a vital point to Lee Cullinan.

There a vast number of permutations possible to decide the top four places but if David Craggs takes four points from his last two matches he takes the title but if only takes three then Michael Burke is the winner because he beat Craggs in their match.

The matches on Monday, November 10 at Crook Coach and Horses are: A. Martin v D. Craggs; Les Scott v S. Burke; D. Tinkler v N. Campbell; Les Scott v Lee Scott; Adam Martin v Lee Scott; J. Mason v D. Craggs.

First Round of the Knock Out Cup: Monday, November 17: N. Campbell v D. Bowey; Les Scott v D. Craggs; D. Tinkler v A. Martin; M. Burke v R. Walker. Monday, 24 November - J. Mason v L. Cullinan; A. Cowan v D. Haygarth; S. Heyes v D. Stephenson; Lee Scott v S. Burke.