Willington League

Willington Lion and Unicorn visited the leaders, Willington Black Horse Tavern and left with a spectacular victory as the home side went down to only their third defeat of the season. This defeat leaves the Tavern with a two points lead over Willington Black Horse Inn, who are six points ahead of Willington Lion and Unicorn, who have a match in hand.

Willington Black Horse Tavern only managed one singles point whilst the visiting Lion and Unicorn had wins from Phil Allison, Alan Lee, Phil Blyth and Donald Young. Laurie Norman and Dave Hawkins pulled one back by taking the first doubles for the Tavern, but Kevin Hill and Phil Allison completed a good victory for the Unicorn.

Results: W'ton Cottles 5 W'ton Market 2; W'ton Burn 4 Vic. Club 3; S'brow Brown Trout 3 W'ton Brewer's Droop 4; W'ton Commercial 3 Prospect Club 4; Hunwick Quarry 3 W'ton Black Horse Inn 4; W'ton Black Horse Tavern 2 W'ton Lion and Unicorn 5.

Crook League

Crook Traveller's Rest B put themselves in with a great chance of grabbing the Championship as they drew level with long time league leaders, Crook Belle Vue following a five-point home victory over the visiting Crook Mill House. With only one match left in the league the Championship hangs finely in the balance as Crook Coach and Horses A are only two points adrift of the joint leaders.

Only Ian Bibby managed to take a point for the Mill House, whilst the Traveller's Rest B had singles wins from Jimmy Singlewood, Aaron Cowan, Jim Ainsley, Bill Fairhurst and Peter Coates with Neil Campbell and Doug Bowey adding the doubles.

Crook King's Head dropped out of the race for the Second Division when they only managed to take the doubles through Kevin Carter and Stephen Dawson in their home match against Crook Surtees. The visitors had singles wins from Fred Hunt, Bob Heslop, Paul Ford, John Uren, Howard Trotter and Chris Bainbridge.

This win for the Surtees moved them two points behind the joint leaders, Crook Queen's Head B and Willington Market, meaning that the title fight will be just as tight as the First Division race.

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

Willington and

District League

The Prospect Club, who were the league leaders, are now forced to share the top spot with Willington Brewer's Droop B and Willington Cottles A after they went down in the decider at home to Willington Brewer's Droop A. Adrian Peacock and Derek peacock put the Prospect into a two points lead but Jason Martin and Billy Wragg levelled the match. In the decider the Brewer's Phil Blyth beat Paul Morris.

Cottles A were taken to the decider when they entertained Willington Lion and Unicorn. The visitors got away to a great start when Sheila Lee inflicted only the second defeat of the season on Brett Fleming. However Paul Trow and Darren Perkins pulled the home side ahead only to see Paul King level the match. In the decider Cottles, Gilly Spark beat John Bolam.

Willington Brewer's B were the stars of the week when they whitewashed the visiting Hunwick Club with wins from Jimmy Fleming, Davey Gallagher, Vince Conaty, Ronnie Thompson and Bob Saunders to join the top spot.

The three joint leaders are only two points ahead of Hunwick Club, who lead Willington Lion and Unicorn by three points.

Results: Willington Brewer's Droop B 5 Hunwick Club 0; Hunwick Quarry 2 Willington Cottles B 3; Prospect Club 2 Willington Brewer's Droop A 3; Willington Cottles A 3 Willington Lion and Unicorn 2.

Tow Law and District

The final stage of the League Singles Championship will be held in Tow Law Rose and Crown on Wednesday, February 19 at 8pm.

The following players have qualified: Goff Bramfitt, Bill Goodall, Stephen Laing, Terry Taylor, Ivor Childs, Phil Spencer, Dale Duxfield, Gavin Tennant, John Beveridge, Michael Bell, Tom Hauxwell, Robert Hopps, Ray Weir, Les Hind, Arthur Henderson, Charlie Donaghy, Wayne Tennant, Malcolm Boughey, Alan Ogilvie, Stephen Maughan, Paul Longstaff, Luke Johnson, Barry Sims, Paul Elliott, Chris Metcalfe, Steven Todd, Steve Simmons, Alan Henderson, Gary Watson, Colin Armstrong, Phil Hall, Terry Ginty, Gavin Hammell, Anthony Ward, Lee Mowbray, Angela Suddes, Keith Armstrong and Anthony Hird.

Tow Law Area League

The League Singles Championship will be held at Cornsay Royal Oak on Monday, February 17 with the Pairs Championship being held at Stanley Earl Derby on Monday, February 24. The Presentation Evening will be held at Esh McKennas on Monday, 10 March.