The last unbeaten record was destroyed when Stanley Central visited Bearpark and lowered their host's colours in the Second Division for the first time.

Frank Foster put the Central ahead but David Jackson and Shaun Easter with a 35 break moved the home side in front. However Jimmy Dufton levelled the match and the Central went to victory when Norman Rimmington beat Alan Smith in the decider.

Besides the end of an unbeaten record, there was the end to a losing run as Wheatley Hill B made their first victory in the Second Division by recovering twice and then taking the decider against the visiting Hunwick A. Phil Blyth put the visitors ahead but Dave Blyth, making his first appearance of the season, levelled. Des Mason restored Hunwick's lead but Jock Frost put in a 33 break to equalise. In the decider the Hill's Tony Ellison beat Norman Kirkley.

In the First Division the two Hills, Cockton Hill and Wheatley Hill both managed to stay in touch with the leaders when both came back from a two points deficit to win in the decider.

Paul Hickman and Barry Hall put Shotton Palms two up on their visit to Cockton Hill. However the home side equalised with wins from Vickers Bell and Kevin Mordica. In the decider the Hill's Andrew Aisbitt beat John Armstrong.

Meadowfield went two ahead of the visiting Wheatley Hill A with wins from Craig Hughes and John Jackson. Dean Bryden and Jack Wright pulled the visitors back into the game and then Ronnie Peacock clinched the Hill's victory when he beat Norman Smith in the decider.

Spennymoor A held on to the top spot after only dropping one point to the visiting Willington, who had Jeremy Martin as their only winner. The Moors winners were Paul Atkinson, Paul Biddle, Eddie Rhodes and Ronnie Bateman.

Old Shildon stay in second place after they were never headed on their visit to Newton Aycliffe. Charlie Blake put the visitors ahead but Bill Barrigan levelled. Billy Goggins restored Shildon's Lead but Michael Hewitt put in a 54 break to equalise. In the decider, Shildon's Steven Bennett beat John Briddick.

Fishburn A also maintained their outside hopes of finishing in a trophy position with a good home win over Sherburn Village, who had John Bower as their only winner. The home side had points from Wayne Oliver, Brian Quest with a 31 break, John Carter and Charlie Hirst.

Brandon were never headed when they visited Witton Gilbert. Brian Graham put in a 30 break to put them ahead but John Rooney junior put in a 32 break to level. John Hall restored Brandon's lead but Ian Renwick pulled Witton level again. In the decider Brandon's Kevin Sample beat Willis Joynes.

Wingate strengthened their top spot in the Second Division with a whitewash victory over the visiting Belmont. The home winners were John Bourne, Steve Allen, Paul Harrison, Geoff Howe and Jim Mason.

Crowtrees A made their best win of the season when they were inspired by Peter Laverick's first win of this term against the visiting Ferryhill. Phil Whitfield, Sean Johnston and Keith McLauchlan added to the home side score, whilst Glyn Toas prevented the whitewash.

Newhouse's challenge for promotion took a dent when they went down in the decider at Langley Park. Kevin Keers and Stephen Coates won for the Park with Steve Mountain and John Maddox levelling. In the decider the Park's Ray Coates beat Jimmy Hassen.

Sacriston look good for promotion to Division Two after they only dropped one point to the visiting Leeholme A, who had Lawrence Jones as their only winner. Dale Evans, Kevin Laing, Jeff Evans and Mark Appleby scored points for Sacriston.

Coundon maintained the Sacriston pace when they won by the odd point at Hunwick B. John Bate and Barry Fleming won for the home side with Frank Nicholson, Gary Goulbourn and John Paul Wringe took Coundon through.

Durham City got back into the title race when they beat their rivals from the visiting Crook Belle Vue for the loss of only one point. John Davies, Michael Pratt, Gary Ward and Peter McClean took the first four points for the City but John Warriner took the final point to avoid the whitewash.

New Durham made their best win of the season when they never dropped a point at home to Fishburn B. The home points came from Thomas Cairns, Phil Garr, Gordon Bowes, Kevin Scullion and Brian Birks.

Leeholme B made their second victory of the season when they beat the visiting Crowtrees B by the odd point. The home side had wins from Lee Todd, Glen Douthwaite and Ray Gill, whilst the visitors replied through Martin Wolf and Dave Taylor.

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

Worthington CIU Team Plate

Durham City made comfortable progress to the second round when they beat the visiting Crowtrees B, who had a 34 point start. In the first frame Durham's Michael Pratt beat Terry Gibson by fourteen points and Brian Dunn continued the winning run for the home side as he extended the lead to 18 points.

Gary Ward killed off the match in favour of Durham City when he hit top form and stretched the home side's lead to 83 points. Barry Stoddart continued providing the misery for the visitors when he won by 34 points. Dave Taylor won the final frame for Crowtrees but it was only by two points and left Durham City as the 326 points to 191 winners.

Crook League

Ithe only match played, Crook King's Head lost a good chance of challenging the Second Division hierarchy when they went down by three points to bottom team, Crook Coach and Horses B. This leaves the King's ten points behind the leaders, Willington Market.

Crook Olde Horse Shoe lead the First Division by 14 points from Crook Travellers Rest B, who are five ahead of Crook Royal Sun. Willington Market lead the Second Division by seven points from Crook Jelly's Bar A, who are one point ahead of Crook Surtees and Three ahead of Crook King's Head.

The draw for the last 16 of the League Singles Championship to be played before 12 February is Simon Boughey v Ray Holliday; Chris Raine v Ian Bibby; Richard Walker v Michael Burke; Gerald Parkin v David Stephenson; Gavin Witton v Stephen Liddle; Les Scott v Jeff Sneath; Dave Haygarth v Lee Scott; Doug Bowey v John Warriner.

The draw for the quarterfinals of the League Doubles Championship to be played before February 12 is Haygarth and Johnson v Campbell and Taylor; Carter and Maddison v McCarthy and Sneath; Moore and Briddick v Bibby and Saville; Cowan and Burke v Witton and Johnson.