Bishop Auckland Area League

Bishop Auckland Manor visited last season's champions, Bishop Auckland King's Head with both teams needing a good result to give them a chance of catching leaders, Spennymoor Voltigeur. The opening games were shared with Peter Mernor taking the first for the visitors and David Jacomb the second for the King's. Jon Tomlinson and Martin Armstrong took the next two for the Manor before Kevin Watson pulled one back for the home side. Steven Webb won the next for the Manor and David Jacomb got his second point for the King's but it was the Manor who finished strongly, winning the final three singles games through Jon Tomlinson, Martin Armstrong and Ron Wright to take the singles 7-3. The Manor then faded and it was the King's who cleared up winning the last three points with Steven West and Peter Robinson taking the first doubles, Kevin Watson and David Jacomb the second doubles and Andrew Tuesday the captains to leave the final score 7-6 to the Manor.

It was a close game when Bishop Auckland Grand B hosted the neighbouring Bay Horse with the opening five frames going "to and fro". Neil Bracegirdle won the opener for the home side before Wilson Harrison took the next for the Bay Horse. Dave Wilson won the third for the Grand and Michael Wright levelled the scores by winning the next for the visitors. Phil Young and Brian Cable took the next two for the home side giving them a two-point lead but the Bay Horse came back, winning the next three through Chris Ball, Lee Harker and Michael Wright to give them the lead. Phil Young won the last singles game to level the score at 5-5. Both doubles went to the Bay Horse, Andy Henning and Chris Ball winning the first and Lee Harker and Michael Wright the second. Neil Bracegirdle then took the captains for the home side but the win went to the visitors with a 7-6 final score.

Results: Bishop Auckland Derby 9 (9) Bishop Auckland Grand A 4 (1); Bishop Auckland Grand B 6 (5) Bishop Auckland Bay Horse 7 (5); Bishop Auckland Green Tree 5 (4) Spennymoor Voltigeur 8 (6); Spennymoor Hillingdon 2 (2) Spennymoor Victoria 11 (8); Bishop Auckland King's Head 6 (3) Bishop Auckland Manor 11 (8); Bishop Auckland Bay Horse 7 (6) Spennymoor Wheatsheaf 2 (2).

Willington League

Willington Cottles B edged through to an odd point home win over the Prospect Club. The home side got away to a good start with wins from Kevin Heels and Barry Lauder but then Adrian Peacock reduced the arrears. Andrew Fleming and Andrew Mains pushed Cottles further ahead before Ernie Sample took the final singles. Cottles B clinched their victory when Jay Baird and Barry Lauder beat Derek Peacock and Ces Atkinson in the second of the three doubles.

Willington Brewer's Droop A lead the table with an unbeaten record and a 15 points margin over Hunwick Club. A further five points separate the teams sharing equal third place. They are Hunwick Quarry, Willington Lion and Sunnybrow Brown Trout.

Results: Sunnybrow Brown Trout 6 Willington Cottles A 3; Willington Cottles B 5 Prospect Club 4. Willington Brewer's Droop A v Willington Lion and Unicorn postponed. Willington Commercial v Willington Brewer's Droop B no result.

Bishop Auckland League

The League secretary, Russell Place is concerned that he has not heard from a number of teams who intend to compete in the coming season and feels that it down to the fact that the captains or landlords are not aware of his new address and telephone number. Will all teams interested please note that Russell's new address is 22 Cornwall Place, Bishop Auckland DL14 6UR and his telephone number (01388) 603643.

The annual meeting of the League will be held in Bishop Auckland King's Head at 8pm on Tuesday, January 28 when all former members are invited to renew their membership. There are also vacancies for any new teams and Russell will be pleased to talk to anyone interested in joining. All teams intending to compete in the league must be represented at the Annual General Meeting.

The league plays to the World Rules with matches on Thursday evenings. The format of the matches is ten singles frames, one doubles frame and two captain's frames. Besides the standard league fixtures there is a team knock out cup, a singles championship and a doubles championship.

Spennymoor League

Spennymoor Railway A moved into a shared third place in the table with Spennymoor North Eastern when they beat the visiting league newcomers from Spennymoor White Horse. The Railway took all five singles points with wins from C. White, M. Mole, S. Shields, I. Spowart and K. Malloy. They increased their lead when R. Irwin and M. Evans took the first doubles but the White Horse recovered to take the second doubles through Kevin Robson and Mark Harvey and added the captain's game when M Garthwaite beat Kevin Malloy.

Spennymoor Quinns Inn and Spennymoor Salvin Arms are the early table leaders with a one point advantage over Spennymoor Black Horse, who are one ahead of the joint third placed teams.

League secretary, Steve Roy wishes to remind team captains that the scorecards must be into the Half Moon before noon on Saturday and that Christian names should be included on the cards.

Results: Spennymoor Victoria 4 Spennymoor Half Moon 4; Spennymoor Voltigeur 6 Spennymoor Hillingdon A 2; Spennymoor Black Horse 5 Spennymoor Ash Tree 3; Coxhoe Red Lion 3 Spennymoor North Eastern 5; Spennymoor Quinn's Inn 5 Spennymoor Pit Laddie 3; Spennymoor Railway A 6 Spennymoor White Horse 2; Spennymoor Hillingdon B 5 Spennymoor Football Club 3; Spennymoor Salvin Arms 7 Spennymoor Railway B 1; Low Spennymoor Victoria 5 Spennymoor Crown 3.