As the season approaches the half way mark it looks like the Snooker Club and Stateside are going to fight it out all the way till the end of the season with both teams on 115 points.

Results: D.L.I. 6 Hare and Greyhound 7; Coxhoe W.M.C. 7 Three Horse Shoes 6; Flass 5 Woodman's 8; Marquis of Granby 10 Winnings 3; McKenna's 2 Stateside 11; Oak Tree 8 Daisy Hill 5; Snooker Club 10 Cooperage 3; White Tun 5 Catholic Club 8

Worthington Durham County CIU Winter Snooker League

Spennymoor A went down to their first defeat of the season when they were beaten in the decider at home against fellow championship challengers, Wheatley Hill A. Jack Wright and Ronnie Peacock put the Hill two up but Paul Biddle with a 56 break and Paul Atkinson with a 40 break pulled the Moors level. However in the decider Wheatley Hill's Dave Walker beat John Wilson.

Michael Pratt of Old Shildon set a tough standard for the highest break prize in the First Division when he knocked in a 116 clearance at Witton Gilbert. Willis Joynes put in a 36 break for Witton but went down on the black to Billy Goggins. Jossie Aldworth, the Old Shildon captain, then put in a 30 break but lost to the Witton Gilbert captain, Malcolm Peart, who was making a welcome return after being out for months following an accident at work. Steven Bennett and Charlie Blake completed the Old Shildon 4-1 victory, which took them within two points of Spennymoor A.

Cockton Hill moved up to share third place with Wheatley Hill A, just a point behind Old Shildon, after they only dropped one point to the visiting Fishburn A. Kevin Mordica and Vickers Bell put the Hill ahead before Brian Quest scored Fishburn's only point. Lee Taylor and Harold Lomax completed the home victory.

Sherburn Village had to come back twice from a deficit before they won in the decider at Meadowfield.

Willington pulled off a very good home win over Brandon when Tom Parkin beat Owen Howarth in the decider. Jeremy Martin and Stan Bennett had moved the home side ahead but Graeme Jackson and Kevin Sample levelled the match.

Newton Aycliffe were twice ahead in their home match against Shotton Palms before going down in the decider.

The defeat of Spennymoor A means that only Bearpark hold an unbeaten record for the season after they only dropped one point to the visiting Ferryhill, who had Glyn Toas as their only winner. The Bearpark points came from Alan Cooper, David Jackson, Glen Morton and Shaun Easter. However, despite their unbeaten record, Bearpark can only command second place in the Second Division, three points behind the leaders, Wingate.

Wingate entertained Hunwick A and went ahead through Jim Mason, only to see Des Mason equalise. From that point the home side took over with wins from Joe Hennessey, John Bourne and Geoff Howe.

Newhouse share third place in the Second Division with Belmont, after they recovered from being two down at Wheatley Hill B. Steve Cave and Kenny Johnson put the Hill ahead but Ian Dinsdale and John Maddox with a 31 break levelled. In the decider, Newhouse's Steve Mountain beat Tony Ellison. Newhouse and Belmont trail Bearpark by three points.

Belmont lifted themselves to equal third spot following a win over the visiting Stanley central for the loss of only one point. Jim Dufton took the only point for the visitors, whilst Colin Robinson, Chris Morley, Tom Robinson and Gary Robinson won for the home side.

Crowtrees A edged through to an odd point home win over Spennymoor B, who took the lead through Alan Rowell. Crowtrees then went ahead with wins from Sonny Hann and Keith McLauchlan only to see Wayne Parry level the match. In the decider Neil Phillips of Crowtrees beat Dennis Dodd.

Sacriston maintained their top spot in the Third Division after they only dropped one point to the visiting Tow Law. Mark Appleby, Dale Evans, Steve Bradley and Kevin Laing won for the home side, whilst Ernie McEleavey completed his hat-trick for the Lawyers.

Coundon moved up to share the top spot with Sacriston after they whitewashed their hosts at New Durham, who remained pointless for the first time. The Coundon winners were Willy Shoulder, Frank Nicholson, Gary Goulbourn, John Paul Wringe and Mally Rider.

Crook Belle Vue moved two points behind the Third Division leaders with an odd point win at Hunwick B. Trevor Lomax put the home side ahead but Eric Lockerbie levelled. David Penman restored the home lead but Gordon Sample again levelled. In the decider Crook's John Warriner beat Tom Ward.

Leeholme B broke their duck for the season when they were never headed in the Leeholme derby against the A team. Mark Brown put the B team ahead with Barry Shaw equalising. David Hudspeth restored the B team's lead only to see Lawrence Jones equalise. In the decider the B team's Ray Gill beat Ian North.

Crowtrees B pulled off a good away win over Fishburn B, who had wins from Winston Hodgson and John Hodgson. The Crowtrees winners were John Hall, Dave Taylor and Martin Wolf.

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

Crook Snooker League

Michael Jewitt of Crook Jelly's Bar A maintained his unbeaten record of twelve wins from as many matches when he won at Crook Surtees but saw his team well beaten in the top match in the Second Division. Stephen Russ joined Michael as the only point scorers for Jelly's, whilst the Surtees went to victory with singles wins from John Collingwood, John Uren, Bob Heslop and Alan Tomlinson with Howard Trotter and Dickie Allison taking the doubles.

Crook Olde Horse Shoe maintained their unbeaten record on their visit to Crook Mill House with an odd point success. The Shoe had singles wins from Dave Walker, Stephen Liddle, Stephen Craggs and Brian Johnson, whilst Alan Bibby and Mark Nicholl took singles points for the Mill. The Mill also took the doubles when Dave Leighton and Chris Raine conceded to Alan Bibby and Stephen Potter Heyes.

Crook Travellers Rest B moved thirteen points behind the Olde Horse Shoe at the top of the First Division, with Crook Royal Sun going three points behind the Travellers. Willington Market lead the Second Division by seven points from Crook Jelly's Bar A, who are now two points ahead of Crook Surtees.

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

Worthington C.I.U. Singles Snooker Final

The delayed final took place at a attentive, knowledgeable crowded New Durham Club, where Dave Walker of Wheatley Hill met Jimmy Evans of Shotton Palms in a best of five frames match controlled by referee, Alan Greener of Sherburn Village.

The first frame opened out very nervously as both players tried to adapt to the very fast table. Dave was the first to score with fifteen and followed with fourteen before Jimmy replied with a good long red, which led to twenty-nine before he missed the pink. Dave picked up the position to hit sixteen but missed the final red, which Jimmy took and followed with the yellow and green, leaving a fortunate snooker as he failed on the brown. Dave escaped but left the brown, which Jimmy potted and took the frame by adding the blue and pink to win 55-46.

The second frame had a very tight opening with both players playing very good safety. Dave put in a run of twenty-four, which ended when he potted the black and broke the pack without any luck. Jimmy later took advantage of a missed very thin cut on a green to run in thirty-two. With the colours remaining Dave overhit his pot on the green, which caused him to miss the brown, which Jimmy potted, followed by blue and pink to win 61-43.

The third frame saw the reds collect on one cushion with the colours all within inches of cushions. This led to a drab period of play, which was eventually broken when Dave went ahead. Jimmy replied with a twenty-three break to moved two points behind but Dave made a good run, where he took the last red and a black before clearing the colours to win 67-23.

Frame four saw Jimmy open up a twenty-eight points lead with three reds left. The frame was more or less decided when Jimmy made two miraculous escapes from snookers to stay twenty ahead as the players reached the colours. Dave failed to close the gap and, when he negotiated his way out of a snooker on the green, he left Jimmy a long chance, which he took and added the brown and blue to win 63-35.

Bobby Wilson, the Chairman of New Durham Club presented the C.I.U. Singles Championship trophy to Jimmy Evans and the runners-up trophy to Dave Walker.

Monday Night Snooker League

Results: Darlington Snooker Club C 0, Darlington Cricket Club 4; Darlington Snooker Club A 3, Hopetown 1; Railway Athletic 3, Darlington Snooker Club B 1; Northgate 3, JUC B 1; JUC A 2, Railway Institute 2.

League Position Top Five: 1: Railway Institute 38; 2: Hopetown 37; 3: Darlington A 37; 4: Darlington Cricket Club 37; 5: Railway Athletic 35.

League Knockout Round Two

Darlington Snooker Club B v Railway Institute; Railway Athletic v Hopetown Club; Darlington Snooker Club C v Darlington Snooker Club A; Darlington Cricket Club v Northgate.