Tow Law Area League

Esh Stag's Head's bid to get closer to the leaders was hindered when they went down by the odd point at Sunniside Comedian. The home side had singles wins from Christine Railton, Ray Johnson, Colin Wilcockson and Jim Smythe whilst Tom March and Mike Wightman replied. The Stag's were able to take two of the doubles but the winning point for the Comedian came when Christine Railton and Ray Johnson beat Dave Metcalfe and Tom March.

Tow Law Rose and Crown went down by the odd point at home to the neighbouring Station but they did manage to win the captain's game when Vina Gwynnette beat Michael Bell to stay one point clear at the top of the Captain's Table. However, Newhouse Club and Tow Law New Market B are just a point behind, whilst Tow Law Dan's Castle and Esh Stag's head are two behind.

Tow Law New Market B lead the table by five points from Newhouse Club who are four points ahead of the joint third placed teams, Esh Stag's Head, Cornsay Royal Oak and Tow Law New Market A. The Stag's Head have two matches in hand.

Results: Esh McKennas 2 Newhouse Club 7; Tow Law Dan's Castle 8 Hamilton Row Black Horse 1; Tow Law New Market B 7 Tow Law Cattle Mart 2; Stanley Earl Derby 4 Tow Law New Market A 5; Tow Law Rose and Crown 4 Tow Law Station 5; Cornsay Royal Oak 5 Sunniside Moss Inn 4; Sunniside Moss Inn 4; Sunniside Comedian 5 Esh Stag's Head 4.

Crook League

In the top of the table clash in the First Division, the leading Crook Belle Vue team extended their lead to seven points after beating the visiting second placed, Crook Coach and Horses A. The visitors only managed to take two points when Paul Fiddis and Dickie Varley won, whilst the Club had singles points from Jack Walker, Ivor Phillipson, Roy Hoggarth and Dave Hakin with Ian Hodkinson and Dave Hakin adding the doubles. Crook Travellers Rest B moved one point behind the Coach after they only dropped one point to the Olde Horse Shoe.

In the Second Division, Crook Jelly's Bar A displaced their hosts, Crook Golden Fleece B from the third position with a three point victory. Chris Baker and Graham Young scored singles wins for the Golden Fleece but Jelly's replied with singles wins from John Gibson, Keith Dixon, Norman Jones and Andrew Heyes with Heyes and Dixon adding the doubles.

Crook Surtees jumped to the top of the Second Division, two points ahead of Crook Queen's Head B, who are now only one ahead of Crook Jelly's Bar A.

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

Tow Law and

District League

Lee Mowbray of Tow Law Rose and Crown took the Player of the Year title with an 85 per cent success rate.

The Top Twenty players for the season were: 1st L. Mowbray (Rose & Crown played 14, won 12, lost 2, 85.71%; 2 G. Hammell (Rose & Crown) 14, 10, 4, 71.43%; 3 T. Ginty (Tow Law F.C.) 17, 12, 5, 70.59%; 4 M. Bell (New Market B) 20, 14, 6, 70.00%; 5 B. Railton (Comedian) 16, 11, 5, 68.75%; 6 H. Wales (King's Head) 19, 13, 6, 68.42%; 7 equal C. Armstrong (North Point) and P. Hall (North Point) 21, 14, 7, 66.67% each; 9 equal A. Henderson (Tow Law F.C.), G. Thompson (King's Head) and D. Mowbray (Rose & Crown) 17, 11, 6, 64.71% each; 12 A. Hopps (Dan's Castle B) 19, 12, 7, 63.16%; 13 R. Weir (New Market B) 16, 10, 6, 62.50%; 14 equal G. Watson (North Point) and S. Todd (Rose & Crown) 21, 13, 8, 61.905 each; 16 K. Muse (Tow Law F.C.) 18, 11, 7, 61.11%; 17 S. Wilkie (Hamilton Row Black Horse) 15, 9, 6, 60.00%; 18 K. Brown (Esh F. C.) 17, 10, 7, 58.82%; 19 equal D. Duxfield (New Market A) and C. Bowes (Rose & Crown) 19, 11, 8, 57.89%.

Willington and

District League

Sunnybrow Brown Trout took full advantage of a defeat for the leaders, Willington Brewer's Droop B at Willington Cottles A, to close the gap to just two points with a match in hand when they only dropped one point to the visiting Willington Cottles B. However the race for the top is tight as Willington Lion and Unicorn, Hunwick Club and Willington Brewer's Droop A are just a point behind the Trout.

Andrew Fleming got Cottles B off to a good start at the Brown Trout by taking the first point but from there the home side took over. Harry Sewell, Syd Richardson, Les Welsh and Ian Stoker took points for the Trout to put them in a good challenging position.

The league leaders, Brewer's Droop B had to wait until the final game before they scored a point on their visit to Willington Cottles A. Brett Fleming, Paul Trow, Gary Sparks and Dave Perkins took the first four points for Cottles before the Brewer's captain. Shona Britton broke their duck.

Results: Willington Lion and Unicorn 3 Willington Black Horse Tavern 2; Willington Brewer's Droop A 4 Willington Commercial 1; Hunwick Club 2 Prospect Club 3; Willington Cottles A 4 Willington Brewer's Droop B 1; Sunnybrow Brown Trout 4 Willington Cottles B 1.

Willington League

Points and positions at the halfway stage: 1st Willington Black Horse Tavern 51 points; 2nd equal Willington Brewer's Droop and Willington Lion & Unicorn 47 each; 4th equal Willington Black Horse Inn, Willington Burn and Sunnybrow Brown Trout 44 each; 7th Prospect Club 43; 8th Willington Cottles 40; 9th Hunwick Joiners Arms 38; 10th equal Victoria Club, Hunwick Quarry Burn and Willington Club 35 each; 13th Willington Commercial 30.