Old Shildon look to have tied up another Championship after they only dropped one point at one of their rivals, Shotton Palms.

The Palms took the first point when Jimmy Evans won but then the Shildon team took over with wins from Michael Pratt, Andrew Aisbitt, Billy Goggins and Jossie Aldworth. This leaves Old Shildon only needing one point from their final match at home to Brandon.

Wheatley Hill A were taken to the decider before they won at Witton Gilbert, who are threatened as possible relegation candidates. Paul Nord put Witton ahead but then Alan Hall and Jack Wright took points for the Hill. Ian Renwick levelled the match but the visitors went to victory when Dean Bryden beat Paul Johnson in the decider. This win leaves Wheatley Hill A four points behind Old Shildon but three ahead of Shotton Palms in the race for the runners-up spot.

Willington ended their relegation fears with an odd point home win over Ferryhill, who look certain to make the drop. Arthur Goldsborough, Jeremy Martin and Tom Parkin won the vital frames for Willington with Neil Spender and Glynn Toas replying.

Newton Aycliffe hopes of staying in the First Division were virtually ended when they went down in the decider at home to Spennymoor A. Paul Atkinson put the Moors ahead but then wins from Stuart Neil and John Briddick gave the home side hope. However Eddie Rhodes levelled the match and Paul Biddle took the Moors to victory with a win over Michael Hewitt.

Brandon only dropped one point at home to Fishburn A in a match between two teams who, until the last three weeks, looked to be in with a chance of the title. John Griffin was the only point scorer for Fishburn, whilst the home side had wins from Brian Graham, Kevin Sample, John Hall and Owen Howarth.

The Second Division title goes down to the last match as Sherburn Village and Newhouse are tied at the top following their odd points victories. Sherburn travelled to Wheatley Hill B and had wins from Peter McGowan, John Bower and Scott Mallaburn, whilst the home side had wins from Jock Frost and Steve Cave, two points which cleared them from the relegation threat. Newhouse visited Spennymoor B and lost the first and last frames to wins by Alan Clark and David Louth, who was making his debut. The visitors winners were Steve Mountain with a 35 break, Ian Dinsdale and Jimmy Hassen. The victories for Sherburn and Newhouse leaves them five points clear of Meadowfield, who went down in the decider at Durham City, who were struggling desperately to save their Second Division status.

Meadowfield went ahead with a win from Stephen Hughes but then Michael Pratt and Barry Stoddart won for the City. Malcolm Hughes levelled the scores but Durham City went to victory when Gary Ward put in a 31 break to beat Norman Smith. This defeat leaves Durham City three points ahead of Fishburn B and one point behind Stanley Central and Spennymoor B.

Stanley Central gave themselves a Second Division lifeline and killed off the visiting Crook Belle Vue's hopes of promotion by only dropping one point to the visitors, who had John Warriner as their only winner. The Central's points came from John Atkinson, Walter Cornell, Ivan Pye and Jim Dufton with a 30 break.

Fishburn B cling on to a remote mathematical chance of avoiding relegation after they took two points from the visiting Langley Park, when Alan Wilson and Dave Wilson won. However the Park went to victory with wins from Stephen Coates, Lenny Thompson and Paul Morgan.

The top of the Third Division remains the same with Wingate four points clear of Crowtrees after both won their matches for the loss of only one point. Wingate disposed of the visiting Coundon, who had Frank Nicholson as their only winner. Crowtrees visited Leeholme, whose only winner was John Taylor, whilst Neil Phillips, Keith McLauchlan, Peter Laverick and Sean Johnston won for the visitors.

Tow Law equalled their best win of the season when they only dropped one point to the visiting Leeholme A, who had Barry Shaw as their only winner. The Lawyers points came from Heppell Hodgson, Tommy Williams, Doug Watson and Charlie Donaghy.

Sacriston dropped the first and last frames to the visiting Hunwick but wins from Alan Richardson, Willy Nixon and Dale Evans saw them to victory. The visitors points came from Trevor Lomax and Tom Ward.

All teams holding League trophies must return them to the meeting at Meadowfield Club on Thursday, 31 October. Results: Tow Law 4 Leeholme A 1; Durham City 3 Meadowfield 2; Shotton Palms 1 Old Shildon 4; Leeholme B 1 Crowtrees 4; Spennymoor B 2 Newhouse 3; Newton Aycliffe 2 Spennymoor A 3; Wingate 4 Coundon 1; Stanley Central 4 Crook Belle Vue 1; Brandon 4 Fishburn A 1; Witton Gilbert 2 Wheatley Hill A 3; Sacriston 3 Hunwick 2; Fishburn B 2 Langley Park 3; Wheatley Hill B 2 Sherburn Village 3; Willington 3 Ferryhill 2.

Crook League

Crook Travellers Rest B moved up to share third place in the First Division with their visitors from Crook Royal Sun after they won by the odd point in the deciding doubles. The Travellers had singles wins from Jim Ainsley, Michael Burke and Neil Campbell whilst the visitors replied with wins from Julian Bowey, Wayne Smith and Simon Bowey, who beat his father, Doug. The Travellers went to victory when Aaron Cowan and Michael Burke beat Graham Johnson and Ronnie Hope in the deciding doubles.

Howden Australian maintained their unbeaten record in the Second Division after they edged through in the deciding doubles against the visiting Willington Market. The home side had singles wins from Stephen Burke, Jonathan Hodgson and Ray Newton, whilst Gary Trow, Ian Moore and Paul Lauder levelled the match. In the deciding doubles the Aussie pair of Stephen Ferris and Michael Lee beat Stuart Shillan and John Blackett.

The First Division is already dominated by Crook Olde Horse Shoe, who have not dropped a frame and lead the table by five points from Crook Belle Vue, with the Travellers Rest B and the Royal Sun a further point adrift. The Second Division is much tighter with Jelly's Bar A leading by one point from the Australian and the Golden Fleece B, who are only two points ahead of a group of four teams.

All team captains are asked to note that the dates of all league meetings are clearly shown on the fixture list and no reminders will be given.

Results: Crook Queen's Head A 5 Crook Travellers Rest A 2; Crook Spitfire Club 5 Cook White Swan 2; Crook Belle Vue 5 Crook Mill House 2; Crook Travellers Rest B 4 Crook Royal Sun 3; Crook Coach and Horses A 0 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 7; Howden Australian 4 Willington Market 3; Crook King's Head 2 Crook Jelly's Bar A 5; Crook Golden Fleece B 6 Crook Coach and Horses B 1; Crook Jelly's Bar B 4 Crook Queen's Head B 3; Crook Surtees 4 Crook Golden Fleece A 3.

Worthington CIU Summer Singles

Jimmy Evans of Shotton Palms will face Dave Walker of Wheatley Hill in the final after his victory over Scott Mallaburn of Sherburn Village in the semi-final played at Fishburn.

In the first of a possible five frames Scott Mallaburn put in a 21 break to go into an early lead but Jimmy Evans steadily overhauled his opponent until he took the frame on the black. This lifted Evans spirits for he knock in a 31 break in the second frame to coast through to a 58-10 victory.

The third frame saw Mallaburn fight back, putting in a 22 break to clinch the frame by 64-46 after an even beginning. The fourth frame saw Mallaburn back in fighting form with Evans not prepared to concede any easy opening. It went point for point right up to the end, with the scores tied at 54 points each when the black went down. Victory went to Evans when he sunk this re-spotted black.

Worthington CIU Summer Pairs Championship

The final will be between Dave Robson and Adrian Jones of Ferryhill and Brian Graham and John Hall of Brandon after both negotiated their way through tight semi-finals.

There was only a black ball separating Robson and Jones from Michael Pratt and Jossie Aldworth or Old Shildon in their semi-final at Durham City. The Ferryhill pair went into an early lead but a late fight back from the Old Shildon pair left the result hinging on the black. Aldworth mis-hit a safety shot and Robson accepted an easy ball into the middle for victory.

Brian Graham and John Hall beat Arthur Goldsborough and Jeremy Martin of Willington following their victory at Coundon. The Brandon pair went into an early lead with a 25 points lead from the first frame, where Brian Graham had a 22 break. The Willington pair went ahead on aggregate when they won the second frame by 39 points, thanks to a 32 break from Jeremy Martin.

John Hall put in a decisive 29 break in the third frame with the Willington pair resigning on the yellow.

Cleveland League Sponsored by Coors Brewers

Magnet Cup Individual Snooker Handicap Semi Finals

The first semi was played between Graham Marshall (+10) of Redcar Lakes and John Hartley (+5) of the Redcar Literary Institute at the Redcar Cons. Club on Tuesday 10th September. The match referee was Phil Vaughan. John Hartley won the first game by 60-39 assisted by breaks of 16 & 17. Marshall then levelled the match after winning the second frame on a black fight 53-49. Marshall continued his good run of form winning the next game convincingly by 70-26, this was aided by a 22 break John Hartley then re-levelled the match at two frames each when winning the fourth frame by 48-47 aided by the second black ball fight of the night The fifth frame was a scrappy affair with both players now not daring to make a mistake. Marshall was the eventual winner of this game by 52-38. Hartley then won the sixth frame 66-35 levelling the match at three frames each. Hartley then had the last say winning the seventh and final frame by 60 - 30 and in doing so has played his way into this years final of the Magnet Cup.

The second semi final was held between Barry Chapman (-15) of the Redcar Unionist's Club and Liam O'Neil (+10) of the Redcar Literary Institute. at the Saltburn Cons. Club on Tuesday 17th September. The match referee was Brian Magor. O'Neil won the first game quite convincingly by 65-37. The second frame was a scrappy affair with Chapman digging deep to try and gain a strangle hold on the match. Chapman did succeed winning 78-71 therefore levelling the match at one frame each. This was assisted by a 25 break O'Neil made full advantage of his handicap start when winning the third game 78-71. The fourth frame was a one sided affair with O'Neil winning by 75-46. O'Neil then once again steamed ahead in the fifth frame to such an extent that Chapman conceded the game and the match. O'Neil was the winner on the night by a score of four frames to one and now meets John Hartley in this years final.

Combined Challenge Bowl - Individual Snooker & Billiards Handicap Final

This was held between Anthony Kyme (+20 snk, +25 bills) of the Redcar Literary Institute and John Hartley (+5 snk, -45 bills) again of the Redcar Literary Institute at the Grinkle Park Hotel on Wednesday 11th september. The match referees for this contest were both Phil Vaughan and Brian Magor. This contest consists of one frame of snooker followed by a billiards game followed then by a final frame of snooker. The winner being the player with the best agreggate score. The first game of snooker was decided when Hartley cleared the colours from brown to the black to assist him winning by 61 - 43. He now had an 18 points lead going into the billiards. In the biliards match Kyme received 70 points start towards 165 up. He added to this and led by 91 - 5 until Hartley closed this down aided by compiling breaks of 15 and 23 narrowing the score to 94 - 48. Hartley then piled on the pressure compiling further breaks of 37 & 15 narrowing the gap even further to 102 - 110. Kyme responded well to lead by 159 - 122 after compiling a good 20 break. Good tactics by Hartley restricted the damage with Kyme winning the billiards by the narrowest of margins, 165 - 162. This meant the final snooker match was now being played off level. This proved too much for Kyme after Hartley compiled breaks of 17 & 36 to win the final snooker game by 70 -26. John Hartley is therefore crowned this years winner of the Combined Chalenge Bowl

Durham County Super League

Horden continued to win in style with an 11-3 win on their travels to Aycliffe A. Horden had two wins from John Bourne, Ged Evans, Shaun Williams and Paul Hickman,one win each for Stephen Wylie, Darren Jones and James Evans. Aycliffe A had wins from Dave Bromley,Craig Poskett and Andrew Tuesday. It looks like Horden need only twenty points from their last five matches to clinch the league title at their first attempt.

Ferryhill had a good win on their visit to Bishop Auckland when they won 10-4,this moves Ferryhill into third place. Ferryhill had two wins from Simon Corbridge,Phil Cox,Martin Short and Charlie Dawbney,one win each from Steve Webster and Nigel Malpass. Bishop had two wins from David Baird and one each from Mal parry and Ron Wright.

Durham A came from 5-2 down to win 8-6 on their visit to Aycliffe B. Durham had two wins from Paul Shutt and one win each from Lee Holdsworth,Dave Ferguson,Barry Dowson,Ian Staines,Ben Bowen and Chris Greenwell. Aycliffe B had wins from Gary Parker,Carl Little,Ross Killip,Graham Dawes,Paul Wade and Gary Spooner.

In the local Crook derby it was the B team who came out on top winning 9-5. Shildon won on their visit to Durham B 9-5.