Tow Law Area League: Esh Stag's Head and Newhouse Club now share the top place following their big wins.

The Stag's only dropped one point to the visiting Tow Law Dan's Castle, who took the first point when Ian Johnson won his singles. However from that point the Stag's took over to take the remaining points.

Newhouse Club entertained Sunniside Comedian and only dropped two points, one to Bob Peacock in the singles and the other in the doubles to Raymond Wright and John Smythe. These results moved the two Esh teams one point clear of Tow Law Station and Tow Law New Market B.

Results: Tow Law New Market A 6 Hamilton Row Black Horse 3; Tow Law Cattle Mart 7 Tow Law Rose and Crown 2; Cornsay Royal Oak 4 Esh McKennas 5; Tow Law Station 6 Stanley Earl Derby 3; Sunniside Moss Inn 5 Tow Law New Market B 4; Esh Stag's Head 8 Tow Law Dan's Castle 1; Newhouse Club 7 Sunniside Comedian 2.

Crook League

The first of two nights for the qualifying stages of the League Singles Championship and the League Doubles Championship were held at Crook Royal Sun with two going forward from each section to the Finals Night. The qualifiers in the Singles were Gerald Parkin of Crook Olde Horse Shoe A and Kevin Carter of Crook Jelly's Bar A.

The qualifiers for the Doubles Championship were Chris Bainbridge with Alan Tomlinson from Crook Surtees and Nicola Thexton with David Haygarth from Crook Royal Sun B.

Tow Law and

District League

Lanchester King's Head lifted themselves to share the top of the table when they only dropped one point to the visiting former leaders, Tow Law North Point. These two now share the top spot but the King's have two games in hand. The Lanchester team took the first four points with wins from Rob Day, Harry Wales, Graeme Thomspon and Ronnie Minto, with Colin Armstrong saving the whitewash by winning the final game.

Tow Law Rose and Crown stayed in serious contention in third place, one point behind the joint leaders, despite losing at home to Sunniside Comedian. The home side took the first and last games through Derek Mowbray and Chris Bowes, whilst the Comedian went to victory with wins from Bill Railton, Derek Thompson and John Conley.

Results: Tow Law Cattle Mart 1 Esh Football Club 4; Tow Law Dan's Castle B 3 Tow Law New Market A 2; Lanchester King's Head 4 Tow Law North Point 1; Tow Law New Market B 3 Tow Law Dan's Castle A 2; Tow Law Rose and Crown 2 Sunniside Comedian 3.

Willington League

Hunwick Quarry Burn scored the most points in the first week of the new season when they won the Hunwick derby at the Joiners Arms for the loss of only two points. The Joiners took singles point through Chris Burnham and Michael McClurg but then the visitors took over with singles wins from Keith Dufton, Dave Robson and Gary Wilson. They completed a good night's work with doubles wins from Bob Johnson with Keith Dufton and Alan Bolam with Gary Wilson.

Results: Willington Black Horse Tavern 4 Willington Cottles 3; Willington Brewer's Droop 2 Willington Black Horse Inn 3 (unfinished); Willington Lion and Unicorn 3 Prospect Club 4; Victoria Club 4 Willington Club 3; Sunnybrow Brown Trout 4 Willington Commercial 3; Hunwick Joiners Arms 2 Hunwick Quarry Burn 5.

CIU Pairs Championship

First round draw: M. Dent & D. Dent (West Auckland) v J. Wilson & W. Robson (Hetton); G. Sennett & J. Ferguson (Horden Labour and Trades) v T. Dodd & J. Bayles (Grange Villa); R. Wharton & M. Robinson (Fishburn) v J. Knowlson & D. Scott (New Herrington); J. Pearson & B. Shippen (Chilton & Windlestone) v W. Hodgson & F. Snaith (Ferryhill); B. Batey & R. Ferguson (Horden Labour and Trades) v M. Hogg & B. Smith (Hetton); S. Johnson & J. Johnson (Crowtrees) v A. Sennett, & J. Lowes (Horden Labour and Trades); G. Peaden & P. Whitfield (Crowtrees) v L. Milburn & R. Firby (New Brancepeth); M. Townsend & I. Bowes (West Auckland) v G. Gray jnr & S. R Hall (Grange Villa); D. Gardner & C. Simpson (Cockfield) v D. Thompson & J. Lockey (Fishburn); R.J. Mulroy & P. Scott (Middlestone Moor) v P. Neary & J. Dean (Horden Labour and Trades); D. Illingworth & J. Wray (Ferryhill) v B. Bagshaw & B. Warnett (Fishburn); J. Miller & E. Campbell (Chilton & Windlestone) v G. Ellis & N. Barton (Stanley Empire); S. Scott & W. Jones (Horden Labour & Trades) v R. Allison & J. Smith (Chilton & Windlestone); A. Buist & R. Johnson (Fishburn) v R. Webster & J. Purvis (New Brancepeth); K. Wilkinson & H. Moore (Ferryhill) v J. Watson & A. Gerrens (Stanley Empire); W. Cummins & T. Milburn (New Brancepeth) v M. Pike & G. Bell (Chilton & Windlestone).

Results to be into the Branch Office by Saturday, September 7.

Fives and Threes Individual Championship

The only match in the Preliminary Round was S. Bowen (Grange Villa) who beat J. Dodsworth (Fishburn).

The following received byes: E. Parker (Shildon Elm Road); R.J. Mulroy (Middlestone Moor); J. Pearson (Relton Terrace); C. Spoors (Relton Terrace); M. Shield (Whitehill Park Tenants); M. James (Whitehill Park Tenants); J. Robinson (Whitehill Park Tenants); E. Stephenson (Whitehill Park Tenants); A. Tarn (Whitehill Park Tenants); B. Soules (Whitehill Park Tenants); D. Thompson (Fishburn); A. Buist (Fishburn); J. Pearson (Chilton & Windlestone); G. Gray jnr (Grange Villa); T. Dodd (Grange Villa).

Last 16 draw: E. Parker (Shildon Elm Road) v A. Buist (Fishburn); T. Dodd (Grange Villa) v A. Tarn (Whitehill Park Tenants); D. Thompson (Fishburn) v J. Robinson (Whitehill Park Tenants); S. Bowen (Grange Villa) v R.J. Mulroy (Middlestone Moor); M. James (Whitehill Park Tenants) v G. Gray jnr (Grange Villa); J. Pearson (Chilton & Windlestone) v B. Smiles (Whitehill Park Tenants); E. Stephenson (Whitehill Park Tenants) v C. Spoors (Relton Terrace); M. Shield (Whitehill Park Tenants) v J. Pearson (Relton Terrace).

Results to be into the Branch Office by Saturday, September 14.

Fives and Threes Pairs Championship

Preliminary round results: G. Smith & L. Rickman (Simonside) beat J. Blake & W. Burlison (Town End Farm); M. Dent & D. Dent (West Auckland) beat R.J. Mulroy & P. Scott (Middlestone Moor); A. Bell & N. Robson (Simonside) beat D. Bainbridge & G. Bainbridge (Shildon Elm Road); S. Bowen & T. Dodd (Grange Villa) beat G.A. Smith & A. Stephen (Simonside); M. James & G. Brown (Whitehill Park Tenants) beat R. Wharton & M. Robinson (Fishburn); R. Fenwick & J. Gilleece (Simonside) lost to M. Townsend & I. Bowes (West Auckland); S. Farquhar & S. Dixon (Town End Farm) lost to E. Stephenson & K. Laybourn (Whitehill Park Tenants); S. Johnson & J. Madgin (Crowtrees) lost to J. Richardson & W. Evans (West Auckland); W. Diamond & J. Ogden (Simonside) beat M. Bell & T. Johnson (Town End Farm); J. Egglestone & S. Bell (Crowtrees) beat A. Buist & R. Johnson (Fishburn); W. Dillon & T. Cooke (Low Spennymoor & Merrington Lane) lost to T. Evans & R. Douthwaite (West Auckland); G.B. Peaden & P. Whitfield (Crowtrees) lost to A. House & R. Williams (West Auckland); J. Pearson & C. Spoors (Relton Terrace) lost to T. Dixon & G. Gibson (Town End Farm).

The following received byes: D. Gardner & M. Towers (Cockfield); J.P. Dodsworth & D. Thompson (Fishburn); G. Gray jnr & S.R. Hall (Grange Villa).