Tow Law Bass League: Hamilton Row Black Horse crashed to their first defeat of the season and lost their top spot in the table to their conquerors and hosts, Tow Law New Market A.

The home side took both trebles points and then had singles wins from Dave Dixon, John Parkin and Bob McFadden, whilst the visitors took singles through Alan Brown, Steve Wilkie and Kevin Brown. The new Market completed their good win by taking all three doubles points.

Newhouse Club missed the chance of going to the top when they were stretched before beating the visiting Sunniside Comedian by the odd point. The Club took both trebles points but then only managed singles points from Brian Jones and Steve Turner, whilst the visitors had singles wins from John Smythe, Ray Johnson, Bill Railton, John Peacock and Bob Peacock. The home side took two of the doubles to edge through to victory.

The leading scorers were S. Boughey with 180 and 140, J. Jordan 140 and A. Breen 140 for the Cattle Mart, S. Turner 180 for Newhouse Club, T. English 146 for the Rose and Crown, D. Yeoman two 140's for the New Market A, D. Thompson 140 for the Comedian and A. Brown 140 for Hamilton Row. R. McFadden hit a 146 for the New Market A, but W. Anderson of the Earl Derby bettered it with a 154 check-out.

Results: Tow Law Station 3 Stanley Earl Derby 8; Sunniside Moss Inn 5 Tow Law New Market B 6; Tow Law Cattle Mart 9 Tow Law Rose and Crown 2; Cornsay Royal Oak 1 Esh McKennas 10; Esh Stag's Head 9 Tow Law Dan's Castle 2; Newhouse Club 6 Sunniside Comedian 5; Tow Law New Market A 8 Hamilton Row Black Horse 3.

CIU Championship

Quarter final draw: A. Jackson (Alberta) v P. Williams (Southwick); P. Nixon (Ferryhill) v E. Whitfield (Sacriston); B. Chapman (South Moor Excelsior) v R. Young (Grange Villa); P. Telford (Stanley Central) v M. A. Walker (Stanley Empire). Results to be into the Branch Office by August 31.

CIU Pairs Championship

Last 16 draw: P. Borthwick & C. Boyle (Consett Victoria) v A. Morrison & R. Young (Grange Villa); P. Telford & D. Dodds (Stanley Central) v E. Whitfield & J. Robson (Sacriston); P. Williams snr & T. Roke (Southwick) v M. Hughes & B. Sheldon (Byers Green); D. Conroy & T. Warren (South Moor Excelsior) v R. Brown & T. Nixon (Ferryhill); B. Chapman & C. Cossey (South Moor Excelsior) v G. Curry & M. Lumley (Relton Terrace); P. Lenagh & I. Dixon (Coxhoe) v T. Ward & W. Steele (Cockton Hill); K. Elliott & J. Ashett (New Hesledon) v E. Risbridger & K. Richardson (Sacriston); G. Galloway & S. Johnson (Crowtrees) v A. Jackson & A. Chalmers (Alberta). Results to be into the Branch Office by August 31.

Willington League

Ithe first match of the new season, the reigning champions, the Prospect Club were stretched before they came through to win by the odd point at Willington Lion and Unicorn. The home side had singles wins from John Bolam, Michael Pickering, John McCann and Phil Blyth, whilst the Prospect replied with wins from Geoff Maddison and John Peacock. The Unicorn took the first doubles through Kevin Hill and John McCann but the Prospect took over to win the remaining two doubles through John Peacock with Geoff Maddison and John Glasper with Ian Joyner and finally clinched victory when they won the double points team game.

There maximums from Paul Allchurch of the Black Horse Tavern, Jason Martin of the Brewer's Droop, Paul Hutchinson of the Black Horse Tavern and Steve Hutchinson of Willington Club.

Results: Victoria Club 3 Willington Club 8; Sunnybrow Brown Trout 6 Willington Commercial 5; Hunwick Joiners Arms 5 Hunwick Quarry Burn 6; Willington Black Horse Tavern 7 Willington Cottles 4; Willington Brewer's Droop 2 Willington Black Horse Inn 9; Willington Lion and Unicorn 5 Prospect Club 6.

Crook Ladies League

The Victoria Club thought they were in with a good chance of inflicting the first defeat of the season on their hosts at Crook Queen's Head A when they finished up all square at the end of the six singles matches. However from that point the Queen's took over to win all three doubles and the double point team game to extend their lead at the top of the table to 31 points. Crook Travellers Rest moved into second place with a five points advantage over Tow Law New Market B, who have a match in hand.

Ann Varley of the Travellers Rest led the leading scorers of the week with a maximum, whilst teammate, Dorothy Storey added 134. The other leaders were Julie nelson with 134 for Jelly's Bar A, Karen Cruddas 131 and Carol Newton 123 for the Victoria, Dawn Harrison 125 for the Queen's A and Val Fets 120 for Tow Law Black Horse.

Results: Tow Law Cattle Mart 6 Howden Green Tree 5; Crook Belle Vue 10 Willington Commercial 1; Crook Queen's Head A 8 Victoria Club 3; Crook Travellers Rest 10 Billy Row Green 1; Crook Olde Horse Shoe 3 Crook Jelly's Bar B 8; Tow Law North Point 3 Crook Cricket Club 8; Tow Law New Market B 6 Crook Queen's Head B 5; Crook Jelly's Bar A 7 Tow Law New Market A 4; Billy Row Royal George 5 Tow Law Black Horse 6; Tow Law Station 4 Tow Law Dan's Castle 7.

Lacegold Navy Club

P W L Pts

Railway Ath 15 14 1 14

Railway Inst 16 12 4 12

Grey Horse BT 17 12 5 12

Model T 16 11 5 11

Haughton WMC 15 9 6 9

Builders 14 8 6 8

Navy Club 16 6 10 6

Bridge 14 4 10 4

Victoria 14 1 13 1

Glittering Star 15 0 15 0

Darlington Friday

Night League

Division A

P In Pr Pts

St Marys 14 60 23 83

Slaters 14 51 20 71

Hole in the Wall 14 49 21 70

Albion 14 37 16 53

DSRM A 14 37 15 52

Havelock 13 34 14 48

Harrowgate 14 34 14 48

DSRM B 14 22 12 34

Caledonian 15 20 11 31

Fire St 14 20 7 27

Brown Trout 14 19 2 21

Division B

P In Pr Pts

Buck Inn 14 65 17 82

Central B 14 53 23 76

Jack Horner 15 47 21 68

JUC 15 45 22 67

Three Crowns 15 47 14 61

Highland Laddie 15 43 14 57

Railway Tavern 15 26 11 37

Golden Cock 14 20 14 34

Locomotive 13 21 11 32

Central A 14 19 7 26

Royal Oak 13 9 4 1