GAMES

Dave Walker and Ronnie Peacock took the first two points for the Hill but Paul Hickman put the Palms on the scorecard in the next frame. Dean Bryden put the visitors into a winning lead but Dave Swindle took the last for the Home side. This leaves Wheatley Hill A eight points behind Old Shildon with three matches remaining.

Cockton Hill moved into third place, three points behind Wheatley Hill A when they only dropped one point on their visit to Willington, who had Gordon Parkin as their only winner. The visitor's points came from Kevin Mordica, Harold Lomax, Andrew Aisbitt and George Chapman.

Newton Aycliffe looked to be on the road to a whitewash victory over the visiting Witton Gilbert when they took the first three frames through Stuart Neil, Bill Barrigan and Michael Hewitt. However the visitors increased the home side's relegation fears when John Rooney senior and Ian Renwick took the last two points. This leaves Newton Aycliffe three points behind Willington in a relegation battle.

Ferryhill, who are already relegated, travelled to Fishburn A and only took one point when Ian Roddam won. The home side had points from John Griffin, Charlie Hirst, Brian Quest and Peter Davison.

Spennymoor A's hopes of getting among the First Division trophies were virtually ended when they went down at Brandon. Only Paul Biddle scored for the Moors, whilst John Hall, Graham Jackson, Brian Graham and Kevin Sample took the home side well clear of the relegation area.

In the Second Division top of the table clash at Meadowfield the home side shot to the top of the table when they only dropped one point to the former leaders, Langley Park. Only Stephen Coates managed a win for the Park, whilst John Jackson, Norman Smith, Ian Hodgson and Stephen Hughes put Meadowfield on top by one point with a game in hand of Langley Park.

A maximum win for Hunwick A would have put them into equal third place with Sherburn Village, who were without a match but are just two points behind Langley Park with a game in hand. However the Hunwick team could only manage an odd point win at Wheatley Hill B. Des Mason put the visitors ahead but Tony Ellison levelled. Paul Atkinson with a 30-break restored the visitor's lead only to see Ken Johnson equalise. In the decider, Hunwick's Ian Richardson beat Jock Frost.

Belmont, who are already doomed to relegation, travelled to Spennymoor B and prevented their hosts for challenging for a promotion place when they took two vital points through Bill McGrath and Mick Short. The Moors had wins from Alan Rowell, Wayne Parry and Kurt McCormack.

The second relegation place in the Second Division was thrown wide open when Wingate only managed to take one point from their visit to Newhouse. The home side had wins from Steve Mountain, John Maddox, Ian Dinsdale and Harry Dinsdale, whilst Geoff Howe put the visitors on the scorecard. This result means that Newhouse have pulled up level with both Wheatley Hill B and Wingate but have a match in hand.

Bearpark extended their lead to five points at the top of the Third Division after they whitewashed the visiting Leeholme B with wins from Shaun Easter, Glen Morton with a 36 break, Alan Smith, David Jackson and Alan Donaldson.

West Auckland are in second place in the Third Division following their home win over Sacriston, who took the final point through Gary Atkinson. The home winners were Andrew dent, Andrew Sugden, David Geraty and Paul Vickers. West have a match in hand over Bearpark, but the teams meet in what will most likely be a title decider at Bearpark on 2 April.

Hunwick B are in third place but slipped further behind the leaders despite beating the visiting Tow Law by the odd point. Bill McCluskey put the Lawyers ahead but then Tom Ward, Trevor Lomax and John Bate established a winning lead for the home side with Alan Spence taking the final point for the visitors.

Only Brian Dunn managed to take a point for Durham City in their home match against Crook Belle Vue. The visitor's went to victory with wins from Gordon Sample, Derek Potts, Arnold Fleming and Ken Rider.

Coundon took the first and last frames through Willy Shoulder and Gary Goulbourn at home against Fishburn B, who went to victory with points from Dave Wilson, George Whitelock and Alan Wilson.

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

Worthington CIU Singles Championship

Quarter Final results: Michael Pratt (Old Shildon) beat Frank Nicholson (Coundon); Andrew Aisbitt (Cockton Hill) beat Jeremy Martin (Willington); Eddie Rhodes (Spennymoor) beat David Jackson (Bearpark); David Walker (Wheatley Hill A) beat Kevin Sample (Brandon).

South West Durham Association

There are 16 teams entered for the coming season, which will begin on Tuesday, April 9. The First Division will be made up of Ferryhill, Darlington Snooker Club A, Hopetown, Barnard Castle Folly's, Northgate, Darlington Cricket Club, Harrowgate Hill and Barnard Castle Glaxo.

The Second Division teams will be Shildon Elm Road, Bishop Auckland Cricket Club, Darlington Snooker C, Bishop Auckland Gent's A, Old Shildon, Darlington Riley's, Darlington Snooker B and Bishop Auckland Gent's B.