South West Durham League

John Bate of Hunwick recovered from a poor start in his home game against Heppell Hodgson of Tow Law to edge through to a 17 points victory. Hodgson had built up a lead of almost forty points but then seemed to completely lose his range and Bate steadily compiled breaks in the teens to clinch a good win.

John Hall of Crowtrees entertained Charlie Donaghy of Tow Law and moved into a 20 points lead before the visitor had scored. However Donaghy staged a complete turn round to race through to a 74points win with an unfinished 38 break. After putting in a break of 43 Jimmy Evans of Shotton Palms was never in danger when he visited Lawrence Jones of Witton Gilbert. The home player never managed to get back into the game and went down by 71 points.

The seeded knock-out quarter finals, dependent on final positions in the two groups of the two sections, will take place on Thursday 4 April.

CIU Winter Championship

Jimmy Evans of Shotton Palms retained his title when he came through the final round robin at Witton Gilbert unbeaten. He recorded convincing victories against the other three competitors, Tom Ward of Hunwick and Heppell Hodgson and Charlie Donaghy of Tow Law.

In the first match of the night Jimmy Evans played Charlie Donaghy, former five times winner with both players starting badly. Donaghy had the better early chances but failed to capitalise and then slipped well behind when Evans put in breaks of 39 and 27. A late reply of 24 from Donaghy was far too late and he went down by 56 points.

In the second match Tom Ward and Heppell Hodgson played point for point through most of the game with the result in doubt until Ward put in a decisive 22 break, which took him to a thirteen points victory. Ward was back at the table immediately to play Evans, who steadily built up a lead and then put in a 30 break to go through to a fifty-one points victory.

The fourth game was between the two Tow Law players with Donaghy racing ahead with an early 42 break. Hodgson then held the game on a level basis but could not close the early gap and went down by fifty-two points. It was Hodgson that was back on the table to meet Evans, who ran in breaks of 31 and 23 to clinch the title with a win by fifty-four points.

The final game was to decide the runners-up spot with Ward taking a good early lead when he put in a 22 break. Steadily Donaghy overhauled the lead and both players were left needing ten points for victory. Ward managed to get seven but ran out of position. Donaghy replied with eight points but then very narrowly missed a drop cannon. Ward took on a very difficult long pot on the red and was delighted to see it disappear into the top pocket to give him a two points victory.