County Super League

John Mason (pictured right) of Crook B won the Individual Player of the Year with 24 points. Steve Wray of Ferryhill B was in second place with 20 points, while the third place was shared by Chris Bowran of Bishop Auckland, Gavin Witton of Crook B, Dave Hodgson of Durham, Martin Taylor and Mal Parry of Shildon and Neil Campbell of Crook A

The league's annual meeting will be held in Ferryhill Club at 6pm on Sunday, December 3. There are vacancies for new teams and any interested must be represented at the meeting. Anyone requiring any further information should contact the secretary, Dave Bolton on (01740) 652760.

Players playing in the Super League are qualified to play for the Durham County teams with the possibility of moving on to play for the England team.

Super League Knock Out Cup

There were two close finishes in the semi-finals with the league champions, Crook B going out in the decider against the Crook A team, while Durham just edged out the visiting Ferryhill B by two points.

The Crook derby see-sawed throughout as John Mason and Gavin Witton put the B team ahead with Richard Walker closing the gap. Darren Tinkler restored the two points gap but then the A team hit four in a row through Dave Haygarth, Doug Bowey and two from Jim Ainsley to move 5-3 ahead.

Gavin Witton, John Warriner and Darren Tinkler won to restore the B team's lead but Stephen Liddle and Doug Bowey moved the A team one short of victory. Cliff Owen levelled the match at seven each. In the decider Jim Ainsley took the A team to victory by beating John Mason.

Durham had edged their way to a 7-6 lead against Ferryhill B and clinched victory when Dave Neil beat Andy Seal to grab the vital eighth point.

The final will be played on Sunday, November 12 at 7.30pm in Newton Aycliffe Southerne Club.

Bishop Auckland League

Crook Olde Horse Shoe clinched the Championship when they only dropped three points at Spennymoor Weardale. The home side took singles points through Lou Cooper, Shane Carson and Simon Shields but after that the Shoe took over. The visitors had two points from Steve Liddle and Steve Hunter with one each for Gavin Witton, Cliff Owen and Richard Walker in the singles. John Mason and Steve Hunter took the doubles point with Gavin Witton taking both captain's points from Shane Carson.

While the Shoe are champions very little else is clear as the two Bishop Auckland teams from the Derby and the King's Head compete for the runners-up spot but there are so many unplayed matches the season could well be extended.

Results: Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms 3, Bishop Auckland FC 10; Witton Park Rose and Crown 9, Spennymoor FC 4; St Helens Wheatsheaf 5, Spennymoor Ashtree 8; Spennymoor Hillingdon 11, West Auckland Eden Arms 2; Bishop Auckland King's Head 8, Spennymoor Pit Laddie 5; Spennymoor Railway 4, Bishop Auckland Derby 9; Spennymoor Weardale 3, Crook Olde Horse Shoe 10.

Tow Law League

Ia vital championship clash Sunniside Comedian came out on top against the visiting Lanchester King's Head. The home side began in great style as they took the first

five singles points through Lee Cullinan, Carl Wilcockson, Keith Race, Robert Wilkinson and Chris Cavagin, who made an eight ball clearance. Alan Hall took the final singles for the King's and went on to take their only doubles point when Davey Wales joined him. In the final doubles Carl Wilcockson concluded an excellent night for the Comedian when he made an eight ball clearance.

This win puts the Comedian five points clear at the top but they have played an extra game. Tow Law Station are in second place, two points ahead of the new Market B. Lanchester King's Head have slipped to three points behind the New Market B.

Results: Tow Law New Market A 2, Tow Law Rose and Crown 7; Hamilton Row Black Horse 3, Esh FC 6; Billy Row Royal George 1, Tow Law Station 8; Sunniside Moss Inn 4, Tow Law Black Horse 5; Tow Law Cattle Mart A 4, Tow Law FC 5; Sunniside Comedian 7, Lanchester King's Head 2; Cornsay Royal Oak v Tow Law Cattle Mart B - no result.

National CIU Singles Championship

The hopes of an all-Ferryhill Club final were shattered when a thin cut into the middle in the deciding frame bounced out of the pocket and cost Andy Seal the match.

Seal played the semi-final against Kevin McIlroy of Oxford with the aim of playing his teammate, Steve Wray in what would have been the first ever national final between two players from the same club.

Things did not start too well for Seal as he went two down but he showed his fighting qualities to pull back level. McIlroy was proving an ultra cautious safety player and the match as extremely long. McIlroy went 3-2 ahead but Seal came back to level and set up the decider.

McIlroy made a snooker type break in the decider and played very carefully throughout, not breaking up the pack. Eventually Andy Seal forced two shots from his opponent and took on the cut to split the balls from the pack. The split worked perfectly but the ball bounced out of the middle pocket making the clearance an impossibility. McIlroy then laid repetitive snookers until he had all his balls at his mercy to finish the game and leave Andy Seal and his many supporters extremely disappointed