Esh make it tough for Bull

Lanchester Black Bull went four up on their visit to Esh Football Club but then struggled before winning by the odd point. Paul Clish, Graham Fairish, Andy Clish and Jason Wright won the first four before Chris Neil put the home side's first point on the board. The Bull opened the second half with wins from Paul Clish and Paul Taylorson, but Alex Quinn, Kevin Brown and Chris Neil took three in a row for the footballers. After doubles were shared Chris Neil beat the visiting Jason Wright in the captains' game.

Tow Law New Market B lead the table by 21 points from Lanchester Black Bull, who are ten points ahead of Newhouse Club.

Results: Tow Law Station 9 Esh Starr's Bar 4; Hamilton Row Black Horse B 5 Tow Law New Market B 8; Newhouse Club 10 Tow Law Football Club 3; Esh Football Club 6 Lanchester Black Bull 7.

Consett League

Derwentside maintained their top spot with a good win over the visiting Scotch Arms, but the unbeaten Snooker Club C are only 11 points behind with two matches in hand. The Meridian A are a further six points adrift but are chased by the Stateside A, who are five behind but also with two matches in hand.

Results: Division One: Miners A 7 Freemasons B 3; Demi A 3 Meridian A 7; Leadgate Coach 6 Station Club A 4; Stateside B 6 Snooker Club A 4; Station Club B 2 Stateside A 8; Meridian B 4 Golden Lion 6; Derwentside 7 Scotch Arms 3; Snooker Club C 8 Horse & Groom 2. Re-arranged: Freemasons B 6 Snooker Club A 4.

Division Two: Castleside Inn 6 Smelters 4; The Barn 8 The Braes 2; Bellamy's 1 Grove Club 9; Stateside C 4 Bowls Club 6; The Duke 3 Cricketers 7; Consett Coach 6 Black Diamond 4; Freemasons A 7 Demi B 3; Snooker Club B 7 Miners B 3.

Missing results: Braes v Consett Coach; Stateside C v Miners B; Stateside C v Black Diamond and the two games between Demi B v Barn.

Auckland Area

BISHOP Auckland Snooker Club entertained Spennymoor Voltigeur in a top of the table clash. The home side edged the first half with wins from Paul Armstrong, Michael Hoggart and Martin Taylor, with Darren Briggs & Dean Mains replying. Mains won his second point in the second half, but second wins from Armstrong, Hoggart and Taylor, with Steve Balanaves adding one ensured the league leaders victory. However the victory was cut to a minimum when Briggs teamed up with Tony Biddle to win the doubles and Mains won the captains.

Bishop Auckland Derby equalled their best win of the season when they travelled to Coundon Durham Ox. Michael Richardson, Stuart Milne and Gary McCaskill scored two each with Billy Eales and Mark Wilkinson adding one each to put the Derby in control, with only Dave Lamb and Dave Briddick scoring for the home side. The Derby completed the rout by winning both doubles and captains.

The Snooker Club now lead the overall table by six points from the Voltigeur, who are seven points ahead of the Manor A. Both the Volti and the Manor have a game in hand.

Results: Henknowle Manor B 4 Bishop Auckland Grand 8; Coundon Durham Ox 2 Bishop Auckland Derby 10; Bishop Auckland Bay Horse 2 Henknowle Manor A 10; Bishop Auckland Snooker Club 7 Spennymoor Voltigeur 5.

Upper Weardale League

ST Johns Chapel Blue Bell travelled for a top of the table clash to Stanhope Queens Head, where the hosts shot three ahead with wins from Sean Emerson, Carl Tunstall and Andrew Featherstone. Robert Walton and Tyrone Robson won for the Bell before Chris Hodgson rounded off the singles for the Queens. Two of the three doubles games went to the home team who extended their lead at the top of the league to 16 points. Stanhope Club are now in second place, two ahead of the Blue bell, who have a match in hand.

Nigel Richardson and Michael Anderson put Frosterley Inn ahead when they entertained St Johns Chapel Golden Lion. Darren Dalton replied for the Golden Lion before Michael Byrne renewed the two point cushion. Keith James and John Bell then levelled things up going into the doubles. The first two doubles games were shared and in the deciding game, Keith James went in-off the black after a good clearance to gift victory to Frosterley.

Results: Stanhope Queens Head 6 St Johns Chapel Blue Bell 3; Frosterley Inn 5 St Johns Chapel Golden Lion 4; Ireshopeburn Weardale Inn 5 Eastgate Cross Keys 4; Stanhope Pack Horse 3 Stanhope Club 6; Stanhope Grey Bull 3 Wolsingham Black Lion A; Wolsingham Black Lion B 3 Rookhope Inn 6. Re-arranged games: Ireshopeburn Weardale Inn 6 Rookhope Inn 3; Stanhope Grey Bull 4 St Johns Chapel Blue Bell 5; Eastgate Cross Keys 5 Frosterley Inn 4.

Durham County

THE three Durham County teams travelled to Cleveland in the Region One Inter-Counties Champions wit the two men's teams both winning but the Durham Ladies took their traditional defeat, as they always seem to produce their worst performances there.

The men's A team won 28-16 with clean records of four wins from four games for Kevin Rainbow, David Castledene, Simon Baker and Colin Armstrong, whilst Michael Oliver, Dave Harrop, Mark Jeffreys and Thomas Gwynn won three of their four encounters.

The men's B team won 27-17 with Adrian Spence from Consett starring on his debut when he won all four of his games. There were also outstanding debuts from the Stanley trio of Chris Gibson, Frankie Ward and Kai Dixon with three wins each. Dave Ferguson, Steve Pratt and Simon Thompson also won three from four for the B team.

Alison Harrop of Consett with wins in all four of her games and Rebecca Newton of Crook with three wins from four scored half of the Ladies teams points as they went down by 30-14.

There are changes to the published fixture list and players are asked to note that the game on the June 24 is now brought forward to June 3 and the July match to June 24 with no July game. Durham v South Yorkshire has been moved from March 11 to April 29.

The next County game is away to East Yorkshire on April 15.

Spennymoor League

Tudhoe Cricket Club extended their lead at the top after they only dropped one point to the visiting Hillingdon A.

Results: Ferryhill Black Bull 7 Kirk Merrington Greyhound 3; Chilton Wheatsheaf 8 Masons Arms 2; Spennymoor Voltigeur 8 Pit Laddie 2; Kirk Merrington Half Moon 5 Victoria 5; Railway 2 Penny Gill 8; Hillingdon B 6 Eldon Arms 4; Spennymoor Wheatsheaf 2 Quinns 8; Tudhoe C.C. 9 Hillingdon A 1.

Durham and District League

Framwellgate Moor Club pulled off the shock of the quarter- finals of the League Knock Out Cup when they beat the visiting Horden Big Club by the odd point. Coxhoe Club won a tight match at Bowburn Oak Tree A by two points.

Results: Consett Stateside 7 Framwellgate Moor Happy Wanderer 3; Chester-le-Street Q Club 7 Bowburn Oak Tree B 0; Framwellgate Moor Club 7 Horden Big Club 6; Bowburn Oak Tree A 5 Coxhoe Club 7.

Thursday CIU league

Annfield Plain Demi strengthened their lead at the top after they only dropped one point to the visiting third placed Langley Park. Stanley central stayed within range by beating the visiting Sandhole by six points.

With only a few weeks left in this inaugural league, tickets for the Presentation Evening will shortly go on sale. The league will open again in a few months with darts and dominoes added to the programme. Interested C.I.U. affiliated premises should contact the secretary Ray Bottle on 07879 266863 for further details.

Results: Medomsley Pretoria 2 Grove and Moorside Club 8; Stanley Central 8 Sandhole 2; Annfield Plain Demi 9 Langley Park 1.

CIU Pool Singles Championship

First Round: L. Hammond (Shotton Comrades) v T. Wilkinson snr (Easington Colliery); A. Wright (North Biddick) v T. Kay (Darlington ASE); A. Gordon (Ouston) v K. Stobbs (Easington Colliery); A. Daniel (Hylton Castle) v S. Webster (Ferryhill); T. Wilkinson jnr (Easington Colliery) v C. Riddell (Hylton Castle); J. Downing (Hylton Castle) v K. Jackson (Hylton Castle); G. Sawyer (Easington Colliery) v C. Jobes (Shotton Comrades). There are 25 byes. Matches to be played on or before Friday, March 23.

CIU Pool Pairs Championship

First Round: D. Hume & C. Smith (Darlington) v N. Anderson & L. Hammond (Shotton comrades); A. Gordon & I. Jones (Ouston) v S. Wray & S. Webster (Ferryhill); A. Spedding & D. Riddell (Hylton Castle) v K. Dixon & D. Bone (South Moor Excelsior); G. Sawyer & K. Stobbs (Easington Colliery) v T. Kay & P. Cox (Darlington ASE); C. Turner & J. Briggs (Grange Villa) v A. Daniel & J. Downing (Hylton Castle); T. Wilkinson jnr & M. Jones (Easington Colliery) v M. Green & C. Woodland (Grange Villa). There are ten byes. Results to be into the Branch Office by Saturday, March 31.

Results: Dalesman 3 Speedwell 5; Navy B 6 Coachman 2; Burns 6 Rileys 2; Highland Lad 7 Brown Trout 1; Caly L 0 Navy A 8, Skerne Park 5 Mowden 3; Hogans 2 Caly M 6.

Singles and Doubles must be in with the cards this week.

Meeting, Tuesday, March 6.