Norton firsts, the defending Whitfield's Building Services Durham and Cleveland Men's League champions, have chalked up another 37 points in two very easy victories over bottom two Aycliffe I and Aykley Heads I.

The successes saw them sneak past previous leaders Redcar I and take a one-point lead over Sunderland Racquets I.

The top two have only lost once each, the leaders collecting 109 points from seven fixtures.

Gareth Lumsdon, Andy Cross and Mark Hockborn all played in the two recent wins as the first three strings, while Ian Hilton and Stuart Spavin played in one and Neville Hunter and Chris Hunter appeared in the other as numbers four and five.

Darlington II have lost top spot in division two to Bannatyne's I, but do have two fixtures in hand and have only one point to make up.

Bedale firsts have recorded two more victories in division three to leap from bottom of the table to fourth.

They stand only 11 points behind second-placed Sunderland I, with two fixtures in hand.

They accounted for group leaders Darlington III, who had set a hot pace from early October and were then unbeaten in five outings.

Although the home team gathered 11 points from the 3-2 defeat by the North Yorkshire club, the 15 including win bonus for Bedale propelled them upwards.

A whitewash of visiting Nunthorpe thirds followed and the combined total of 34 points now sees Bedale with 73 from five fixtures.

Yarm III are just ahead and, while Darlington III still lead Sunderland I by 12 points, promotion for Bedale is a strong possibility.

Guisborough I are just four points behind them and also have fixtures in hand. They have also lost just once.

Redcar II have a small lead in the fourth division over Darlington IV, but the chasing pack of seven sides are at least 40 points behind the leading pair.

Darlington V have lost for the first time, with Norton IV the culprits, and have a reduced lead ahead of that team.

Bedale seconds are newcomers to the league in division seven, but picked up a first win of the season at home to Sunderland Racquets fifths and gained ten points in a 3-2 defeat at second-placed Redcar IV to move from sixth to fourth.

Recent results. - Division One: Norton I 5 Aykley Heads I 0, Sunderland G&RC I 5 A Heads I 0, Norton I 5 Aycliffe I 0.

Division Two: Chester le Street I 4 Nunthorpe II 1, Norton III 2 Bannatyne's I 3, Nunthorpe II 1 Norton II 4.

Division Three: Sedgefield I 3 Nunthorpe III 2, Darlington III 2 Bedale I 3, Bedale I 5 Nunthorpe III 0.

Division Four: Chester le St II 3 Nunthorpe IV 2.

Division Five: Nunthorpe V 1 Norton IV 4, Darlington VI 1 Nunthorpe V 5, Norton IV 3 Darlington V 2, Sedgefield II 0 Aycliffe II 5.

Division Six: Glaxo I 1 Redcar III 4, Sunderland H&RC IV 3 Norton V 2, Durham University II 1 Dolphin II 4, Sunderland H&RC III 4 Hild and Bede I 1, Durham Univ I 1 Sunderland H&RC III 4, Hild and Bede I 1 Redcar III 4, Sunderland H&RC III 2 Glaxo I 3, Hild and Bede I 3 Sunderland H&RC IV 2.

Division Seven: Redcar IV 3 Bedale II 2, Norton VI 3 Norton VII 2, David Lloyd I 2 Norton VI 3, Sunderland H&RC V 3 Norton VII 2, Aycliffe IV 5 David Lloyd 0, Bedale II 5 Sunderland H&RC V 0, Redcar IV 4 Sedgefield III 1