Worthington CIU Summer League: The new season opened with its fair share of surprises.

The reigning champions, Spennymoor A were beaten at home, new team, Coundon B opened with an away win, whilst the other new team from the Victoria Club were just beaten in the decider, New Durham won their fist ever Second Division match but newly promoted Crowtrees A found life in the First Division tough when thy suffered a home whitewash.

Shotton Palms visited reigning champions, Spennymoor A and were two down after Paul Biddle and Michael Pratt won for the home side. However Paul Hickman and Jimmy Evans senior levelled the match and then Shotton's Jimmy Evans junior beat Karl Welsh in the decider.

Coundon B, the new team whose entry was delayed to the very last minute made a good start with an odd point win at Tow Law A. The home side had points from Alan Spence and Tommy Williams, whilst the newcomers had wins from Darren Lidster, Steven Fortune and Joe Brown.

The Victoria looked to be in good shape when they led with points from Colin Pratt and Ian Breen but were disappointed when Ian Chamberlain, Lee Robbin and Bob Lumley took the visiting Bearpark B to victory.

New Durham visited Langley Park after their first ever promotion from Division Three and raced into a 3-0 lead with wins from John Robinson, Kevin Scullion and Neil Phillips before Stephen Coates and Lawrence Jones replied.

Crowtrees A lost the first frame in the First Division on the black when Sherburn Village's Peter McGowan won. Keith McLaughlan made a 40 break for the home side but John Bower recovered to beat him. The remaining Sherburn points came from Alan Greener, Albert Bower and Scott Mallaburn, who put in a 31 break.

Wheatley Hill A made an excellent star to the new campaign when they only dropped one point to the visiting Witton Gilbert, who had Ian Renwick as their only winner. The Hill's points came from Ronnie Peacock, Dean Bryden, Dave Walker and Dennis Clish.

Fishburn A had a similar success when they only dropped one point at Newton Aycliffe, whose only winner was Marc Howe. The Fishburn points came from Brian Quest, Peter Davison, John Carter and Alan Buist.

Newhouse went two up at Willington through Paul Wright and Ian Dinsdale but the home side recovered to win with points from Gordon Parkin, Tom Parkin and Stan Bennett.

Stephen Hughes was the only Meadowfield winner when they entertained Brandon, who had wins from Graham Jackson, Colin Goodrick, with 34 break, Brian Graham and Kevin Sample.

Old Shildon started life in the Second Division with a drubbing at Coundon, who took all the points through Billy Goggins, Frank Nicholson, Mally Ryder, Willy Shoulder and Graham Goulbourn.

Durham City won by the odd point against the visiting Spennymoor B, who were fancied for promotion from the Second Division. The home side had wins from Michael Pratt, Brian Dunn and Barry Stoddart, whilst Micky Anderson and Dennis Dodd replied.

Bearpark A edged through to an odd point home win over Crook Belle Vue with wins from Alan Smith, John Jackson and Shaun Easter, with Eric Lockerbie and Harold Lomax replying.

Wheatley Hill B made a good start to the new season with an odd point win at Ferryhill A. The home side had wins from Bernie Jones and Neil Spender, whilst Steve Cave, Philip Taylor and Jock Frost won for the Hill.

Leeholme B came close to winning at Sacriston but the home side had wins from Alan Richardson, Dale Evans and Gary Atkinson to edge through and beat the points from Lee Todd and Tony Clish.

Tow Law B took the first and last frames at Hunwick with wins from Adam Orton and Lee Stockdale. The home side had wins from Tom Ward, Nevilles Blenkinsopp with a 39 break and Barry Fleming.

Crowtrees B joined their A team in failing to score a point when they visited Leeholme A, who had wins from Alan Roe, Ian North, Ray Gill, Karl Thompson and Barry Shaw.

Fishburn B beat the visiting Ferryhill B by the odd point with wins from George Whitelock, Paul Nicks and Michael Bell, whilst David Nelson and Ian Roddam replied.

Results: Division One: Meadowfield 1 Brandon 4; Willington 3 Newhouse 2; Newton Aycliffe 1 Fishburn A 4; Wheatley Hill A 4 Witton Gilbert 1; Crowtrees A 0 Sherburn Village 5; Spennymoor A 2 Shotton Palms 3.

Division Two: Ferryhill A 2 Wheatley Hill B 3; Bearpark A 3 Crook Belle Vue 2; Durham City 3 Spennymoor B 2; Coundon 5 Old Shildon 0; Langley Park 2 New Durham 3.

Division Three: Fishburn B 3 Ferryhill B 2; Leeholme A 5 Crowtrees B 0; Hunwick 3 Tow Law B 2; Sacriston 3 Leeholme B 2; Victoria 2 Bearpark B 3; Tow Law A 2 Coundon B 3.

Crook League

Lee Taylor of Crook Travellers Rest B won the League Singles Championship when he beat teammate, Michael Burke 2-1 in the final at Crook RAFA Club, which staged the Finals and Presentation Night. In the semi-finals, Taylor beat Dave Walker of Crook Olde Horse Shoe, whilst Burke beat Lee Scott of Crook Coach and Horses.

Gerald Parkin and Les Scott of Crook Coach and Horses won the Doubles Championship with a 2-0 win over Neil Campbell and Lee Taylor of Crook Travellers Rest B.

The League Championship trophy went to Crook Travellers Rest B with Crook Olde Horse Shoe A the runners-up. The Second Division champions were Crook Coach and Horses B with Crook White Swan B the runners-up.

The First Division Player of the Year was Ronnie Hope of Crook Royal Sun, whilst the Second Division award went to Gerald Parkin of Crook Coach and Horses B.

Worthington CIU Singles Championship

Dave Walker of Wheatley Hill landed the title when the beat Steve Armstrong of Crowtrees by three frames to one in the final at Durham City, refereed by Dennis Payne of Coundon.

The first frame saw a sparring spell of good safety with both players trying to gain the upper hand. Eventually Walker got in to make a decisive 26 break to win 63-34. After a slow opening to the second frame Armstrong opened a lead with a 27 break but Walker steadily fought back to take the frame by potting the pink and black and make a 58-48 win.

Armstrong completely dominated the third frame with an early 22 break and then took advantage of a Walker miss into the middle to knock in a 60 break, which only broke down on the final brown. Armstrong took the frame at 88-5.

Both players opened well in the fourth when Armstrong made a 31 break and Walker replied with 30. With three balls remaining Armstrong took the blue to go two behind but then missed a good chance at the pink. He later laid a good snooker on the penultimate ball but Walker skilfully escaped and potted the ball to take the title.

SWD Association

Darlington Cricket Club remain three points clear at the top of the First Division after they drew with the visiting Newton Aycliffe Southerne Club. Hopetown are in second place, one point ahead of Darlington Snooker Club A after they drew at Hopetown.

In the Second Division Northgate made a good home win over Shildon Elm Road to move up to share second place with their visitors, whilst Darlington Snooker Club B moved four points clear after they whitewashed their hosts at Rise Carr.

Northgate had wins from Peter Smith, Mike Allinson and Dave Spencer, whilst Paul Humble replied for the Shildon team.

Results: Division One: Darlington Cricket Club 2 Newton Aycliffe Southerne Club 2; Hopetown 2 Darlington Snooker A 2. Barnard Castle Glaxo v Bishop Auckland Golf Club postponed.

Division Two: Darlington Snooker C 2 Tindale Crescent 2; Rise Carr 0 Darlington Snooker B 4; Northgate 3 Shildon Elm Road 1.

Worthington CIU Winter League

There were 97 breaks above 30 recorded in the First Division.

Top ten: 1 Andrew Aisbitt (Cockton Hill) 75; 2 Paul Armstrong (Old Shildon) 73; 3 Paul Atkinson (Spennymoor A) 73; 4 Kevin Mordica (Cockton Hill) 69; 5 Michael Pratt (Spennymoor A) 68; 6 equal Paul Atkinson (Spennymoor A), Michael Pratt (Spennymoor A) and Paul Atkinson (Spennymoor A) 62 each; 9 Paul Atkinson (Spennymoor A) 61; 10 Andrew Aisbitt (Cockton Hill) 60.

In the Second Division there were 48 breaks over 30 with Steve Armstrong of Crowtrees A taking the top four places with breaks of 79, two 65s and a 56.

Remaining places: 5 Adrian Jones (Ferryhill) 55; 6 Billy Goggins (Coundon) 50; 7 Billy Goggins (Coundon) 46; 8 Tony Ellison (Wheatley Hill B) 44; 9 Ronnie Bradley (Sacriston) 43; 10 Keith McLauchlan (Crowtrees A) 41.

Steven Webb of Hunwick led the 24 high breaks in the Third Division with 50.

Remaining positions: 2 Neil Phillips (New Durham) 45; 3 Thomas Cairns (New Durham) 43; 4 Dave Lowery (Crowtrees B) 42; 5 Barry Shaw (Leeholme A) and Mark Wilson (Ferryhill B) 40 each; 7 Peter Mernor (Hunwick A) 37; 8 Neil Phillips (New Durham) 35; 9 equal Tony Thompson and Neil Phillips (both New Durham) 34 each.