Durham County: Durham went down in the men's A team match against the visiting North Yorkshire in the Region One Inter-Counties Championship but came out on top in the men's B team and Ladies matches.

The men's A team put up a tough fight before being edged out by 24-20. The best performances from the Durham players were Dave Harrop of Consett and James Evans of Horden's three wins from their four matches.

The scores were reversed in the men's B team match with Durham winning 24-20. Steve Nixon of Horden starred for Durham with four wins from four matches, whilst Lee Holdsworth of Bournmoor, Nick Veuger of Durham, Dave Whittaker and Michael Cockburn of Chester-le-Street all won three of their four outings.

Durham Ladies made an outstanding 27-17 victory with Sue Seal of Sherburn Hill making wins in all her four games. There were three wins from four matches for Helen Littlewood of Langley Park, Angela Gorman of Consett, Lyndsay Short of Consett, Clare triton of Pelton, Debbie Seaward of Consett and Vicy Nash of Consett, who was awarded the Lady of the Match.

The next County match will be at home to Humberside on Sunday, 21 March.

Crook Indivdual League

Gerald Parkin began his first ever match in the league staged in Crook Coach and Horses with a good first frame against David Stephenson but then his opponent clawed his way back to level in a very tight second frame. In the decider Parkin missed an easy yellow and Stephenson took charge to complete a victory. Despite this early reversal Parkin will always be a difficult man to beat.

Neil Campbell did not do himself justice last year in this league and set out on the new campaign with a more determined attitude and Aaron Cowan felt the sting. Campbell moved into top gear to complete a whitewash success.

Lee Scott, the early leader of the inaugural league until he broke his wrist, began the new season with two good frames but Richard Walker made a good recovery in the third.

Stephen Heyes was not at his best, leaving spectators wondering if his nickname 'Potter' was really appropriate, as he fell in all three frames to the tactician, Les Scott.

Results: Les Scott 3 Stephen Heyes 0; Gerald Parkin 1 David Stephenson 2; Neil Campbell 3 Aaron Cowan 0; Lee Scott 2 Richard Walker 1.

Monday's matches in the Coach and Horses are: Lee Cullinan v Johnny Mason; Gerald Parkin v David Haygarth; Michael Burke v David Craggs and Stephen Burke v Darren Tinkler.

Durham and District League

Spennymoor Voltigeur entertained Coxhoe Workingmen's Club and started well with wins from Andrew Mole and Dean Mains but the visitors won the next five games through George Bernard, Paul Armstrong, Ritchie Pears, Alistair Dixon and Michael Neal. The next six games were shared with George Bernard winning the captains for Coxhoe Club to clinch the three points victory.

Consett Stateside closed the gap on leaders, Sacriston Daisy Hill B to just five points with the Consett team having a match in hand. Durham Snooker Club are in third spot, 12 points behind Stateside but with a match in hand over them.

Results: Ushaw Moor Winnings 2 Durham Snooker Club 11; Horden Club 10 Ushaw Moor Catholic Cub 3; Sacriston Daisy Hill A 5 Bowburn Hare and Greyhound 8; Gilesgate Three Horse Shoes 7 Ushaw Moor Flass Inn 6; Bowburn Oak Tree 4 Sacriston Daisy Hill B 9; Witton Gilbert White Tun 2 Consett Stateside 11; Spennymoor Voltigeur 5 Coxhoe W.M.C. 8; Bowburn Cooperage 3 Framewellgate Moor Marquis of Granby 10.

County Super League

Shildon B made a great start to their home match against Crook A when they won the first six points through Michael Aldworth, Colin Bell, Dominic Hannon, David Waites, Brian Bailey and Jim Dinning. Crook's only point of the first half came when Stephen Burke won the last frame.

Colin Bell and Michael Aldworth retained the good form for the home side by taking the first two points of the second half, but Crook staged a recovery with four wins in a row from Neil Campbell, Jimmy Singlewood, Dougie Bowey and Jim Ainsley only to see Ian Sanderson cap a great night for Shildon by taking the final frame to complete a 9-5 victory.

The race for the Individual Player of the Year has already opened out with only five players left with four wins from four games. They are Paul Biddle of Spennymoor, Johnny Mason and Darren Tinkler of Crook B, Rance Richardson of Shildon A and Shaun Williams of Horden, although Helen Littlewood, Paul Shutt and Barry Dowson of Durham have 100 per cent records from their two outings.

Bishop Auckland League

At the annual meeting two new teams were admitted to the league to replace the B teams from Bishop Auckland Snooker Club and Henknowle Manor. The new teams are Shildon Royal George and Crook Travellers Rest. The new season will begin on Thursday, February 19, but all teams must be represented at a league meeting in Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms on Tuesday, February 17 to pick up fixture lists and result cards.

The fixtures for the first week are: Bishop Auckland RAFA v Crook Olde Horse Shoe; Toft Hill Three Tuns v Bishop Auckland Snooker Club; Witton Park Rose and Crown v Crook White Swan; Crook Coach and Horses A v Henknowle Manor; Spennymoor Weardale A v Spennymoor Weardale B; Bishop Auckland Football Club v Crook Coach and Horses B; Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms v Willington Brewer's Droop; Tow Law Station v Bishop Auckland Derby; Crook Travellers Rest v Shildon Royal George.

Willington and District League

The League Singles Championship qualifying stage will be held at four venues on Wednesday, February 25 with the winner from each going through to the Final Night at the Prospect Club on Wednesday, March 17.

The players drawn to play at Hunwick Quarry are: J. McIntosh (Burn), G. Donnelly (Quarry), A. Briddick (Cottles), S. Shillan (Prospect), J. Bone (Cottles), M. Waters (Royal Oak), M. Bell (Quarry), D. Wragg (Cottles), G. Slater (Royal Oak), J. Chatterton (Burn), R. Liddell (Cottles), K. Hirst (Prospect), A. Mains (Cottles) and I. Spowart (New Inn).

The players drawn to play at Cottles are: P. Cater (New Inn), D. Bennett (Cottles), S. Nutter (Royal Oak), D. Robson (Quarry), C. Glendenning (Cottles), W. Jackson (Burn), A. Melliby (Cottles), P. Morris (Prospect), D. Hawkins (Lion & Unicorn), A. Fleming (Cottles), B. Wragg (Brewers Droop), D. Clark (Burn), A. Irwin (Burn) and W. Kerr (Royal Oak).

The players drawn to play at the New Inn are: D. Ayre (New Inn), K. Hill (Lion & Unicorn), J. Wragg (Quarry), S. Kyle (Burn), J. Gallagher (Cottles), B. Greensmith (Prospect), P. Blyth (New Inn), K. Saval (Cottles), J. Morrow (Royal Oak), D. Griffiths junior (Burn), P. Trow (Cottles), M. Rooney (Burn), S. Dawson (Royal Oak) and A. Lee junior (Lion & Unicorn).

The players drawn to play at Byers Green Royal Oak are: S. Wayman (Cottles), G. Foster (Burn), D. Milburn (New Inn), T. Brown (Royal Oak), L. Atkinson (Prospect), C. Picken (Burn), D. Edmundson (Quarry), B. Fleming (Cottles), V. Raine (Burn), A. Binks (Royal Oak), C. Hawkins (New Inn), O. Gray (Quarry) and T. Atkinson (Brown Trout).

Auckland Area League

Steven Webb, Peter Mernor and Jon Tomlinson got Bishop Auckland Manor off to the best possible start when they hosted Bishop Auckland King's Head. David Baird and Malcolm Parry reduced the gap before Steven Webb and Peter Mernor restored the Manor's three-point advantage. Again the King's recovered, this time through Kevin Watson and David Jacomb. The Manor's Bill Turner denied the King's the chance to level, leaving the Manor a lead after the singles. However they were unable to hold on as David Baird with Steven Taylor and David Jacomb with Mark Heward won both doubles to level the match. Malcolm Parry won the captain's game to give the Kings a narrow 7-6 victory.

Spennymoor Voltigeur B hosted Spennymoor Hillingdon this week and took a two-point lead with wins from Alan Shaw and Paul Summerfield. The visitors' replied with wins from John Bulmer, Ian Smith and Ben Smith. Alan Shaw, Steven Horner and Steve Jones won the next three for the home side to give them a two point advantage but Ian and Ben Smith won the final two singles games to level the. In the doubles Alan Shaw with Paul Summerfield and Steven Horner with Paul Wrightson put paid to any thoughts of a Hillingdon win, whilst Steve Jones added the captains game for the home side.

Results: Bishop Auckland Manor 6 Bishop Auckland King's Head 7; Spennymoor Voltigeur 'B' 8 Spennymoor Hillingdon 5.

Tow Law Scottish Courage League

Tow Law Dan's Castle A opened out a two point lead at the top of the table after a good victory at Tow Law Station, who only managed to take two points, one from Alan Ogilvie in the singles and Ogilvie with Malcolm Boughey in the doubles. The Castle's singles points came from Alan Henderson, Lee Stockdale, Ian Johnson, Colin Armstrong and Anthony Hird.

Sunniside Comedian slipped up in their race to beat the Castle to the Championship when they were taken to the decider at home to Newhouse Club. The singles were shared with Dave Walton, Keith race and John Hildreth winning for the home side and Paul Morris, Brian Traynor and Ian Dinsdale levelling. The first two doubles were shared but the Comedian's Keith race and John Hildreth beat Steve Turner and Ian Dinsdale in the decider.

* The next league meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 17 at 8pm in Tow Law Station when all teams must be represented. Entry forms with the appropriate fees must be handed in at the meeting.

Results: Tow Law Dan's Castle B 5 Tow Law Football Club 4; Tow Law New Market B 4 Tow Law New Market A 5; Sunniside Comedian 5 Newhouse Club 4; Tow Law Station 2 Tow Law Dan's Castle A 7. Tow Law Rose and Crown 3 Hamilton Row Black Horse 6.