Worthington CIU League: Newton Aycliffe, who are in equal second to bottom place in the First Division, took two valuable points at leaders, Spennymoor A and cut their hosts lead at the top to four points.

The Aycliffe stars were John Briddick, who became the first player to beat Paul Atkinson this season, and Mark Howe, who collected another vital scalp when he beat Paul Biddle. However the Moors went to victory with wins from Karl Welsh, Eddie Rhodes and Michael Pratt, who put in a 62 break.

Only John Bower with a 36 break managed to take a point for Sherburn Village on their visit to second placed, Wheatley Hill. The home side's points came from Alan Hall, Ronnie Peacock, Dave Walker with a 31 break and Bob Reay.

Shotton Palms jumped into third place above their visitors from Cockton Hill when they won the decider. The Hill were twice ahead when Andrew Aisbitt took the first frame but James Evans levelled and then when George Chapman took the third only to see Gary Deluce level. In the decider Paul Hickman beat Harold Lomax.

Old Shildon failed to maintain last week's form where they almost whitewashed Wheatley Hill A as they only collected one point from their visit to Bearpark A. Peter Coates took Shildon's only point, whilst Andy Donaldson, Glen Morton, John Jackson and Shaun Easter won for the home side.

Steve Allen and Dave Hammond put Wingate two up against the visiting Brandon before Kevin Sample put in a 42 break to reduce the arrears. However Geoff Howe made certain of a home victory before Colin Goodrick took the final point for the visitors.

Witton Gilbert moved up to share fourth place in the First Division with Cockton Hill after they beat the visiting Fishburn A. Witton took the first three frames through John Rooney senior, Ian Renwick with a 37 break and Willis Joynes before Fishburn fought back with wins from John Griffin and Peter Davison.

Crowtrees shot into a ten points lead at the top of the Second Division after they whitewashed the visiting Wheatley Hill B. The home side's winners were Keith McLauchlan with a 36 break, Steve Armstrong, Peter Laverick, Sonny Hann and Sean Johnston.

Spennymoor B earned a share of second place in the Second Division after they only dropped one point at Stanley Central, who had Bob Oxley as their only winner. The Moors had wins from Alan Clarke, Gary Easen, Alan Rouell and Phil Wilson.

Willington also share second place following their home win over Belmont, whose only point came from Chris Morley. The home points came from Stan Bennett, Tom Parkin, Jeremy Martin and Arthur Goldsborough.

Newhouse whitewashed their hosts at Sacriston to join the group in equal second place in the Second Division. The visitors had wins from John Maddox, Billy Thompson, Jimmy Hassen, Paul Wright and Ian Dinsdale.

Coundon became the fourth team to share second place in the Second Division when they won the decider at Langley Park. Frank Nicholson and Gary Goulbourn put the visitors ahead but Paul Thompson and Stephen Coates levelled the match. In the decider Billy Goggins put in a 46 break for Coundon to beat Peter Morgan.

Meadowfield recovered from a two points deficit at Ferryhill A to win in the decider. Neil Spender and Glyn Toas put Ferryhill ahead but Stephen Hughes and Malcolm Hughes levelled the match. Meadowfield went to victory when Craig Hughes beat Ian Fawcett in the decider.

New Durham only dropped one point to the visiting Tow Law A to go ten points clear at the top of the Third Division. Thomas Cairns, Neil Phillips, Kevin Scullion and Gordon Bowes won for the home side before Doug Watson saved the whitewash in the final frame.

Leeholme A moved up their highest position since joining the league when they took over second place in the Third Division after only dropping one point at Durham City, who had Eric Wright as their only winner. The Leeholme points came from Gary Golightly, Ray Gill, Karl Thompson and Barry Shaw.

Hunwick A only dropped one point on their visit to Fishburn B to stay in third place in the Third Division. Neville Blenkinsopp, Peter Mernor, Norman Kirkley and Des Mason took the first four frames with Wayne Oliver saving the whitewash by taking the final frame for Fishburn.

Tow Law B slipped up at home to Crowtrees B and moved down to fourth. Terry Gibson and Dave Lowery put the visitors two up but John Warriner and Charlie Donaghy levelled. In the decider Crowtrees Paul Moralee beat Adam Orton on the final pink.

Ferryhill B edged through to a win in the decider at Leeholme B. The home side had wins from Lee Todd and John Taylor with Billy Roddam and Mark Wilson levelling. Ferryhill went to victory when Ian Roddam beat Adrian Prest in the decider.

Hunwick B beat the visiting Bearpark B by the odd point with wins from Barry Fleming, Trevor Lomax and John Bate, whilst Alan Copper and Ian Chamberlain won for the visitors.

* Anyone who wishes to enrol for the Referees Course at Crowtrees on Monday, February 23 at 7.30pm should telephone (01388) 730444 and leave their names before Friday, February 20.

Results: Fishburn B 1 Hunwick A 4; Ferryhill A 2 Meadowfield 3; Bearpark A 4 Old Shildon 1; Tow Law B 2 Crowtrees B 3; Sacriston 0 Newhouse 5; Wheatley Hill A 4 Sherburn Village 1; Hunwick B 3 Bearpark B 2; Stanley Central 1 Spennymoor B 4; Shotton Palms 3 Cockton Hill 2; New Durham 4 Tow Law A 1; Crowtrees A 5 Wheatley Hill B 0; Spennymoor A 3 Newton Aycliffe 2; Leeholme B 2 Ferryhill B 3; Willington 4 Belmont 1; Witton Gilbert 3 Fishburn A 2; Durham City 1 Leeholme A 4; Langley Park 2 Coundon 3; Wingate 3 Brandon 2.

Crook League

Ronnie Hope of Crook Royal Sun is the only player in either division with 100 per cent record from having played all his team's matches. Crook Coach and Horses B are the only team who can boast a similar record from their position at the top of the Second Division.

The next league meeting will be held at 7.30pm in Crook Queen's Head on Tuesday, February 17 when all teams must be represented.

Harry Little Memorial Handicap Doubles

The best of five frames semi-final went to the final black in the last frame before Colin Goodrick and Graham Jackson of Brandon beat Ian Dinsdale and John Maddox of Newhouse at Old Shildon Club.

The first frame was dominated by Jackson, whilst the Newhouse pair were quickly well behind. Even when they needed six snookers, they kept playing to try to accustom themselves to the table and managed to take the blue, pink and black to make the first frame score 70-32.

Things did not improve in the second frame for the Newhouse pair as Goodrick took over the heavy scoring role for Brandon, who took the frame at 53-19. Jackson and Goodrick started the third frame confidently but both Dinsdale and Maddox began to hit successful pots and kept the scoring close, but still needed the final four balls to take the point. Dinsdale took advantage of a loose safety shot and potted brown, blue and pink before playing a very tight safety shot on the black. This paid off as they took the black to reduce the arrears.

In the fourth frame the Newhouse pair got right on top with Maddox knocking in a 22 break to open the gap and then clinching the point by taking the last three colours. The decider was nip and tuck throughout. With Newhouse just edging ahead to the point where the Brandon pair needed the final three colours for victory. Nerves got the better of all four players as they all missed comparatively easy chances before Goodrick took the blue and pink and, later, Jackson potted the decisive black.

Goodrick and Jackson will now meet the winners of the delayed Fishburn derby match between Buist and Davison against Quest and Hirst at Belmont on Monday, March 15 at 7.30pm.

Worthington CIU Winter Singles

Fourth round draw: Sean Johnston (Crowtrees A) v Graham Golbourn (Coundon); Mark Appleby (Sacriston) bye; Paul Nord (Witton Gilbert) v Dean Jones (Wingate); Kevin Sample (Brandon) v Paul Atkinson (Spennymoor A); Steve Armstrong (Crowtrees A) v Frank Nicholson (Coundon); John Bower (Sherburn Village) v Charlie Donaghy (Tow Law B); Winston Hodgson (Fishburn B) v John Hall (Brandon); Stuart Neil (Coundon) v Dave Walker (Wheatley Hill A). Matches to be played on or before 23 February.

Worthington CIU Winter Pairs Championship

Quarter finals draw: Sean Johnston & Steve Armstrong (Crowtrees A) v Dave Walker & Alan Hall (Wheatley Hill A); David Harris & Alan Craig (Stanley Central) v Ian Dinsdale & John Maddox (Newhouse); Bob Reay & Ronnie Peacock (Wheatley Hill A) v John Bower & Alan Greener (Sherburn Village); George Chapman & Andrew Aisbitt (Cockton Hill) v Charlie Blake & Billy Goggins (Coundon). Results to be into secretary by 10.30 pm on Monday, February 23.

Worthington CIU Handicap Singles

Fourth round draw: Colin Goodrick 21 (Brandon) v Willis Joynes 12 (Witton Gilbert); Stuart Neil 6 (Coundon) v Gary Easen 20 (Spennymoor B); Peter Laverick 30 (Crowtrees A) v John Bower 18 (Sherburn Village); Stephen Hughes 20 (Meadowfield) v Steve Armstrong 7 (Crowtrees A); Paul Atkinson -9 (Spennymoor A) v Anthony Forster 40 (Leeholme B); Graham Golbourn 24 (Coundon) v Sean Johnston 24 (Crowtrees A); Dean Jones 8 (Wingate) v Sonny Hann 14 (Crowtrees A); Paul Nord 14 (Witton Gilbert) v Stephen Coates 24 (Langley Park). Matches to be played on or before 23 February.

South West Durham Association

The Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 25 at 7.30pm at the Old Shildon Club. There are vacancies for new teams and anyone requiring further advance information should telephone the secretary, Jossie Aldworth on 01388 777362.

The league plays league matches of four frames from four players on Tuesday evenings. All teams must be represented at the AGM to be accepted into the league.