Newfit Services Willington: Willington Cottles emphasised their leaders position when they beat fellow visiting championship challengers, Byers Green Royal Oak by five points.

The home side had singles wins from Kenny Louth, Stephen Robinson, John Barron and Jason Bone whilst the Oak replied with wins from Alan Sheldon and Ray Scott. Cottles took two of the doubles with wins from Jason Bone with John Barron and Brian Vayro with John Scott with the visitors taking a doubles point through Malcolm Hughes with Ray Scott. Cottles completed their victory with a win in the team game.

Sunnybrow Brown Trout A slipped to their third defeat of the season when they went down by three points at the Victoria Club. Both teams fancy their chances of a high finish but the trout now have to get back to winning ways, whilst the Victoria need to pick up large points scores in their outstanding fixtures.

Bobby Hall, Alan Beck and Ian Breen won singles for the Vic with Paul Allchurch, Jason Martin and Alan Bolam levelling. The home side had doubles points from Norman Bolam with Alan Richardson and Bobby hall with Alan Beck with Michael Pickles with Jason Martin replying. The Vic finished in style by taking the team game.

Results: Hunwick Joiners Arms 3 Willington Lion and Unicorn 8; Sunnybrow Brown Trout B 4 Willington Club 7; Willington Cottles 8 Byers Green Royal Oak 3; Victoria Club 7 Sunnybrow Brown Trout A 4; Willington Burn 8 Willington New Inn 3; Willington Black Horse Inn 5 Prospect Club 6; Willington Brewer's Droop 4 Willington Black Horse Tavern 7.

Tow Law Coors

Tow Law New Market A established a ten points lead with a match in hand over Newhouse Club after the Market won at the Club by three points. The Tow Law side won both trebles and then had singles wins from David Dixon, Kenneth Atkinson, Bob McFadden and John Parkin with only Bill Atkins and Dave Thornton replying. The Club fared better in the doubles when they took two of the three.

The leading individual scorers were B. Agar 180 for Hamsteels, B. Bayles 180 for the Royal oak, D. Andrew 151 and J. Peacock, L. Hopps and W. Jobson 140 each for Billy Row, R. Heppell 150 and A. Hird 140 for Dan's Castle and R. Johnson 140 for the Comedian,

Results: Cornsay Royal Oak 3 Esh McKennas 8; Tow Law Rose and Crown 2 Hamsteels Inn 9; Esh Stag's Head 7 Tow Law Dan's Castle 4; Billy Row Club 6 Sunniside Comedian 5; Newhouse Club 4 Tow Law New Market A 7.

Durham County

Durham entertained Northamptonshire over the weekend at their home venue, Dawdon Social Club, and after a late start on Saturday the Ladies B Team triumphed 5-1, clinched by the return of Linda Ithurralde to the squad with a winning average of 17.48 and taking the Match Award.

The Men's B Team romped to a 10-2 victory over their rivals.

The Ladies A Team were not so fortunate and conceded a defeat of 5-1 with the only winning game from Sharon Haywood taking the Match Award with a 20.31 average.

The Men's A Team started their onslaught with good performances from Doug McCarthy, Paul Bambrough, Phill Nixon, Roy Brown, Jimmy Ashett and Paddy Lenagh with a 10-2 win, bringing the final score for the weekend to 26-10 in favour of Durham and picking up much valued bonus points in. The Men's A Team are currently the Division leaders.

* Sunday saw an unusual extra challenge when 14-year-old Martin Douthwaite of Durham whose father is currently an A Team player accepted a challenge from 14-year-old Chris Lawrence from the visiting Northamptonshire team. Both proudly gave good performances with Martin being victorious.

Durham look forward to repeating their performance at their next home match on December 6/7 at Dawdon Social Club.

Crook Ladies League

The top two teams both made three points victories to keep the gap at the top the same. Leaders, Crook Queen's Head A saw off the visiting Tow Law New Market B, whilst Crook Jelly's Bar B won at Billy Row Green A. This leaves the Queen's eight points clear of Jelly's B with a match in hand, whilst the Victoria Club are in third place, eighteen points behind Jelly's B.

Results: Crook Travellers Rest 4 Crook Cricket Club 7; Billy Row Green A 4 Crook Jelly's Bar B 7; Tow Law New Market A 5 Crook Queen's Head B 6; Crook Belle Vue 8 Tow Law North Point 3; Billy Row Royal George 6 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 5; Crook Jelly's Bar A 5 Billy Row Green B 6; Crook Queen's Head A 7 Tow Law New Market B 4; Victoria Club 8 Tow Law Station 3.

Wear Valley

Ladies League

Crook Golden Fleece moved four points clear at the top of the table after they only dropped one point on their visit to Willington Cricket Club. In the key match between the second and third teams, Crook Royal Sun edged through by the odd point against the visiting Crook Olde Horse Shoe. This leaves the Shoe in second place with a three points lead over the Royal Sun.

The leading individual scorers were Joan Mills two 140's and betty Chapman 125 and 121 for the Golden Fleece, June Peyrefitte 140 for Bar 56, Shirley Slater 140 for Byers Green Club, Gwen Varley 140 for the White Swan, Angela McDonald 125 for the Royal Oak, Diane Bromley 125 and Tracey Glasper 124 for the Royal Sun, Michelle Simpson 124 for the Olde Horse Shoe and Margaret Lee two 121's for Sunnydene Lodge.

Results: Crook Bar 56 3 Byers Green Club 6; Willington Brewer's Droop 7 Crook Coach and Horses 2; Howden Sunnydene Lodge 3 Byers Green Royal Oak 6; Crook Royal Sun 5 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 4; Crook White Swan 4 Crook Mill House 5; Willington Cricket Club 1 Crook Golden Fleece 8. Postponed: Crook Surtees v Tow Law Dan's Castle.

Crook League

Results: Australian 6 Australian 7; Earl Derby 5 Sunnydene Lodge 7; Green Tree 4 Golden Fleece A 8; Royal Sun Inn 7 Mill House 3; Queens Head 4 Market 8; RAFA 7 Joiners Arms 5; The Green 7 Travellers Rest 5; Belle Vue 7 Surtees 1.

180's: Julian Hodgson (Australian); Bob Slater (Royal George); Colin Boughey and Malcolm Hardy (Earl Derby); Paul Newton (Market).