Worthington Durham County CIU Summer League: The promotion race from the Second Division hotted up with Crowtrees moving to the top of the table but only holding a one point advantage over Meadowfield, two points on Spennymoor B and three points on Stanley Central, whilst the fifth placed, Wingate cannot be written off.

Crowtrees entertained Durham City and pushed their way to the top of the table with a maximum victory. The winners for the home side were Sean Johnston, Peter Laverick, Sonny Hann, Steve Armstrong and Keith McLauchlan.

Meadowfield won a vital decider when they entertained Wingate. Martin Halliday and Norman Smith put the home side ahead but John Bourne and Dean Jones, who was making a very welcome return to the league after a long lay-off, levelled the match. In the decider Meadowfield's Ian Hodgson beat Joe Hennessey in the decider.

Spennymoor B moved a point behind Meadowfield after they beat the visiting Crook Belle Vue. The visitors' went ahead when Derek Potts took the first frame, but from that point the Moors took over with wins from Wayne Parry, Alan Clarke, Micky Anderson and Alan Rouell.

Stanley Central stayed in the promotion race when they won by the odd point at home to Wheatley Hill B. The Central went ahead with wins from Andy Craig and Walter Cornell before Ken Johnson opened the Hill's account. Norman Rimmington clinched victory for the home side with Jock Frost taking the final frame for the visitors.

Bearpark moved five points clear at the top of the Third Division after they only dropped one point to the visiting Hunwick, who had Barry Fleming as their only winner. The home side's points came from Steve Gott, Shaun Easter with a 40 break, Glen Morton and Andy Donaldson.

Coundon struggled at home before they held on to second place behind Bearpark with an odd point win over the visiting Sacriston. Willy Nixon looked to be going well in the first frame for Sacriston when Stuart Neil needed the last four balls. It took a good clearance for Neil to land the first point for Coundon. However Mark Appleby levelled the match only to see Frank Nicholson and Steven Bennett guarantee a home win but Dale Evans came back to take the final frame for Sacriston.

New Durham missed a good chance of overhauling Coundon but had to be content being a point behind after they lost by the odd point at Fishburn B. George Whitelock put the home side ahead with Thomas Cairns levelling. However the father and son team of Winston and Jamie Hodgson took the next two points for Fishburn with Brian Birks reducing the arrears in the final frame.

Leeholme B entertained Tow Law A and were hit for a maximum when Heppell Hodgson, Doug Watson, Lee Cullinan, Charlie Donaghy and Tommy Williams won for the Lawyers. The reverse happened at Tow Law when the visiting Leeholme A, who had wins from Barry Shaw, Karl Thompson, Ian North, David Fletcher and Lawrence Jones, whitewashed the home B team.

The top two teams in the First Division met at Wheatley Hill A, where Spennymoor A were able to extend their lead to 13 points after they only dropped one frame. Paul Atkinson put in a 42 break followed by a 52 to win the first frame and was followed with wins from Ronnie Bateman, Paul Biddle and Michael Pratt. Ronnie Peacock prevented the whitewash by taking the final frame for the Hill.

Newton Aycliffe moved up to third place in the First Division, just a point behind Wheatley Hill A after they whitewashed their hosts at Shotton Palms. The visiting winners were Ronnie Hall, Mark Howe, Peter Brown, Ritchie Young and Simon Tweddle.

Fishburn A are in the very unexpected position of fighting to avoid relegation and were taken to the decider on their trip to Willington before edging through in the decider. John Carter and John Griffin gave Fishburn a great start but Jeremy Martin and Tom Parkin levelled the match. In the decider Fishburn captain, Peter Davison took his team to victory by beating Gordon Parkin.

Brandon are in equal bottom place with Fishburn A after they edged through to an odd point home win over Sherburn Village. The home side had wins from John Hall, Kevin Sample and Graham Jackson, whilst Alan Greener and Scott Mallaburn took points for the visitors.

Witton Gilbert managed to move one point ahead of Fishburn A and Brandon after they beat the visiting Newhouse by the odd point. Newhouse took the first and final frames through Jimmy Hassen and Ian Dinsdale, whilst Willis Joynes, John Rooney senior and Paul Nord supplied the points for the home victory.

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

South West Durham Association

Bishop Auckland Golf Club took the League Championship by six points after they completed their first season with a two points victory over the visiting Darlington Cricket Club B, who finished in runners-up spot.

Barnard Castle Glaxo won the Second Division Championship by three points after losing only one point on their visit to Northgate. Old Shildon ended as the runners-up after they drew at Bishop Auckland Gents A, who needed a whitewash success to take the second spot.

Results: Darlington Cricket Club A 1 Hopetown 3; Darlington Snooker A 1 Bishop Auckland Cricket Club 3; Bishop Auckland Golf Club 3 Darlington Cricket Club B 1; Newton Aycliffe Southerne Club 2 Darlington Riley's 2; Bishop Auckland Gents A 2 Old Shildon 2; Tindale Crescent 1 Darlington Snooker B 3; Shildon Elm Road 3 Bishop Auckland Gents B 1; Northgate 1 Barnard Castle Glaxo 3.

Harry Little Memorial Pairs

Eforms are now available for the competition, which is in memory of Harry Little, who was an official of the CIU Snooker League for over 30 years. Matches will begin in September. Any registered member of the CIU League is eligible to enter and can obtain an entry form by telephoning the secretary on 01388 730444.

The competition is played as the best of three frames based on the handicaps assessed by the CIU Snooker Association. All the money collected as entry fees, which are £2 per pair, is paid out in prize money. The final will be staged at Belmont Club, where Harry Little played his snooker.

Worthington Durham County CIU Winter League

The Winter League will begin on October 15 and has vacancies for any team from affiliated CIU premises. The League normally runs three divisions, where matches are made up of five players each playing one frame. Beside the league there are singles, pairs and handicap championships and a team knock out competition.

Any team requiring further information or an entry form should telephone 01388 730 444 and talk to the secretary. Entry forms to teams taking part last season will be issued via the league meeting at Meadowfield on Thursday, 28 August and must be returned to the following meeting on Thursday, September 25.