Billy Row Club dented the chances of their hosts at Esh Stag's Head seriously challenging the top two when they went through to an odd point victory. After the trebles were shared the home side only managed to take singles points through Ken brown and Tom March, whilst the visitors forged ahead with wins from Gordon Blakey, Dave Andrew, Billy Jobson and John McCorquedale. The Club completed their certain victory by taking the first doubles but the Stag's closed the gap by taking the last two doubles.

Hamsteels Inn produced their best display since joining the league when they only dropped two points on their visit to Sunniside Comedian. The visitors took both trebles and then followed with singles wins from Bobby Hird, Alan Hird, John Hayley and Brian Agar. The only reply came when Bill Railton and Morgan Errington took singles points. Hamsteels finished in style by taking all three doubles points.

The leading individual scorers were R Johnson of the Comedian with 180, D. Thornton three 140's and a 152 start and T. McQuillan two 140's for Newhouse, I. Truby 140 for the Royal Oak, J. Starr and C. Trepte 140 each for McKennas, G. Blakey and C. Wilcockson 140 each for Billy Row and T. Marsh, D. Andrew and M. Whightman 140 each for the Stag's Head.

Tow Law New Market A lead the table by four points from Newhouse Club, who are ten points ahead of Esh Stag's Head.

Results: Sunniside Comedian 2 Hamsteels Inn 9; Tow Law Dan's Castle 2 Tow Law New Market B 9; Tow Law New Market A 10 Tow Law Rose and Crown 1; Tow Law Station 6 Esh McKennas 5; Newhouse Club 8 Cornsay Royal Oak 3; Esh Stag's Head 5 Billy Row Club 6.

Crook Ladies League

Crook Jelly's Bar B extended their lead at the top to nine points after they only dropped two points at Tow Law New Market A.

The leading individual scorers were Joy McKay 150 for Billy Row A, Dorothy Storey 138 and Eileen Simpson 126 for the Travellers Rest, Margaret Stewart 134 for the Queen's A, Lynn Vitty 127 for the New Market B, Julie Nelson 125 and 121 for Jelly's A and Pam Barron 121 for Jelly's B.

Results: Billy Row Royal George 3 Billy Row Green B 8; Crook Jelly's Bar A 5 Tow Law New Market B 6; Billy Row Green A 8 Tow Law North Point 3; Tow Law New Market A 2 Crook Jelly's Bar B 9; Crook Travellers Rest 3 Tow Law Black Horse 8; Crook Belle Vue 7 Tow Law Station 4; Victoria Club 8 Crook Cricket Club 3.

P W L PTS

Crook Jelly's Bar B 7 7 0 60

Victoria Club 7 6 1 54

Crook Queen's Head A 6 6 0 51

Crook Belle Vue 7 5 2 43

Crook Cricket Club 7 4 3 39

Tow Law Black Horse 6 4 2 37

Crook Travellers Rest 6 4 2 36

Tow Law New Market B 7 3 4 36

Billy Row Green A 7 2 5 35

Tow Law New Market A 6 3 3 34

Crook Queen's Head B 7 3 4 33

Tow Law Station 7 1 6 30

Billy Row Green B 7 3 4 28

Crook Jelly's Bar A 6 2 4 28

Crook Olde Horse Shoe 6 2 4 26

Billy Row Royal George 6 1 5 24

Tow Law North Point 7 0 7 22.

Crook 4D's League

Crook Royal Sun moved six points clear at the top of the darts section after they whitewashed their hosts at Willington Brewer's Droop. Despite losing in the dominoes section, Crook Coach and Horses A held on to their top place.

The leading individual darts scorers were Kevin Sanderson (Coach and Horses B) and Paul Knighton (Royal Sun) with 180's, whilst the ladies leading scorers were Diane Fleming 140 and Emma Fleming 117 for the Brewer's Droop, Margaret Storey 130 for the Coach and Horses A and Pauline Donovan 114 for the Coach and Horses B.

Results: Willington Brewer's Droop 0 (4) Crook Royal Sun 11 (6); Crook Coach and Horses B 8 (6) Crook Coach and Horses A 3 (4).

The points and positions in the darts section are 1st Crook Royal Sun played 5, 36 points; 2nd Coach & Horses B 4, 30; 3rd Golden Fleece 4, 25; 4th Coach & Horses A 6, 24; 5th Brewer's Droop 5, 17.

The dominoes section reads 1st Coach & Horses A 6, 34; 2nd Crook Royal Sun 5, 32; 3rd Coach & Horses B 4, 24; 4th Brewer's Droop 5, 16; 5th Golden Fleece 4, 14.

Thomas Bailey Memorial

The annual Thomas Bailey Memorial Pairs Tournament will be held this year at Chilton Club on Tuesday, 5 August. Entries will be taken on the night before 8.00 pm from any members of clubs playing in the C.I.U. Games League.

Four boards will be in operation an the tournament will be played to a finish on the night.

CIU Championship

Third Round results: A. Leach (South Moor Excelsior) beat G. Grieve (Grange Villa); J. Sneath (Crook Belle Vue) beat T. Ward (Cockton Hill); A. Chalmers (Alberta) beat C. Dominey (Leadgate); C. Whittaker (Stanley Empire) beat B. Chapman (South Moor Excelsior); P. Lenagh (Coxhoe) beat P. Borthwick (Consett Victoria); J. Ashett (New Hesledon) beat E. Ashman (Murton Victoria); D. Dodds (Stanley Central) beat P. Knighton (Crook Belle Vue); R. Young (Grange Villa) lost to G. Hill (Burnside)