Spennymoor A threw the First Division Championship race back into the melting pot when they beat the visiting former leaders, Wheatley Hill A for the loss of only one point.

This defeat for the Hill, who drop into third place, allowed both Fishburn A and Old Shildon take over the joint top spot with a two points lead. Wheatley Hill made a good start by taking the first frame through Ronnie Peacock but then the home side took over with Paul Atkinson levelling the match with a 44 break. Wins for the Moors followed from Ronnie Bateman, Paul Biddle and Karl Welsh.

Fishburn A came back to win on their visit to relegation threatened Ferryhill. The visitors moved into the lead when Brian Quest won but Ferryhill took the next two frames through Glyn Toas and Ian Fawcett. However Fishburn recovered and went to victory with wins from John Griffin and Wayne Oliver and pushed Ferryhill two points behind Newton Aycliffe at the foot of the table.

Old Shildon moved their hosts at Witton Gilbert into the relegation zone when they only dropped one point, when Ian Renwick won. Shildon's points came from Andrew Aisbitt, Michael Pratt with a 45 break, Charlie Blake and Jossie Aldworth. Witton are now only two points clear of Newton Aycliffe in the battle to avoid the drop.

Newton Aycliffe made an excellent win in the decider at Shotton Palms to strengthen their hopes of survival, whilst reducing their host's chances of landing their first ever Championship. The defeat for Shotton means that they are now a point behind Wheatley Hill A. Jimmy Evans put Shotton ahead only to see Michael Hewittt and John Briddick score for the visitors. John Armstrong levelled the match but then Newton Aycliffe went to victory when Peter Brown beat Barry hall in the decider.

Brandon were also moved out of the top bracket for the first time when they only took one point on their trip to Willington, who allayed their relegation fears by moving two points clear of Witton Gilbert. Only John hall managed a point for Brandon, whilst the home side had wins from Arthur Goldsborough, Stan Bennett, Tom Parkin and Jeremy Martin.

In the Second Division leaders for most of the season, Crook Belle Vue slipped to their third consecutive defeat when they only collected one point from their visit to Newhouse. John Warriner, who is enjoying his best ever season, put Crook in the lead but then Newhouse took charge. Jimmy Hassen won on the black, John Maddox won on the pink, Ian Dinsdale clinched his point with a 30 break and Steve Mountain took the final frame in classic style. This win pushed Newhouse one point clear of Crook Belle Vue.

Sherburn Village moved up to share the Second Division top spot with Newhouse after they beat the visiting Meadowfield by the odd point. The home wins came from Peter McGowan, Alan Greener and John Bower, whilst Stephen Hughes and Ian Hodgson replied for Meadowfield.

Langley Park remain two points adrift of Crook Belle Vue after they beat the visiting Stanley Central by the odd point. The Park had wins from Lenny Thompson, Paul Morgan and Stephen Coates, whilst the Central replied through Jim Dufton with a 31 break and Harry Grimes.

Wheatley Hill B edged their way out of the relegation zone in the Second Division but left the visiting Durham City in trouble when the home side were never headed. Norman Carr put the Hill ahead with Kevin Smith levelling. Terry Ellison restored the home lead only to see Eric Wright equalise. In the decider Wheatley Hill's Jock Frost beat Michael Pratt on the black.

In a vital Second Division relegation battle, Fishburn B beat the visiting Spennymoor B in the decider. The home side went two up with wins from Alan Wilson and Winston Hodgson only to see the visitors level with wins from Wayne Parry and Alan Clark. In the decider Fishburn's Dave Wilson beat Andy Mole. This leaves Spennymoor B two points ahead of Durham City and four ahead of Fishburn B.

The Third Division Championship look likely to go to Wingate after they only dropped one point to the visiting Sacriston, whilst nearest rivals, Crowtrees only collected one point from their home match with New Durham. Only Dale Evans managed to take a point for Sacriston, whilst Geoff Howe extended his unbeaten run to fifteen games and John Bourne extended his unbeaten run to ten games with Dave Hammond and Joe Hennessey adding the other points for Wingate, who are now nine points clear of Crowtrees, who have a match in hand. Only Sonny Hann managed to take a point for Crowtrees when New Durham were the visitors. Thomas Cairns, Tony Thompson, Gary Bowes, who put in a vital 29 break and Keith Scullion were the visiting winners. This win leaves New Durham sharing third place in the table with Coundon, but both have played one more match than Crowtrees.

Coundon stayed level with New Durham when they beat the visiting Tow Law by the odd point.

Frank Nicholson put the home side ahead but then the Lawyers moved ahead with wins from Heppell Hodgson and Tommy Williams. Willy Shoulder levelled the match and then Coundon's John Paul Wringe beat Alf Edwards in the decider.

Leeholme A came back strongly at Hunwick to recover from a two nil deficit, which was brought about when Neville Blenkinsopp and Trevor Lomax took the first two frames. However Tony Clish and Ken Robinson levelled and then Barry Shaw came through to beat the home side's Barry Fleming in a tight last frame.

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

Worthington CIU Summer Pairs Championship

The semi-finals will be Arthur Goldsborough & Jeremy Martin (Willington) v Brian Graham & John Hall (Brandon) at Coundon to be refereed by Mark Brown of Leeholme on Thursday, 19 September and Dave Robson & Adrian Jones (Ferryhill) v Michael Pratt & Jossie Aldworth (Old Shildon) at Durham City on Wednesday, 18 September to be refereed by Harry Coates of Crook Belle Vue. Both matches are the best of five frames and start at 7.30pm.