Tow Law Area League: Tow Law Station moved up to share second place in the table with their hosts at Sunniside Comedian after they won by three points.

The home side had singles wins from Jean Wright and Derek Thompson whilst the Station set up their victory with singles points from Jacqueline Hope, Linda Hope, Norman Brown and Sean Kenny. The visitors went on to complete a good win by taking two of the three doubles points.

Tow Law New Market B held on to the top spot despite going down by the odd point at home to Cornsay Royal Oak. The singles went with downs as Margaret Goodwin, Doris Elsbury and Gavin Tennant won for the home side and Terry Cairns, Brian Bailes and Chris Close levelled. The first two doubles also went with down but the Oak edged to victory when they broke the sequence with Stan Witherspoon and Chris Close beating Phil Spencer and Stephen Umpelby in the decider.

The position at the top of the table is very tight as the New Market B lead by two points with the Comedian, Station and Newhouse Club sharing the second spot, just a point ahead of Esh Stag's Head.

Results: Hamilton Row Black Horse 2 Sunniside Moss Inn 7; Tow Law Rose and Crown 4 Newhouse Club 5; Esh McKennas 3 Tow Law Cattle Mart 6; Stanley Earl Derby 4 Esh Stag's Head 5; Tow Law Dan's Castle 3 Tow Law New Market A 6; Tow Law New Market B 4 Cornsay Royal Oak 5; Sunniside Comedian 3 Tow Law Station 6.

Tow Law and District League

Tow Law Rose and Crown continued their good run when they travelled to Esh Football Club and only dropped one point when Leanne Hughes won the first game for the hosts. From that point the visitors took over with wins from Derek Mowbray, Lee Mowbray, John Mudd and Steven Todd. This win puts the Rose and Crown just two points behind the leading Tow Law North Point.

Lanchester King's Head moved within three points of the leading North Point after they whitewashed the visiting Sunniside Comedian and still have matches in hand against Tow Law Football Club and Hamilton Row Black Horse. The King's had wins from Ronnie Minto, Davey Brown, Nigel Sands, Graham Fairish and Alan Hall.

Results: Tow Law North Point 4 Hamilton Row Black Horse 1; Tow Law Dan's Castle A 0 Tow Law Cattle Mart 4; Tow Law Football Club 3 Tow Law Dan's Castle B 2; Tow Law New Market A 4 Tow Law New Market B 1; Esh Winning Football Club 1 Tow Law Rose and Crown 4; Lanchester King's Head 5 Sunniside Comedian 0.

CIU Pairs Championship

Preliminary round results: J. Pearson & B. Shippen (Chilton & Windlestone) beat J. Pearson & C. Spoors (Relton Terrace); B. Rowlands & K. Schofield (New Brancepeth) lost to S. Johnson & J. Johnson (Crowtrees); S. Scott & W. Jones (Horden Labour & Trades) beat D. Houghton & I. Swales (Fishburn); P. Parker & J. Bainbridger (Shildon Elm Road) lost to D. Illingworth & J. Wray (Ferryhill); J. Richardson & W. Evans (West Auckland) lost to R.J. Mulroy & P. Scott (Middlestone Moor); K. Wilkinson & H. Moore (Ferryhill) beat E. Stephenson & K.Laybourn (Whitehill Park); M. Pike & G. Bell (Chilton & Windlestone) beat H. Dowson & B Hindson (Fishburn); D. Smith & S. Bell (Crowtrees) lost to D. Gardner & C. Simpson (Cockfield); J. Singlewood & W. Briggs (West Auckland) lost to M. Townsend & I. Bowes (West Auckland); M. Towers & A. Tanner (Cockfield) lost to R. Wharton & M. Robinson (Fishburn); G. Peaden & P. Whitfield (Crowtrees) beat M. McGlasham & D Park (Horden Labour and Trades); A. Beckwith & A. Gray (Stanley Empire) lost to B. Batey & R. Ferguson (Horden Labour and Trades); T. Wray & S. Wray (Ferryhill) lost to W. Cummins & T. Milburn (New Brancepeth); A. Richardson & F. Greenwood (Ferryhill) lost to A. Buist & R. Johnson (Fishburn); J. Miller & E. Campbell (Chilton & Windlestone) beat S. Morland & M. Milburn (New Brancepeth); M. Dent & D. Dent (West Auckland) beat A. Lyons & B. Milburn (Stanley Empire); G. Sennett & J. Ferguson (Horden Labour and Trades) beat R. Hodgson & D. Johnson (Stanley Empire).

The following pairs received byes: A. Sennett, & J. Lowes (Horden Labour and Trades); P. Neary & J. Dean (Horden Labour and Trades); W. Hodgson & F. Snaith (Ferryhill); J. Knowlson & D. Scott (New Herrington); L. Milburn & R. Firby (New Brancepeth); R. Webster & J. Purvis (New Brancepeth); B. Bagshaw & B. Warnett (Fishburn); D. Thompson & J. Lockey (Fishburn); R. Allison & J. Smith (Chilton & Windlestone); J. Wilson & W. Robson (Hetton); M. Hogg & B. Smith (Hetton); G. Gray jnr & S. R Hall (Grange Villa); T. Dodd & J. Bayles (Grange Villa); J. Watson & A. Gerrens (Stanley Empire); G. Ellis & N. Barton (Stanley Empire).

Crook League

Crook Mill House just managed to do enough in their home match against the visiting Crook Spitfire Club to clinch the League Championship by a single point. Norman Slack, Alan Bibby, Stephen Heyes and Alan Saville won for the Mill with Eddie Phillipson and Ronnie Rinaldi taking singles points and Benson Raine with Eddie Phillipson taking the doubles point for the Spitfire. Crook Belle Vue made a determined effort to catch the Mill House when they only dropped one point to the visiting Crook Surtees, but this lost point cost them a play-off and brought them the runners-up awards. Crook Olde Horse Shoe B finished in third place, three points behind Belle Vue Club.

The Second Division title is not finally decided as Willington Market and Crook White Swan are level on points, but the Market still have a match to play. These two are three points ahead of Crook Jelly's Bar A, who killed their chances when they only collected two points from their home match against Crook Queen's Head B.

The White Swan made their late recovery when they visited Crook Royal Sun B and only dropped one point when Carol Haygarth won for the hosts. The Swan's points came from David Stewart, Lee Airey, Stephen Murphy, Russell Haygarth and Darren Deuchars with David Stewart and Lee Airey adding the doubles.

Results: Crook Queen's Head A 4 Crook Jelly's Bar B 3; Crook Royal Sun B 1 Crook White Swan 6; Crook Jelly's Bar A 2 Crook Queen's Head B 5; Croft Social Club 3 Willington Market 4; Crook Mill House 4 Crook Spitfire Club 3; Crook Travellers Rest A 3 Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 4; Crook Belle Vue 6 Crook Surtees 1; Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 4 Crook Travellers Rest B 3; Crook Coach and Horses A 4 Crook Royal Sun A 3.