Old Shildon found their way back on the Championship trail after they beat the visiting second placed Wheatley Hill A for the loss of only one point.

The Shildon team were given a boost when Michael Pratt knocked in the second highest break of the First Division this season with 90, one short of Andrew Aisbitt's effort earlier in the season. The home side's remaining points came from Charlie Blake with a 39 break, Billy Goggins and Andrew Aisbitt. Wheatley Hill took the final frame with a win from Dave Walker.

This result lifted Old Shildon up to share the top spot with Fishburn A, who went down by the odd point at Shotton Palms, who moved into fourth place just a point behind Wheatley Hill and Brandon. The Palms had wins from Dave Swindle, Jimmy Evans and John Armstrong, whilst John Carter and John Griffin won for Fishburn.

Brandon went down to their third defeat of the season when they visited Newton Aycliffe, who are fighting to avoid relegation. The home side raced through to a four points lead with wins from John Briddick, Mark Howe, Richie Young and Michael Hewitt. Graham Jackson prevented the whitewash when he took the final frame for Brandon.

Witton Gilbert were able to ease their relegation worries with a win in the decider against the visiting Willington, who need points badly to avoid the drop. Jeremy Martin put Willington ahead but good wins from Ian Renwick and Willis Joynes moved Witton ahead. Arthur Goldsborough levelled the match and the home side went to victory when John Rooney junior beat Stan Bennett in the decider.

Ferryhill had Adrian Jones as their only winner against the visiting Spennymoor A. The visitors winners were Eddie Rhodes, Karl Welsh, Paul Atkinson with a 50 break and John Wilson.

In the top of the table Second Division clash at Langley Park, the visiting leaders, Crook Belle Vue were twice in front but eventually went down by the odd point. Gordon Sample gave Crook a great start with a 30 break only to see Kevin Keers level. Ken Rider restored the visitors' lead but Ray Coates pulled the Park back into the match. In the decider Langley Park's Paul Morgan beat Derek Potts. This result left Crook Belle Vue at the top with Langley Park two points behind in third place.

Sherburn Village took over the second place in the Second Division after they only dropped one point to the visiting Newhouse, who are now five points adrift of Langley Park after once being the front runners. Scott Mallaburn, Peter McGowan, Adrian twist and Alan Greener took the first four points for Sherburn with Jimmy Hassen avoiding the whitewash in the final frame.

Wheatley Hill B went three up at home to Stanley Central with wins from Jock Frost, Terry Ellison and Dave Blyth. However the visitors responded by taking the final two points through Jim Dufton and Walter Cornell.

Dave Wilson gave Fishburn B the lead when they entertained Meadowfield but the visitors then took over and recorded points from Norman Smith, Ian Hodgson, Stephen Hughes and John Jackson.

Durham City pulled off a good win in the decider on their visit to Spennymoor B. The home side went ahead through Alan Clark but then Michael Pratt and Gary Ward moved Durham ahead. Alan Rowell levelled the match but then Durham's Eric Wright beat Alan Shaw in the decider.

Wingate moved five points clear of Crowtrees, who have a match in hand, after they beat the visiting New Durham for the loss of only one point. Terry Patterson was the only winner for the visitors whilst John Bourne, Joe Hennessey, Geoff Howe and Steve Allen strengthened Wingate's title chances.

Crowtrees pulled off a odd point home win over Hunwick in a surprising fashion for their two stalwarts, Sonny Hann and Keith McLauchlan both lost. Neville Blenkinsop took Hann's scalp whilst John Bate did likewise to McLauchlan, whilst Crowtrees victory was achieved with wins from Sean Johnston, Neil Phillips with a 32 break and Peter Laverick.

In the battle to avoid the wooden spoon, Tow Law were entrenched in bottom spot when they went down by the odd point at Leeholme B. Heppel Hodgson took the first frame for the Lawyers and Tommy Williams the last but the vital three in the middle went to Mark Brown, John Taylor and Karl Thompson.

* The Annual Presentation Evening will be held at Spennymoor Club on Saturday, November 9 with tickets at £3 each. Players wishing to reserve tickets should do so via their delegate at the next meeting in Meadowfield on Thursday, 29 August. As the previous five Presentation Evenings have been sold out well in advance, these advance reservations are essential.

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