Willington League - Howden Australian held on to second place in the table after they beat the visiting Willington Commercial by three points.

The visitors got away to a great start and looked likely to cause a major upset when they had wins from Robert Lee and Ken Featherstone. However the Aussie edged ahead with wins from Ian Williams, Steven Burke and Jimmy Bainbridge but Mark Plaskett took the last singles for the Commercial to square the match. The Commercial failed to build on their singles performance and went down in all three doubles to leave the Aussie two points behind the leading Hunwick Club, with the Prospect Club moving up just a point adrift in third place.

Hunwick Quarry Burn edged to a win in the decider when they visited Willington Brewer's Droop A. the home side had singles wins from Colin Young, Colin Lally and Stan Smith whist the visitors levelled with wins from Stephen Robson, Keith Dufton and Alan McClurg. The first two doubles were shared then Dave Edmundson and Keith Dufton beat Stan Smith and Colin Lee in the decider.

Results: Hunwick Club 7 Willington Market 2; Prospect Club 7 Willington Brewer's Droop B 2; Willington Brewer's Droop A 4 Hunwick Quarry Burn 5; Howden Australian 6 Willington Commercial 3.

Durham League

Gilesgate Three Horse Shoes pulled off a good home win over Framwellgate Moor Marquis of Granby but at the end it was only by the odd point. The Shoes made a great start by taking the first three points through David Mollon, Dennis Lumley and Chris Bowran. The visitors' first point came from Paul Shutt but this was immediately wiped out when Andy Seal won for the home side. Paul Dudding and Paul Shutt produced a mini revival for the Marquis but Andy Seal and David Mollon moved in to restore the home side's three points lead. Paul Dudding reduced the arrears for the Marquis but Sue Seal came to the table and took the vital seventh point for the Three Horse Shoes to ensure their victory. The visitors fought to the end and were successful in ensuring the narrowest of defeats when Ivor Lloyd took the final singles and Paul Shutt beat Michael Parker in the captain's game.

Results: Gilesgate D.L.I. 1 Durham Snooker Club 12; Bowburn Oak Tree B 6 Sacriston Daisy Hill 7; Gilesgate Three Horse Shoes 7 Framwellgate Moor Marquis of Granby 6; Broom Park Loves 5 Bowburn Oak tree A 8; Durham Woodman 8 Esh McKennas 5. The were no results from the games Bowburn Cooperage v Ushaw Moor Catholic Club; Coxhoe WM Club v Chester-le-Street Garden Farm or Ushaw Moor Flass Inn v Meadowfield WM Club - fines will operate as per league rules.

Spennymoor League

Spennymoor Black Horse made a very good home win over Spennymoor Ash Tree with singles wins from Aaron McGarr, John McIvor, Glyn Porter and Jamie Oliver whilst the only reply came from Alan Thompson. The two doubles were shared but the Black Horse emphasised their win when Dave Miller beat Wayne Firbank in the captain's game.

The leadership is shared by three teams in the early stages of the season. At present the top teams are Spennymoor Voltigeur, Spennymoor Pit Laddie and Spennymoor Half Moon.

Results: Spennymoor Volitgeur 5 Spennymoor Football Club A 3; Coxhoe Red Lion 6 Spennymoor Hillingdon 2; Spennymoor Victoria 3 Spennymoor Quinns Inn 5; Spennymoor Black Horse 6 Spennymoor Ash Tree 2; Spennymoor Salvin Arms 2 Spennymoor Half Moon 6; Spennymoor Railway 3 Spennymoor Penny Gill 5; Spennymoor Football Club B 3 Pit Laddie 5.

Durham Ranking Tournameent

Positions after the first tournament of the 2002 series: 1st Colin Hutchinson 7 ranking points, 13 merit points; 2 Michael Rhodes 6, 13; 3 Darren Grainger 5,15; 4 David Jackson 5, 9; 5 Andrew Morley 4, 9; 6 equal Andy Seal and Ian Staines 4, 8 each; 8 Graham Comerford 4, 7; 9 Paul Brockway 3, 8; 10 Leigh Mavin 3, 7; 11 equal Kevin Allison, Geoff Bell, Dave Hodgson and Nick Veuger 3, 4 each; 15 equal Paul Archer, Sue Seal and Clare Tritton 3, 3 each; 18 equal Ian Laycock and Dave Lowery 2, 3 each; 20 Johnny Rowland 2, 3.

Durham County

Super League

The new season started with two new teams coming out on top against good opposition. Horden came out on top 8-6 when they beat the visiting Shildon. Horden had two wins from John Bourne and James Evans, one win each for David Jones, Darren Jones, Shaun Williams and Steve Nixon. Shildon had two wins from Paul Armstrong and one win each from Martin Taylor, Rance Richardson, Andrew Tennant and Ian Sanderson.

Consett entertained Ferryhill and came out 9-5 winners. Winners for Consett were with two wins Dave Harrop and Paul Collins, one win each for Adrian Kavanagh, Seamus Nolan, David Castledene, Alan Dixon and Colin Armstrong. Ferryhill had two wins from Steve Webster and one each from Phil Cox, Martin Short and Simon Corbridge.

The strengthened Aycliffe A had a good win 8-6 when they entertained Bishop Auckland. Winners for Aycliffe with two wins was Andrew Tuesday, and one win each for Dave Bromley, Johnny Mason, Christopher Mason, Craig Poskett, Eddie Mackay and Clive Stubbs. Bishop had wins from Warren Stamp, Peter Mernor, John Searle, Kevin Watson, Ron Wright and Dave Baird.

League champions Crook B entertained Durham C and won 11-3. Crook B winners with two wins were Darren Tinkler, Gavin Witton, Les Scott and Cliffy Owens. One win each for David Stephenson, Steve Hunter and Gerald Parkin. Durham C had wins from Paul Nord,Paul Dudding and Ivor Lloyd.

The Durham A versus Crook A and Aycliffe B versus Durham B matches were postponed.

Bishop Auckland and District League

At the annual meeting with the entries going up to 15 for the league, which will begin on January 31. The teams entered are Bishop Auckland Football Club, Spennymoor Weardale, Bishop Auckland King's Head, Toft Hill Three Tuns, Bishop Auckland Snooker Club, Crook Coach and Horses, Bishop Auckland Derby, Spennymoor Ashtree, Bishop Auckland RAFA, Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms, Crook Olde Horse Shoe, Tow Law Station, Witton Park Rose and Crown, Henknowle Manor House and Ferryhill Greyhound.

The league secretary, Russell Place would like to hear from any team interested in joining on 01388 451232 as he would like an even sixteen teams in the league. The fixture lists and scorecards will be issued at the next league meeting on Tuesday, January 29.

Bishop Auckland

Area League

The Aclet took a two game lead in the singles through Keith Young and Malcolm Cooper before Chris Ball pulled one back for the Bay Horse. Derek Cooper then took the next game for the Aclet before Wilson Harrison took the final singles game for the Bay Horse to leave the score at 2-3. The Aclet then took charge and won both doubles games (through Ryan McCormack with Chris Howe and Derek Cooper with Phil Young) and then Brian Cable won the captain's game to give the Aclet a 6-2 win.

The Kings Head took their revenge on the Derby after last week's 6-2 defeat with Malcolm Parry, John Searle and Peter Mernor giving them a three point lead in the singles. Kevin Singleton then took a point for the Derby but the Kings went 4-1 ahead through Andrew Tuesday. The Kings then went further ahead with Andrew Tuesday and David Jacomb took the A Doubles to take the score to 5-1. Jeff Dixon and Stuart Milne then won the B Doubles and Gary Dixon the captains match to salvage some pride for the Derby and leave the final score at 5-3.

Results: Bishop Auckland Grand 6 Spennymoor Hillingdon 2; Bishop Auckland Kings Head 5 Bishop Auckland Derby 3; Spennymoor Voltigeur 3 Spennymoor Victoria 5; Bishop Auckland Bay Horse 2 Bishop Auckland Aclet 6; Spennymoor Penny Gill 4 Spennymoor Wheatsheaf 4.