Worthington CIU Winter League - Old Shildon opened a six point gap at the top of the First Division with an odd point win at Cockton Hill.
The visitors went three up with frames from Michael Pratt, Stephen Bennett and Jossie Aldworth. However the Hill came back with wins from Harold Lomax and Andrew Aisbitt.
The race is very tight in the First Division as four teams share second place and only two points between eight teams. Spennymoor A slipped up when they went three behind on their visit to Wheatley Hill A, who had wins from Dennis Clish, Ronnie Peacock and Dave Walker, who knocked in a 47 break. The Moors fought back to take the last two frames through John Wilson and Paul Biddle with a 42 break. This puts the teams equal second with Fishburn A and Shotton Palms.
Fishburn A were taken to the decider before they accounted for the visiting Brandon. John Griffin and John Carter put the home side ahead but Kevin Sample, with a 37 break, and Brian Graham levelled the match. In the decider Fishburn's Charlie Hirst beat John Middleton.
Shotton Palms joined the second placed teams after only losing one point to the visiting Witton Gilbert. Paul Hickman with a 34 break, Jimmy Evans, John Armstrong and Dave Swindle won for the Palms with Lawrence Jones putting in a 32 break to take Witton's lone point.
Willington whitewashed the visiting Ferryhill side with wins from Tom Parkin, Arthur Goldsborough, Jeremy Martin, Stan Bennett and Gordon Parkin.
Ian Dinsdale put Newhouse one up against the visiting Sherburn Village but the villagers came back strongly to move up to share top spot in the Second Division with wins from John Bower, Adrian Twist, Peter McGowan and Scott Mallaburn.
Hunwick A share the first place with Sherburn Village after they won by the odd point at Meadowfield. Paul Atkinson, Dave Rusby and Des Mason won for Hunwick with the Smith brothers, Stephen and Malcolm scoring for Meadowfield, who share fourth place with Crowtrees.
Langley Park moved into second place with an odd point success over Crowtrees. The winners for the Park were Ray Coates, Paul Nord and Dixon Turnbull whilst Peter Laverick, whose results have improved immensely since taking over as the league treasurer, and Keith McLaughlan. This puts Langley Park one point ahead of Crowtrees and Meadowfield but in the entire Second Division there are only tean points between top and bottom.
Wingate pulled off a good home win over Belmont when they went three up through Steve Allen, Dave Hammond and Geoff Howe. The visitors came back to record two points with wins from Billy McGrath and Steven Armstrong.
Spennymoor B recovered from twice trailing the visiting Wheatley Hill B to make victoy in the decider. Jock Frost put the Hill ahead with Wayne Parry levelling. Tony Ellison restored the visitors' lead only to see Kevin Riley equalise. In the decider the Moors Micky Anderson put in a 30 break to beat Steve Cave.
There was shock in the Third Division when clear leaders, West Auckland went down at Coundon. The home side had wins from Dennis Payne, Graham Golbourn, John-Paul Wringe and Micky McKerry before Andrew Dent scored in the final frame for West.
Bearpark moved up to share the top spot in the Third Division when they were never headed at home to Durham City and won the decider. David Jackson put the home side ahead with Gary Ward putting in a 34 break to equalise. Shaun Easter restored the home lead only to see Barry Stoddart square the match. In the decider Bearpark's Alex Donaldson beat Michael Pratt.
Hunwick B moved up four points behind the joint leaders with a good victory over the visiting Leeholme B. Glen Douthwaite took the only point for the visitors, whilst Trevor Lomax, Barry Fleming with a 30 break, Tom Ward and John Bate won for the home side.
Tow Law only managed one point at home to Fishburn B when Charlie Donaghy took the first frame. The visitors then took over with wins from Keith Binks, Winston Hodgson, George Whitelock and Dave Wilson.
David Fletcher and Anthony Forster took points for Leeholme A at home to Sacriston, who went to victory with wins from Gary Barton, Geoff Evans and Steve Bradley.
Results: Shotton Palms 4 Witton Gilbert 1; Newhouse 1 Sherburn Village 4; Spennymoor B 3 Wheatley Hill B 2; Tow Law 1 Fishburn B 4; Leeholme A 2 Sacriston 3; Coundon 4 West Auckland 1; Wingate 3 Belmont 2; Willington 5 Ferryhill 0; Cockton Hill 2 Old Shildon 3; Bearpark 3 Durham City 2; Langley Park 3 Crowtrees 2; Fishburn A 3 Brandon 2; Wheatley Hill A 3 Spennymoor A 2; Meadowfield 2 Hunwick A 3; Hunwick B 4 Leeholme B 1.
Crook League
Crook Jelly's Bar came very close the end the unbeaten run of their hosts at the Spitfire Club but in the end went down in the deciding doubles. The Spitfire Club had singles wins from Mark Callaghan, Eddie Phillipson and John Palmer, whilst replies came from Sean Lauder, who inflicted the first defeat of the season on Gordon Walker, Lee Genner and Andrew Heyes. In the deciding doubles the Spitfire Club went to victory when Joanne Moore and Eddie Phillipson beat Michael Jewitt and Andy Palmer.
Crook Crown Hotel have been expelled from the Second Division for failing to maintain their fixture commitments. All their results have been expunged from the table, which now has the Spitfire Club six points clear with a match in hand of Willington Market, who lead Jelly's Bar by three points.
Crook Olde Horse Shoe A lead the First Division table by eight points with Crook Travellers Rest B in second place, six points ahead of Crook Belle Vue Club.
Results: Crook Travellers Rest B 5 Crook Queen's Head A 2; Crook Belle Vue Club 4 Crook Travellers Rest A 3; Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 4 Crook Coach and Horses A 3; Crook Royal Sun 2 Crook Mill House 5; Crook Spitfire Club 4 Crook Jelly's Bar 3; Crook Coach and Horses B 2 Willington Market 5.
Harry Little
Memorial Pairs
Josie Aldworth and Michael Pratt of Old Shildon came through a tight semi-final at Fishburn when they just beat Chris Morley and Steven Armstrong of Belmont in the decider in the five frames match. They will now meet Stuart Neil and Michael Hewitt of Newton Aycliffe in the Final at Belmont on Monday, February 11 (7.30pm).
The first frame went to Belmont after a long series of good safety shots, with scoring going point for point, Steven Armstrong took the frame when he completed a 30 clearance. The second frame followed a similar pattern, although this time it was Michael Pratt who cleared all the colours to level the match.
The third frame was tight throughout with the Old Shildon pair finally opening out a winning gap and taking the frame on the pink. However the Belmont pair came back to win a similar fourth frame and were able to square the match.
In the final frame Michael Pratt knocked in three reds and three blacks early and this established a lead, which the Belmont pair were never able to close. The Old Shildon pair steadily increased their lead and went through to a comfortable win.
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