Sunderland Catholic Club Over-40s League

All of Saturday's games were postponed owing to the weather and the same fate hit the Boxing Day Villa Real Cup final.

The premier league championship is still wide open as there are only eight points difference between ninth-placed Owton Manor and leaders Billingham Wanderers.

In division one, although Masons Arms are clear leaders, five teams at least are in the promotion race as three teams are promoted in each division as well as three being relegated.

In division two leaders Barnes Hotel are still unbeaten and have maximum points from all their games and are 13 points clear of third placed Spring Gardens. Second-placed Newton Aycliffe, who have played 16 games, are nine points clear so it appears these two clubs look promotion certainties and it is the third place which is still open although at the moment the two contenders are Spring Gardens and Cleveland Bridge. Darlington have the edge over their rivals.

In division three Consett Cricket Club look certain to win the division. Second and third places are still open.

In division four Wingate are unbeaten and need only six points to be the champions and are assured of promotion.

Relegation is a separate issue. It looks bad for certain teams, but two wins or three can alter everything and in football anything is possible. No season is over until the whistle is blown.

Regarding the long suffering secretaries special praise is due to them for the running of teams and attendance of meeting. Admittedly they are praised when they are winning, criticised when losing. A thankless job at the best of times.

Take the case of the flying window cleaner Michael Little. He decided he needed an assistant to help with all his duties so he appointed Terry McVay, a hard working and talented player on the pitch but up to date he always arrives at Thompson Park just as Michael arrives at the dressing room having put the nets up. The reason being Terry sits in the window at his parents flat in Halnemann Court which overlooks the Park and he sees everything so that his time of arrival is perfect, as Michael so aptly put it: "We always play him in the field. He is a born schemer."

Premier Division

P W D L F A Pts

Billingham Wand 13 7 4 2 30 15 25

Killingworth A 12 7 2 3 24 19 23

Seaton Delaval 14 6 3 5 20 14 21

Ferryhill Greyh 14 6 3 5 20 18 21

Penshaw CC 14 6 2 6 17 18 20

Steels SC 11 6 1 4 23 16 19

Lord Seaham 11 5 3 3 17 16 18

Blackhall H 15 5 3 7 19 29 18

Owton Manor 12 5 2 5 28 26 17

Usworth WMC 14 4 2 8 16 21 14

N Police 10 3 3 4 14 17 12

Marden 14 3 0 11 22 34 9

Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Masons Arms 17 11 3 3 50 21 36

Wallsend RAOB 15 9 4 2 43 18 31

Grindon Bway 15 10 0 5 47 26 30

Sunderland Catholic 16 9 3 4 47 32 30

Sedgefield 14 7 3 4 27 21 24

Wardley Green 16 6 6 4 26 24 24

Wearmouth 14 6 2 6 17 23 20

Wallsend RS 16 6 2 8 25 38 20

Rams Head 16 2 6 8 20 40 12

Gateshead Ex-S 14 1 6 6 25 37 9

Board Inn 12 1 4 7 17 39 7

British Telecom 14 1 3 10 16 42 6

Division Two

P W D L F A Pts

Barnes Hotel 13 13 0 0 43 11 39

Newton Aycliffe 16 11 2 3 42 20 35

Spring Gardens 15 8 2 5 34 29 26

Cleveland Bridge 16 8 1 7 40 37 25

Houghton CC 16 7 0 9 29 33 21

Millstone Wand 15 5 5 5 37 37 20

Boldon BB 16 5 3 8 32 35 18

Glaxo 14 5 2 7 24 25 17

Redhouse WMC 12 4 3 5 15 20 15

Hartlepool Catholic 15 4 3 8 28 38 15

Roker Queen Vic 15 4 3 8 28 47 15

Darsley Park 15 2 2 11 22 51 8

Division Three

P W D L F A Pts

Consett CC 14 14 0 0 50 8 42

Hebburn DT 18 10 4 11 57 37 34

Marsden Inn 16 9 3 4 42 30 30

Hylton Castle 16 7 7 2 35 28 28

Touchdown 14 8 1 5 42 31 25

Steels 15 6 5 4 30 24 23

Durham CS 17 6 2 9 34 44 20

Rockcliffe A 16 5 4 7 25 28 19

West Cornforth 18 5 4 9 25 35 19

Wynyard Vets 16 5 3 8 24 33 18

Regency Windows 15 5 2 8 25 33 17

Taylors 17 4 3 10 30 37 15

Oddies 17 3 1 13 28 61 10

Division Four

P W D L F A Pts

Wingate 16 16 0 0 58 14 48

Billingham Town 15 8 2 5 51 28 26

Dton Railway 15 8 2 5 46 38 26

Hartlepool RNC 17 8 2 7 38 39 26

Halfway House 16 7 3 6 34 32 24

Dagmar 17 6 5 6 34 31 23

N Shields Vets 14 6 4 4 38 39 22

Thornley Celtic 15 6 1 8 27 37 19

Sportsmans A 16 4 6 6 31 31 18

Houghton Mill 16 4 3 9 35 44 15

Winstons 16 3 6 7 25 35 15

White Horse Inn 17 3 4 10 35 45 13

Trimdon Vets 16 3 4 9 18 45 13