Worthington CIU

Winter League

Old Shildon go into the holiday break with a five-point lead at the top of the First Division despite losing by the odd point at Wheatley Hill A. The Hill had wins from Jack Wright, Dean Bryden and Dave Walker whilst Steven Bennett and Michael Pratt scored for the visitors.

Spennymoor A held on second place when they made a good recovery at Shotton Palms to come back from a 2-0 deficit. Dave Swindle and John Armstrong put the home side ahead but then Paul Biddle and John Wilson levelled the match. In the decider Karl Welsh potted the final black to beat Barry Hall by just two points.

Witton Gilbert became one of four teams sharing the third place when they won by the odd point at Willington. The home side had points from Arthur Goldsborough and Tom Parkin, while Witton went to victory with wins from Willis Joynes, John Rooney senior and Ian Renwick.

Fishburn A and Cockton share the third place with Wheatley Hill A and Witton Gilbert after they played at Fishburn with the Hill going to an odd point success. Paul Weighill, Kevin Mordica and Andrew Aisbitt put the visitors into a winning lead but Fishburn fought back to take the last two points through John Griffin and Brian Quest.

Stuart Neil put Newton Aycliffe ahead at Brandon but then saw his team slip to defeat when John Hall, Graham Jackson and Kevin Sample won for the home side. Ronnie Hall took the final point for the visitors.

The top of the Second Division is even tighter with four teams sharing the top spot. Meadowfield were never in front against the visiting Crowtrees until the final frame where Stephen Hughes took them to an odd point win by beating Phil Whitfield. Peter Laverick had moved the visitors ahead with Paul Batey equalising. Sonny Hann restored the Crowtrees lead only to see Norman Smith set up the decider. These two teams now share the top spot with Langley Park and Sherburn Village.

Langley Park were taken to the decider by the visiting Belmont before being able to join the leaders. Ray Coates put the home side ahead but then Mick Short and Chris Morley won for Belmont. Stephen Coates squared the match with Paul Nord taking the park to victory by beating Steven Armstrong.

Sherburn Village also joined the top contenders when they only dropped one point on their visit to Spennymoor B, who had Phil Wilson as their only winner. The visitors' points came from John Bower, Scott Mallaburn, Adrian Twist and Peter McGowan.

Stanley Central moved up just a point behind the four leaders when they beat the visiting Wheatley Hill B in the decider. Harold Grimes put the Central ahead but then Steve Cave and Jock Frost scored for the Hill. Jim Dufton equalised with Walter Cornell taking the Central to victory by beating Ken Johnson in the decider.

Newhouse dropped a point behind Stanley Central when they went down by the odd point at home to Hunwick A. The home side had wins from Ian Dinsdale and John Maddox whilst the Hunwick point scorers were Ian Richardson, Paul Atkinson and Neville Blenkinsopp.

Third Division leaders, West Auckland crashed to their first defeat of the season when they dropped the first three points on their visit to Durham City, who had wins from Michael Pratt, Gary Ward with a 32 break and Eric Wright. West managed to stay at the top of the table when Andrew Sugden and David Geraty took the final two points.

Bearpark made up ground on West Auckland and are their only serious challengers for the Third Division title after they whitewashed the visiting Tow Law with wins from David Jackson, Anthony Cooper, Alex Donaldson, Alan Smith and Shaun Easter.

Hunwick B moved up to third place in the Third Division with a home whitewash victory over Sacriston. The home winners were Barry Fleming, Tom Ward, Trevor Lomax, Trevor Cook and John Bate.

Coundon were also maximum winners when they despatched the visiting Leeholme B home without a point. The home winners were Mick McKerry, Frank Nicholson, John Paul Wringe, Graham Goulbourn and Andrew Hope, who produced the shot of the night with a full length double on the blue to clinch a close encounter with Mark Brown.

Leeholme A took the first three points in their home game against Crook Belle Vue with wins from Tony Clish, Anthony Forster and Ray Gill. The visitors fought back with replies from Derek Potts and John Warriner.

Results: Leeholme A 3 Crook Belle Vue 2; Bearpark 5 Tow Law 0; Brandon 3 Newton Aycliffe 2; Willington 2 Witton Gilbert 3; Coundon 5 Leeholme B 0; Durham City 3 West Auckland 2; Meadowfield 3 Crowtrees 2; Wheatley Hill A 3 Old Shildon 2; Hunwick B 5 Sacriston 0; Stanley Central 3 Wheatley Hill B 2; Langley Park 3 Belmont 2; Newhouse 2 Hunwick A 3; Spennymoor B 1 Sherburn Village 4; Fishburn A 2 Cockton Hill 3; Shotton Palms 2 Spennymoor A 3.

Curry Cup

Second round results: George Whitelock (Fishburn B) beat Brian Quest (Fishburn A); Steve Bainbridge (Coundon) beat Ian Dinsdale (Newhouse); Michael Pratt (Old Shildon) beat Paul Atkinson (Hunwick); Willis Joynes (Witton Gilbert) lost to Kevin Mordica (Cockton Hill); Frank Nicholson (Coundon) had a bye; Andrew Aisbitt (Cockton Hill) beat Ian Renwick (Witton Gilbert); Jimmy Evans (Shotton Palms) lost to Sonny Hann (Crowtrees); Kevin Sample (Brandon) beat David Walker (Wheatley Hill A).

Harry Little Memorial Handicap Pairs

Quarter final results: Jossie Aldworth & Michael Pratt (5) Old Shildon beat Neville Blenkinsop & Ian Richardson (28) Hunwick; Andrew Sugden & Kelvin Fletcher (14) West Auckland lost to Steve Nelson & Stuart Neil (12) Newton Aycliffe; Tom Ward & Barry Fleming (29) Hunwick beat Brian Graham & John Hall (10) Brandon; Chris Morley & Steven Armstrong (15) Belmont beat Dave Walker & Alan Hall (10) Wheatley Hill A.

Crook League

Crook Belle Vue maintained their fourth place in the First Division after they made a great comeback from being 3-0 down at Crook Olde Horse Shoe B. The Shoe raced into the lead with wins from Louie Holmes, Lee Scott and James Ivil but then the Club began their recovery. Wins from Doug McCarthy, Jeff Sneath and Ian Hodkinson set up the deciding doubles, where the Club's pairing of Jeff Sneath and George Pakes beat Peter Clement and Carl Maddison.

Crook White Swan produced a very good away win at Willington Market to keep them in contention in second place in the Second Division. The home side had wins from Paul Briddick and Michael Toward, whilst the Swan went to victory with singles wins from Darren Yeoman, Stephen Murphy, Lee Airey and Andrew Finch with Stephen Goldsborough and Andrew Finch adding the doubles.

The highest break in the Second Division was lifted when Martin Mann knocked in 55 for the Golden Fleece in the home game against Crook Queen's Head B.

Crook Olde Horse Shoe A lead the First Division by 14 points from Crook Travellers Rest B, who are two points ahead of Crook Belle Vue. The Second Division leaders are Crook Spitfire Club with an eight point advantage over Crook White Swan, who are two points ahead of Crook Golden Fleece.

Results: Crook Travellers Rest B 5 Crook Royal Sun 2; Crook Coach and Horses A 7 Crook Travellers Rest A 0; Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 3 Crook Belle Vue 4; Crook Mill House 2 Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 5; Willington Market 2 Crook White Swan 5; Crook Golden Fleece 4 Crook Queen's Head B 3; Crook Crown 4 Crook Coach and Horses B 3; Crook Jelly's Bar 4 Crook Surtees 3.