Bishop Auckland League

Ithe only match played last week Spennymoor Ashtree kept alive their rather remote hopes of landing the runners-up spot in the table after they beat their second placed hosts, Bishop Auckland Derby by the odd point. With just one match left to play Crook Olde Horse Shoe lead the table by 20 points from Bishop Auckland Derby, who are nine points ahead of Spennymoor Ashtree.

The Derby looked to be in serious trouble after the singles where they only managed three points when Steve Balanaves took two and Chris Peacock one. The Ashtree took the remaining seven singles with Stephen Jones, Paul Chatterton and Paul Biddle taking two each and Tony Biddle one. The Derby then fought back to keep their runners-up hopes realistic when Kevin Stewart and Chris Peacock won the doubles before Paul Willey beat the Ashtree's Paul Biddle in both captain's games.

The Captain's trophy will go to Gavin Witton of Crook Olde Horse Shoe after Paul Biddle lost his last two games. With one match to go Gavin Witton has 45 wins, Paul Biddle 41 wins and Lee Taylor of Bishop Auckland Football Club 34 wins.

Tow Law League

Tow Law Cattle Mart pulled off a very good odd point win when they visited Sunniside Comedian. The singles were shared with Ray Johnson, Keith Race and John Hildreth's points for the home side being matched by win from Malcolm Boughey, Marc Williams and Alex Ogilvie. The first two doubles were shared but in the decider Wayne Tennant and Marc Williams snatched victory for the Mart when they beat John Hildreth and Jeff Ridley.

Tow Law New Market B's hopes of landing the Championship disappeared when they dropped two points to the visiting Hamilton Row Black Horse whilst the leading Tow Law Station were scoring maximum points. This pushed the Station 13 points clear of the New Market, with Tow Law Black Horse A looking the only possible late challengers as they are nine points behind the Station.

Only Chris Elliss took a point in the singles for Hamilton Row, whilst Ray Weir, Colin Armstrong, Alan Henderson, Gary Turnbull and Ian Turner won for the New Market B, who went on to take two of the doubles. Lanchester King's Head only dropped one point at home to Tow Law Black Horse B, who had Sylvia Goodall as their only winner. However it seems to be too late for the King's to get among the trophies.

Results: Tow Law Black Horse A 6 Tow Law Football Club 3; Tow Law Station 9 Tow Law New Market A 0; Lanchester King's Head 8 Tow Law Black Horse B 1; Sunniside Comedian 4 Tow Law Cattle Mart 5; Tow Law New Market B 7 Hamilton Row Black Horse 2.

CIU Team Championship

Second round draw: Shotton Comrades v South Moor Social; Quarrington Hill A v Crowtrees; North Biddick D v Ferryhill B; Osbourne v North Biddick B; Quarrington Hill B v High Fell A; Easington Colliery v High Fell C; High Fell B v Mount Pleasant. Grange Villa receive a bye.

Durham Ranking Tournament

David Harrop of Consett won his second ranking event of the season with an odd point success over the top ranked, Michael Rhodes of Durham in the Final to take the £65 prize, whilst the runner-up took £30.

In the semi-finals Harrop beat Alan McCluskey of Bearpark 4-3, whilst Rhodes had a similar result over Paul Brockway of Durham. Both the beaten semi-finalists took £15 prize money each.

Quarter-final results: McCluskey beat Colin Hutchinson 3-2; Harrop beat Andy Seal 3-1; Rhodes beat Andrew Morley 3-1 and Brockway beat LeeMavin 3-0.

Gavin Hudspith won £10 for beating Ian Mitchison in the Plate Final. In the semi-finals of the Plate, Hudspith beat Nick Veuger, whilst Mitchison beat newcomer, David Castledean.

The Final Tournament will be held in Durham Snooker Club on Sunday, 18 November when the top 32 players over the year will meet on a pre-arranged format, where seedings, based on finishing position in the Ranking list, will operate.

Top eight seeds: 1 Michael Rhodes; 2 Chris Bowran; 3 Andy Seal; 4 Colin Hutchinson; 5 Alan McCluskey; 6 Darren Grainger; 7 Paul Brockway and 8 David Jackson.

Durham County

Super League

Shildon took the first title of the season when they won the team knock-out against Crook A 8-5.Shildon had two wins from Mal Parry and Kevin Watson, with one win each for Dave Waites, Rance Richardson, Martin Taylor and Andrew Tennant. Crook's replies came from David Haygarth and Steve Liddle with two wins and Jim Ainsley with one win.

All the member's of Durham County Pool Association wish Steven Heyes Crook A& a speedy recovery from his injuries sustained in a car crash and look forward to seeing him at the table next season.

In a re-arranged game Aycliffe entertained Bishop A and won 8-6.

Paul Armstrong leads the player of the year with 23 wins, Cliffy OwensCrook B&and Chris BowronDurham&are on 22 and Gavin WittonCrook B&is on 21.

P W D Pts

Crook B 15 11 3 130

Durham 15 11 1 129

Shildon 15 8 3 126

Ferryhill 15 9 4 120

Bishop A 14 5 1 89

Crook A 14 4 2 89

Aycliffe 16 2 3 86

Bishop B 15 4 2 83

Chester 13 1 3 68

l The singles knock-outs will be held at Durham snooker club on November 25, names in by 12.15pm.

l Any league wishing to join the Super League should contact the secretary in writing at J Mason 61 West Chilton, Chilton, Co. Durham, DL17 OHJ