BELEAGUERED Saltburn could do nothing but watch as their dreams of staying in the top flight of the Teesside and District Union were torn apart by Bishop Auckland.

Saltburn, who had already played all their fixtures, followed Darlington into Division Two after the Bishops beat Billingham 20-4.

On the night Bishops needed at least nine points for their safety with the possibility of a good win leapfrogging them over their opponents.

Bishop Auckland started well in the scratch section, but Billingham's top points scorer Greg Johnson gained his eighth win of the season, which coupled with two more halved games, meant the points went to Bishop Auckland 8-4 ensuring the safety of both teams. Bishop Auckland's handicap section's home form has been good and this showed as they swept away their opponents 12-0.

Darlington went to Castle Eden with a ten-point advantage over the home side, but Castle Eden's Graham Border has a 100 per cent home record this season and this was maintained against John Kirkpatrick to put points on the board for Castle Eden in the scratch section.

John Howson quickly replied for Darlington, but the rest of the points went to Castle Eden to give a 10-2 scratch section points score in favour of the home side.

Unfortunately for Darlington, their players did not fare much better in the handicap section as again they could only record one win which added to the halved game gave them three of the 12 points, but meant the match went to Castle Eden 19-5.

A result that came much to the relief of Castle Eden, but dropped Darlington down into the second division.

Division one: champions Eaglescliffe; runners-up Seaton Carew; relegated Darlington and Saltburn.

Division two; champions Hartlepool, promoted Middlesbrough; relegated Blackwell Grange and Hunley Hall.

Division three: champions Catterick; promoted Middlesbrough Municipal.

The individual honours in the first division went to Graham Border (Castle Eden) with ten wins and a total of 20 points followed by Greg Johnson (Billingham) and Paul Halligan (Eaglescliffe) both on 17 points.

The second division was taken by Tom Henderson (Middlesbrough), who was unbeaten in the 11 matches in which he played, winning nine for a total of 20 points.

Tom was closely followed by his team colleague Keith Irwin and Chris Crellin (Teesside) both with 18 points.

Division three had a shorter season with the teams playing ten matches compared with the 12 played by the division one and two teams.

The highest points scorer in the third division was Nick Sanderson (Dinsdale Spa) with 16 points with Stewart Melrose (Barnard Castle) only a point behind.

l Billingham side Campbell Hall Engineering constructed a pleasing performance at Eaglescliffe last Friday.

A team of Geoff Hall, Lionel Knock and Ian Garbutt shot a winning score of 121 (23 under par) to lift the pro-am tournament organised by club secretary Mike Sample and Ray Sentence of the NE and NW Pro Golfers Association.

Runners-up with a score of 122 was the Club captain's team of Brain Waller, Bill Bradley and Susan Marshall.

The professional competition was won by Brain Rumney of Parklands with a course record score of 64. One shot behind was John Harrison of Matfen Hall.

l Middlesbrough FC may not be setting the Premiership alight but at least two of its employees - ex-international referee George Courtney and Barnard Castle's Richard Lewis - were on the winning side this week. Shooting a score of 45 Stableford points the pair won the Henry Foster Trophy at Bishop Auckland on Sunday.

It was Courtney's first tournament victory in 34 years of membership and he said: "It's great to win the trophy but what is more satisfying is having my name printed in gold leaf on the walls of the clubhouse for all to see."

l Billingham teenager Paul Oakley proved he was a cut above the rest after winning the English Schools Under 16 Championship at Lincolnshire. Oakley, 14, who has been called up to the English Schoolboys squad to face Wales on Tuesday, carded superb rounds of 77 and 69 to win the title.

l Andrew Oldcorn breathed a massive sigh of relief after rescuing his Ryder Cup hopes in the Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles. Oldcorn believes he needs to finish in the top three this week to have a fighting chance of qualifying for the European team going into the final counting event, the BMW International Open, next week. Oldcorn carded a 67 to finish on seven under par and only four shots off the lead. Graeme Storm dropped out after a second round 76 to leave him on six over.