Tow Law and

District League

Tow Law New Market B stretched their lead at the top of the table to seven points after they beat their hosts at Tow Law Black Horse A by the odd point. The Horse took the first and last points through Tony Brown and Howard Spoors, but the Market went to victory with three in a row from Gary Watson, Colin Armstrong and Ray Weir.

Lanchester King's Head failed to strengthen their second spot when they went down in the decider at Tow Law New Market A. The home side had wins from Phil Spencer and Bob Plews with Rob Day and Harry Wales squaring the match. In the decider Bill Goodall beat the visiting Graeme Thompson.

Hamilton Row Black Horse share the second place with the King's Head, with the New Market A a further two points adrift.

Results: Hamilton Row Black Horse 4 Sunniside Comedian 1; Tow Law Cattle Mart 3 Tow Law Station 2; Esh Football Club 1 Tow Law Rose and Crown 4; Tow Law New Market A 3 Lanchester King's Head 2; Tow Law Station 4 Esh Football Club 1; Tow Law Black Horse A 2 Tow Law New Market B 3.

Crook League

There was a nail-biting finish in the race for the Championship when Crook Mill House entertained Crook Royal Sun with the winning team taking the title. The Mill took singles points through Ian Bibby and John Winning but the Royal Sun replied with wins from Kenny Smith, John Hunt and Graham Johnson. This left them needing just one point for the title and they took this when John Howcroft beat Rob Bannister. The doubles had little consequence but the Mill pair of Stephen Heyes and Ian Bibby beat Paul Emerson and John Hunt.

Crook Surtees had already clinched the Second Division title with Crook Spitfire Club landing the runners-up spot after they whitewashed the visiting Crook Golden Fleece.

Results: Crook Spitfire Club 7 Crook Golden Fleece 0; Crook Crown 3 Crook White Swan 4; Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 1 Crook Travellers Rest B 6; Crook Jelly's Bar A 4 Crook Coach and Horses A 3; Crook Mill House 3 Crook Royal Sun 4; Crook Travellers Rest A 5 Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 2; Crook Queen's Head A 4 Crook Belle Vue 3.

Willington League

There will be a four-way play off for the Player of the Year Trophy after four players completed the season with 17 victories.

Top 20 list: 1 Keith Dufton (Quarry Burn) played 22, won 17, lost 5; 2 Ian Richardson (Hunwick Club) 25, 17, 8; 3 Phil Blyth (Prospect Club) and Alan McAloon (Market) 26, 17, 9; 5 Michael Richardson senior (Australian A) 24, 16, 8; 6 Kenny Plumpton (Oakenshaw) 21, 15, 6; 7 Dave Robson (Football Club) 22, 15, 7; 8 Dave Thompson (Hunwick Club) 21, 14, 7; 9 Tommy Liddle (Brown Trout) 21, 14, 7; 10 John Fleming (Brewer's Droop A) 25, 14, 11; 11 Paul Ross (Brewer's Droop A) 26, 14, 12; 12 Trevor Thompson (Market) 20, 13, 7; 13 Mike Jardine (Hunwick Club) 21, 13, 8; 14 Dave Hawkins (Black Horse) and Leanne Cunningham (Quarry Burn) 22, 13, 9; 16 Mark Kitching (Oakenshaw) and Ces Atkinson (Prospect Club) 24, 13, 11; 18 Ron Punshon (Brewer's Droop A) and Mike Plaskett (Commercial) 25, 13, 12; 20 Lane Sample (Prospect Club)and Derek Edmundson (Quarry Burn) 19, 12, 7.

Tow Law Area League

Tow Law Rose and Crown made a remarkable recovery on their visit to Sunniside Comedian with both teams making a bid for the top spot. The Comic raced away to a three points lead with singles from Raymond Wright, Jeff Ridley and Christine Ridley. Dorothy Mowbray notched the first points for the visitors only to see Jean Wright put the home side one short of victory. However David Bruce took the last singles and then the Rose and Crown edged through to win after taking all three doubles.

Newhouse Club moved two points clear of both the Comedian and the Rose and Crown after beating their hosts at Hamilton Row by three points. Sunniside Moss Inn and Esh Football Club are three points adrift of the second placed pair.

Results: Cornsay Royal Oak 4 Esh Stag's Head 5; Esh Football Club 5 Sunniside Moss Inn 4; Hamilton Row Black Horse 3 Newhouse Club 6; Tow Law Station 6 Tow Law New Market B 3; Sunniside Comedian 4 Tow Law Rose and Crown 5