County Super League: Durham pulled off a good home win against Crook Town A thanks to a very good first half where they took the first five points through Chris Beswick, Simon Baker, Dave Ferguson, Paul Shutt and Sue Seal before Michael Burke and brother Stephen opened the visitors account.

Barry Dowson, Paul Shutt, Dave Neill and Simon Baker added points for Durham with Aaron Cowan, Stephen Burke and Michael Burke scoring for Crook A.

Shildon A also had a poor first half when they visited Shildon B, who had wins from Colin Bell, Dennis Sanderson, Michael Aldworth, Paul Fodden and Ian Sanderson, whilst only Andrew Tennant and Paul Armstrong won for the A team. The roles were reversed in the second half when only Jim Armstrong and Paul Fodden won for the B team whilst Paul Armstrong, Andrew Tennant, Mal Parry, Rance Richardson and Martin Taylor squared the match.

Leading players in the race for the Player of the Year title are: Gerald Parkin (Crook B) played 20, won 15; Ronnie McAloon (Spennymoor) 18, 14; Neil Campbell (Crook A) 20, 14; Gavin Witton (Spennymoor) 18, 13; Paul Shutt (Durham) 18, 13; David Stephenson (Crook B) 20, 13; Paul Biddle (Spennymoor) 16, 12; Steven Hunter (Spennymoor) 18, 12; Rance Richardson (Shildon A) 18, 12; Martin Taylor (Shildon A) 18, 12; Darren Tinkler (Crook B) 19, 12; David Elliott (Spennymoor) 18, 11; Paul Hickman (Horden) 12, 11; Ian Sanderson (Shildon B) 20, 11.

Results: Shildon B 7 Shildon A 7; Durham 9 Crook Town A 5.

Fosters Extra Cold Crook League

Crook Mill House made their first win of the season with a two points home success over the strong Crook Belle Vue. The Mill had two points from Graham Ward and one each from Mark Nichol, Bernie Robson, Dave Parvin and Keith Hogarth with Parvin and Nichol adding a doubles. The visitors replied with two points from Brian Wright and one each from John Warriner, Gary Pearse and Paul Morgan with Brian Wright and Arthur Hope adding a doubles. The Mill clinched victory in the final frame when Graham Ward beat Ian Hodkinson.

The positions at the top of the First Division were unchanged leaving Crook Travellers Rest B four points ahead of Crook Coach and Horses B with Crook Royal Sun a further ten points adrift.

Crook White Swan B moved two points clear at the top of the Second Division after they beat the visiting title rivals, Crook Queen's Head B by six points. The Swan had two points from Kevin Carter, Louie Holmes, Andrew Finch and Carl Maddison with Dave Brown adding one before Brown and Maddison took a doubles. The Queen's had singles points from Alan Saville, Malcolm Gibson and Michael Storey with Colin Cranston joining Saville to take a doubles point.

Crook Golden Fleece are in second place in the Second Division, two points behind the Swan B but six ahead of Howden Australian and Crook Queen's Head B, who share third place.

Results: Willington Market 9 Crook Royal Sun 5; Crook Queen's Head A 5 Crook White Swan A 9; Crook Coach and Horses B 9 Hunwick Club 5; Crook Travellers Rest A 9 Crook Coach and Horses A 5; Willington Brewer's Droop 6 Howden Australian 8; Crook Olde Horse Shoe 5 Crook Travellers Rest B 9; Crook Spitfire Club 9 Crook Jelly's Bar A 5; Crook Jelly's Bar B 6 Stanley Earl Derby 8; Crook Golden Fleece 8 Crook King's Head 6; Willington Cottles 8 Crook Surtees 6; Crook Mill House 8 Crook Belle Vue 6; Crook White Swan B 10 Crook Queen's Head B 4

Bishop Auckland League

Crook Travellers Rest held on to their top position by just one point after they beat the visiting Bishop Auckland Snooker Club in the final frame of a very tight match. The home side had two points from Neil Campbell, Michael Burke and Aaron Cowan, whilst the visitors replied with two points for Paul Willey and one each for Chris Thompson and Peter Coates. The Snooker Club took the doubles through Paul Willey and Paul Armstrong with Michael Hoggart taking the first captain's game to square the match. However Michael Burke took his revenge in the second captain's game to give the Travellers their odd point victory.

Tow Law New Market went down to their second defeat in three matches when they were beaten by the odd point by the visiting Shildon Royal George. The home side had two points from David Craggs and one each from Steven Maughan, Andrew Burrows and Tommy Sloan whilst the George replied with two points from Andrew Tennant and one each from Martin Taylor, Steve Ballanaves and Kevin Stewart. The Market went ahead when Shaun Umpelby and Andrew Burrows won the doubles but the George went to victory when Martin Taylor beat David Craggs in both captain's games.

Crook Travellers Rest lead the table by one point from Henknowle Manor, who are five ahead of Spennymoor Weardale. Tow Law New Market have dropped to fourth two points ahead of Shildon Royal George but four behind the Weardale.

* The league meeting, which was going to be postponed, has been re-instated for Tuesday, August 3 at 8pm in Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms.

Results: Spennymoor Weardale 12 Witton Park Rose and Crown 1; Crook Coach and Horses B 1 Crook Coach and Horses A 12; Bishop Auckland Football Club 4 Willington Brewer's Droop 9; Crook White Swan 9 Bishop Auckland RAFA 4; Henknowle Manor 8 Toft Hill Three Tuns 5; Bishop Auckland Cumberland 6 Bishop Auckland Derby 7; Crook Travellers Rest 7 Bishop Auckland Snooker Club 6; Tow Law New Market 6 Shildon Royal George 7.

Tow Law and District League

Sunniside Comedian were able to move up to share third place in the table after recovering from a first half defeat at Billy Row Royal George. The home side had wins from Alan Winter, Daniel Kerridge and Alan Townsend to lead at the interval as the Comic only had wins from John Conley and Keith Race. However, after the break the visitors took all the five remaining singles through Morgan Errington, Keith Race, Dave Thompson, John Conley and Ray Johnson. The match ended with the teams sharing the doubles.

Newhouse Club stayed on course to challenge for the title when they only dropped three points at Tow Law Station A. The visitors took all five singles in the first half with wins from Paul Morris, Graeme Thompson, Harry Dinsdale, Ian Dinsdale and Jim Platt. The home side improved in the second half and took points through Gavin Tennant, Neil Morrallee and Alan Ogilvie whilst Graeme Thompson and Harry Dinsdale added singles for Newhouse, who completed their victory by taking both doubles.

Sunniside Moss Inn lead the table by four points from Newhouse Club, who are three ahead of Sunniside Comedian and Tow Law Station B.

* There is a league meeting in Tow Law Cattle Mart at 8pm on Tuesday, July 20, when all teams must be represented.

Results: Tow Law Football Club 5 Tow Law Station B 7; Hamilton Row Black Horse B 7 Wolsingham Club 5; Tow Law New Market A 8 Tow Law New Market B 4; Sunniside Moss Inn 9 Hamilton Row Black Horse A 3; Tow Law Cattle Mart 7 Billy Row Club 5; Tow Law Station A 3 Newhouse Club 9; Billy Row Royal George 3 Sunniside Comedian 8.

Durham Ranking Tournament

The delayed finals of the 2003 Ranking Tournament will be held at Durham Snooker Club on Sunday, July 18 with a prompt start at 1pm with players being penalised by forfeiting a frame for each five minutes they are late. Any players who cannot play on the day is asked to ring Durham Snooker Club on 0191 3831333 so that one of the listed reserves can be substituted. The reserves are 1 Helen Sharpe; 2 Darren Grainger; 3 Kevin Teasdale; 4 David Bridge; 5 Stephen Jones.

The prize money list reads: Losers in Round 2 £10 each; Quarter-finals losers £25 each; Semi-final losers £50 each; Runner-up £100; Winner £175.

First round draw: A Colin Hutchinson v Lindsay Rhodes; B Tony Kay v Dave Harrop; C Gary Carr v Michael Winnick; D Dave Hodgson v John Mavin; E Andrew Mole v Ron Day; F Graeme Thompson v David Castledean; G Lee Holdsworth v Ian Laycock; H Graham Comerford v Steven Webb.

Round two: Michael Rhodes v Winner of A; Rob Hogarth v Winner of B; Andy Seal v Winner of C; Kevin Rainbow v Winner of E; Trevor Walton v Winner of F; Dave Lowery v Winner of G; Steve Thompson v Winner of H.

Crook Individual League

Darren Tinkler raced nine points clear at the top of the table after he beat his close friend David Stephenson in all three frames, whilst the reigning champion, David Craggs dropped four frames of the six he played. This leaves Craggs trailing Tinkler with three matches in hand but he will have to win all three by maximums to draw level at the top.

Tinkler was in good form against Stephenson, who played his usual solid game but was just outplayed in the final stages of each frame. Craggs made rare mistakes in his two matches but each time found Chris Peacock and Les Scott ready to take advantage. In both matches Craggs trailed after losing the first two frames but managed to pull out face-saving performances in the final frame.

Stuart Hall produced his best performance since joining the league when he whitewashed Les Scott, whose only chance came in the second frame when he wobbled a long, difficult black into a corner pocket. Hall on the other hand took advantage of every chance he had.

Doug Bowey was also a maximum winner when he beat David Haygarth after taking advantage of some attempted flamboyant play by his opponent. Bowey proved very competent in clearing up the chances presented.

Results: Aaron Cowan 1 Gerald Parkin 2; David Craggs 1 Chris Peacock 2; Doug Bowey 3 David Haygarth 0; Chris Peacock 3 Stephen Heyes 0; Les Scott 2 David Craggs 1; Stuart Hall 3 Les Scott 0; David Stephenson 0 Darren Tinkler 3; David Haygarth 2 Simon Bowey 1.

Outstanding matches: Peacock v D. Bowey; Craggs v Walker; Campbell v Haygarth; Stephenson v Haygarth; Les Scott v Peacock; Craggs v Lee Scott; Cullinan v Walker; Craggs v Campbell; Les Scott v Cullinan.