The vagaries of the schedule threw up a mouthwatering match on the first night of the league as Seaton Carew, runners-up for the last three year's played host to the present champions, Bishop Auckland.

By coincidence the same fixture started the season last year when a close match in which neither side could gain an advantage proved to be the springboard for the Bishops record breaking undefeated season. This time, however, Seaton, determined to go one better in the league than previous years, were in no mood to give Bishop Auckland any chance of a victory and bring to an end the unbeaten run. Seaton started the card well with Hugh Hamilton beating Jamie Birkbeck, gaining revenge for last year's defeat and although Bishop Auckland came back with two points from a win by Nigel Dodd and a point from the halved game between Graharn Milne and James Harper, three further wins from Chris Chalk, Rob Clark and Andy Wood meant the scratch section games ended 9-3 in Seaton's favour. Bishop Auckland started the handicap section card in better vein with Philip Graham winning, but with four wins out of the next five games from Ian Rowe, Guy Sowerby, B Robertson and K Diamond, and the fifth being halved, Seaton Carew finished with nine points from the handicap games and thus an 18-6 match win inflicting the first defeat in the league on the Bishop Auckland side for over a year.

Eaglescliffe went to newly-promoted Cleveland hoping to bounce back after losing their title last year with the young Eagle Ryan Riley now firmly established in the side's number one spot- llowever, Jason Jones, playing number one for Cleveland, is no mean player in his own right as his record proves, and his win over Ryan was only one of five for the Cleveland scratch section players on the night. Kevin Fawcett, Tom Coulson, Gary Watson and Adam Best all took their games with only Jim Wharton replying for the visitors, the scratchpoints ending 10-2 to Cleveland. Eaglescliffe's handicap section players have a reputation when it comes to losing points and this night was no exception with Roland Todd and Wayne Trotter winning for Eaglescliffe, it looked as though they may claw back-some of the scratch points deficit, but Cleveland replied with victories by Craig Brown and Chris Wall and with the other two games halved, the handicap points were shared 6-6, leaving the match result 16-9 to Cleveland, a nice start to life in the first division.

The third match in the first division saw the other promoted club, Saltburn at home to Darlington with possibly the experience of John Kirkpatrick and Geoff CharIton showing as they both won for away side. But with a mixture of youth and experience Salthurn replied through Dale Smith, Michael Tucker and Andy Birkbeck to shade the scratch points 7 -5, the, sixth match in that section between Darron Nalton and Pip Whitehead being halved. Saltburn's handicap section players won slightly more decisively, a win for Liam Jackson being followed in like fashion by three of his team-mates. J Hlowell's victory and a point from the halved game between Simon Dell and Leigh Walton gave Darlington three handicap points, but the nine for Saltburn meant a match score of 16 - 8 to the home side.

With Blackwell Grange's match against Richmond being postponed and the third division not starting their shorter schedule until next week, there was only two other matches played, but one of them provided the leagues biggest win of the night.

Hartlepool scratch players, led by Paul Newbury were missing Dave Innes but they still proved too strong for their opponents Catterick, winning a further three games in the scratch section through the three Rs, Rob MeGahan, Rod O'Donovan and Robert Walsh for 9-3 lead. Catterick's points coming from a win by Chris Carveth and a halved game between G May and Gordon McDonald. The Hartlepool handicap players win was even more decisive than their scratch counterparts with only Bill Stalley gaining a point for Catterick in his halved game with Bob Hardman. The five wins coupled with the point for the halved game meant the night ended 11-1 in the handicap section and the match 20-4 to Hartlepool.

In contrast, the other second division match provided the closest result, Middlesbrough travelled to Billingham where the first four scratch games on the card went to the final green. Paul Oakley managed to beat Peter Ward on the 18th to open Billingham's tally, but the other three games were all halved, Billingham's scratch points were boosted with victories by Nigel Fick and Paul Morron in the remaining two games for a 9-3 advantage. The two clubs handicap section players could not be separated with two wins and two halved games apiece. Billinghain's wins coming from P Greenan and Jim Dilworth with Middlesbrough's counters from Mike Addison and Bob Barker, the 6-6 share of the handicap points giving a 15 - 9 match score in Billingham's favour but with seven games going to the final green, the result must have been in doubt well into the night.

Inter-Club league results May 12: Division One: Cleveland 16, Eaglescliffe 8; Saltburn 16, Darlington 8; Seaton Care 18, Bishop Auckland 6.

Division Two: Blackwell Grange v Richmond postponed; Billingham 15, Middlesbrough 9; Hartlepool 20, Catterick 4.