Carlin are edging closer to safety

Mark Earl set the standard after winning both of his frames against Derek Leadbitter 50-20 and 61-28. Kevin Moon then pulled a frame back for Ennis after beating Eric Wheatman in their first encounter 61-51 but Wheatman won the next game 56-47 therefore putting Carlin 3-1 ahead. Ricky Warrior then won a further frame for Ennis by beating Andrew Wiseman 54-43. However, Wiseman had the last say when beating Warrior in the last game 71-37. Redcar Lakes A took another step closer to winning this year's Championship after recording a 5-1 home win against Saltburn Cons. A. Dave Beckett compiled a 45 break in his match against Paul Baggott while in the final frame Mark Cardaropoli was leading his game against Gary Beckett 54-31, aided by a 35 break until Beckett made a 27 clearance to clinch the game on the final black. Lune Street A chalked up the only away win of the week when beating Guisborough TA 4-2. Grinkle Park continued their good run of form with a 4-2 home win against Guisborough Quoit. The Redcar Cons. A team also won at home 4-2 against Guisborough Cons. A. New Marske A held Redcar Unionist's A to respectable 3-3 tie.

Division Two

Result of the week was posted by Redcar Lakes D who recorded an excellent 5-1 win at Saltburn Cons. B. Mick Thurston kicked off in style winning the first two frames against Dave Robinson with scores of 60-21 and 47-32. Sean Wilson then shared two very closely contested games with Dave Tait, both ending up as black ball fights with scores of 52-53 and 52-47. Chris Wilson then sealed the win for the Lakes after winning his games against Ken Stanford 72-31 and 55-46. The fight for the second automatic promotion place took another twist this week when Val's Priory A held leaders South Bank Albion to a 3-3 tie. Phil Carr lost his first game with Peter Dodgson helped by Dodgson compiling an excellent 37 break. John Hartley lost two frames to John Bracchi while Phil Hartley pulled out all the stops to salvage a draw when beating Barry Walker in his two games during which Hartley compiled a 39 break. Second placed Redcar Workies B suffered a 4-2 home defeat at the hands of Marske Workies B. Brotton Workies had a return to form when chalking up an excellent 5-1 home win against Redcar Cons B. Redcar Unionist's B recorded an excellent 4-2 win at Val's Priory B. Ennis Square B beat Lodge A by the same scoreline. Marske Workies C won their first match of the season 6-0 owing to Redcar Lakes C not turning up.

Crook League

Ronnie Hope of Crook Royal Sun completed the rare feat of going through all 20 matches in the First Division with an unbeaten record. The remaining places in the First Division Player of the Year were 2nd Chris Baker (Golden Fleece) 19; 3rd Neil Campbell (Travellers Rest B) 17; 4th Ian Hodkinson (Belle Vue Club) 16; 5th equal Brian Wright (Belle Vue Club), Brian Johnson and Richard Walker (Olde Horse Shoe A), Lee Scoot (Coach and Horses A) and Terry Davis (Travellers Rest A) 15 wins each.

The Second Division Player of the Year was Gerald Parkin of the Coach and Horses with 18 wins. The remaining top places were 2nd Stephen Craggs (Olde Horse Shoe B0 17; 3rd equal Leas Scott, David Stephenson and David Haygarth (Coach and Horses B) and David Stewart (White Swan A) 16 each; 7th equal Carl Maddison (White Swan B), John Gibson (Jelly's Bar A) and Billy Wragg (Brewer's Droop) 15 each.

The top break in the First Division was 76 by Trevor Smith of the Golden Fleece, whilst David Craggs of Crook Coach and Horses B had the top break in the Second Division with 85.

SWD Association

Bishop Auckland Golf Club, the reigning champions made a great start to the new season when they whitewashed their hosts at Newton Aycliffe Southerne Club. The golfers' winners were Billy Goggins, Peter Weatherill, Andrew Aisbitt and Dave Orton.

In the Second Division, Tindale Crescent earned a creditable draw when they visited Darlington Snooker Club B. The home side had wins from Shaun Rogers and Chris Hewitson, whilst Tindale replied through Wayne Kirkbride and Stephen Davis.

Results: Division One: Hopetown 2 Darlington Cricket Club 2; Barnard Castle Glaxo 3 Bishop Auckland Cricket Club 1; Southerne Club 0 Bishop Auckland Golf Club 4.

Division Two: Darlington Snooker Club B 2 Tindale Crescent 2; Darlington Rise Carr 0 Northgate 4. Shildon Elm Road v Bishop Auckland Kingsway Club - postponed.

Harry Little Memorial Pairs Final

The final, which was delayed because of an operation on Alan Buist, is now re-arranged for Thursday, May 6 at Belmont with a 7.30pm start. The best of five frames match will be between Colin Goodrick and Graham Jackson of Brandon against Alan Buist and Peter Davison of Fishburn. The Fishburn pairs will receive three points per frame start.

Former World Ladies Snooker Champion and current EASB tutor and examiner, Vera Selby of Newcastle, will referee the match. She will present the trophy after the event, which is in memory of Harry Little a grade one referee and official for many years of the CIU Snooker Association.

Worthington CIU Winter League

Spennymoor A clinched the Championship in style when they only dropped one point on their visit to Bearpark A who had Glen Morton with a 30 break as their only winner. The Moors points came from Paul Biddle, Karl Welsh, Michael Pratt with breaks of 41 and 35 and Paul Atkinson.

Wheatley Hill A took the runners-up spot, leaving their visitors from Fishburn A in third following the Hill's odd point win. Fishburn took the first and last frames through Brian Quest and Charlie Hirst, whilst Jack Wright, Dave walker with a 30 break and Alan Hall won for the Hill.

Newton Aycliffe made a sterling effort to avoid relegation when they entertained Witton Gilbert. The home side took the first four points through Richie Young, Mark Howe, Michael Hewitt and Ronnie Hall and then only lost the final frame when Witton captain, Malcolm Peart snatched the final black to beat Peter Brown.

Sherburn Village also suffer relegation after losing two vital points to the visiting Shotton Palms, who managed to stay two points above their hosts. Michael Crisp, John Bower and Peter McGowan won for Sherburn with Dave Swindle and John Armstrong managing to stave off the drop for Shotton.

Old Shildon ensured their safety in the First Division when they only dropped one point to the visiting Wingate who had Dean Jones as their only winner with a 36 break. Shildon's points came from David Waites, Malcolm Parsley, Peter Coates and Paul Armstrong, who just failed to equal the top break of the season by two points when he missed a black off the spot to end his great 73 break.

Cockton Hill were never headed on their visit to Brandon. Andrew Aisbitt put the visitors ahead but Brian Graham equalised George Chapman restored the Hill's lead but Colin Goodrick levelled. In the decider the visiting Lee Taylor beat Graham Jackson on the black.

The Second Division shock of the season came at Meadowfield who were hoping for promotion but were whitewashed by the visiting Langley Park who desperately needed the points to avoid relegation.

Crowtrees A emphasised their superiority in the Second Division when they whitewashed their hosts at Belmont to take the title by 13 points with wins from Sean Johnston, Steve Armstrong, Sonny Hann, Keith McLauchlan and Peter Laverick. This result leaves Belmont involved in a play off with Wheatley Hill B to avoid relegation.

Wheatley Hill B's fight to avoid the drop saw them win by the odd point at Spennymoor B. The Hill took the first three frames through Tony Ellison, Keith Connor and Brian Taylor, whilst the Moors replied with wins from Micky Anderson and Alan Rouell. The Belmont v Wheatley Hill B play-off will be held at Fishburn on Tuesday, April 27 at 7.30pm.

Willington took the second promotion spot from the Second Division after they beat the visiting Coundon by the odd point. Billy Goggins and Graham Goulbourn took the points for the visitors, whilst Jeremy Martin, Tom Parkin and Gordon Parkin took Willington back to the First Division.

The promotion bid by Newhouse failed by two points when they edged through to an odd point win over the visiting Stanley Central, for whom the two points were not enough to avoid relegation. Billy Thompson, Ronnie person and John Maddox won for Newhouse with Walter Cornell and Jimmy Dufton replying.

Sacriston and the visiting Ferryhill A both steered clear of relegation after the home side won by the odd point. Sacriston had wins from Alan Richardson, Ronnie Bradley and Dale Evans whilst Ferryhill had points from Ian Fawcett and Bernie Jones.

New Durham are promoted from the Third Division after winning by 11 points following their odd point win in the final match at Crowtrees B. The home side had wins from Terry Gibson and David Lowery, whilst John Robertson, Neil Phillips with a 45 break and Thomas Cairns won for the champions.

Hunwick A snatched the second promotion spot from the Third Division when they whitewashed the visiting Leeholme B to go up by a single point. The home wins came from Peter Mernor with a 30 break, Des Mason, Neville Blenkinsopp, Ian Richardson and Steven Webb with a 31 break.

Leeholme A missed out on promotion for the very first time when they only took one point from their home game against Hunwick B. Barry Shaw was the only Leeholme scorer, whilst David penman, Trevor Lomax, John bate and Barry Fleming won for the visitors.

Tow Law B made their best ever finish when they shared third place with Leeholme A following their win over Bearpark B. John Wilson, Adam Orton, John Warriner and Eric Lockerbie won for the Lawyers, whilst Paul Wilson took the final frame for the visitors.

Lee Cullinan made his best break ever for Tow Law A when he put in 33 to clinch an odd point victory at Ferryhill B. The home side had wins from David Nelson and Les Lewis with the Layers replying through Alan Spence and Tommy Williams.

Durham City finished their season with a good win at Fishburn B, who took the first frame through George Whitelock, who was assisted by the numerous in-offs from John Davies. The visitor then took over with wins from Brian Dunn, Barry Stoddart, Michael Pratt and Eric Wright.

l All teams holding Winter League trophies are asked to ensure that they are returned to the league meeting, which will be held at Meadowfield on Thursday, April 29. Teams also must hand in their entry forms for the Summer League at the same meeting.

Results: Crowtrees B 2 New Durham 3; Spennymoor B 2 Wheatley Hill B 3; Wheatley Hill A 3 Fishburn A 2; Leeholme A 1 Hunwick B 4; Willington A 3 Coundon 2; Bearpark A 1 Spennymoor A 4; Tow Law B 4 Bearpark B 1; Newhouse 3 Stanley Central 2; Newton Aycliffe 4 Witton Gilbert 1; Ferryhill B 2 Tow Law A 3; Sacriston 3 Ferryhill A 2; Old Shildon 4 Wingate 1; Hunwick A 5 Leeholme B 0; Belmont 0 Crowtrees A 5; Sherburn Village 3 Shotton Palms 2; Fishburn B 1 Durham City 4; Meadowfield 0 Langley Park 5; Brandon 2 Cockton Hill 3.

Worthington CIU Singles Handicap

Stephen Coates of Langley Park received 16 points per frame start when he met Dean Jones of Wingate in the semi-final played at Wheatley Hill with Alan Greener of Sherburn Village the referee.

In the first frame Coates broke and set up a long bout of safety, which was finally broken when Jones attempted a risky plant that did not come off. This gave Coates the opening to steadily edge his way ahead to 44-17 and then he finished the frame by clearing the colours from the green to take the frame at 69-17

The second frame proved a difficult one for both players but Coates used his 16 start as a foundation and edged further ahead. However Jones made a good comeback to only trail 41-45. However Coates renewed his charge and went on to take the frame at 66-42.

Coates made a good start in the third frame he made an opening 18 break and followed by six to go 40-0 ahead. Jones' hopes of pulling back went down when Coates cleared the colours from yellow to pink to win the frame at 83-41 and the match by three frames to nil.

Coates will now meet the winner of the other semi-final between Stephen Hughes of Meadowfield and John Bower of Sherburn Village, who play at Hunwick on Monday, April 26. The final will be at Brandon on Monday, May 10.