Wilington League - Willington New Inn dented the chances of their hosts at Willington Lion and Unicorn taking the Championship when they only dropped two points.

However the Unicorn were fortunate when Willington Club and Hunwick Joiners Arms, who are two points behind, also were beaten but just by the odd point.

Kevin Bake took the only singles point for the Lion and Unicorn with their other point being taken by Dave Hawkins and Alan Lee in the doubles. The new Inn had singles wins from John Perkins, Pat Swain, Dessie Ayre and Phil Blyth with Blyth and Ayre adding a doubles point.

Results: Sunnybrow Brown Trout B 4 Willington Black Horse Inn 3; Willington Cottles 2 Prospect Club 5; Hunwick Joiners Arms 3 Byers Green Royal Oak 4; Willington Burn 4 Willington Club 3; Willington Brewer's Droop 6 Hunwick Quarry 1; Victoria Club 4 Willington Black Horse Tavern 3; Willington Lion and Unicorn 2 Willington New Inn 5.

Crook League

Crook Belle Vue took all six singles on their visit to Crook Coach and Horses A to make a repeat Championship victory a distinct possibility as they have moved out an 11-point gap at the top of the First Division with second placed, Crook Mill House one point ahead of both the teams from Crook Travellers Rest.

Belle Vue's singles winners were Jack Walker, Ivor Phillips, John Warriner, Pip Samson, Arthur Hope and Dave Hakin. Brian Lee and Stuart hall took the doubles for the home side to prevent the whitewash.

Crook Coach and Horses B leap-frogged over their hosts at Crook Queen's Head A to go top of the Second Division by two points, leaving the Queen's A eight points clear of Willington Brewer's Droop. The Queen's points came from Peter Genner and Doug Smailes whilst the Coach had singles wins from David Haygarth, Gerald Parkin, David Stephenson and Doug McCarthy with Parkin and Stephenson taking the doubles.

Results: Stanley Earl Derby 4 Crook White Swan A 3; Willington Market 0 Crook Golden Fleece 7; Crook Royal Sun 5 Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 2; Crook Travellers Rest B 6 Crook Royal Sun 1; Crook Jelly's Bar A 4 Willington Brewer's Droop 3; Crook Mill House 4 Crook Surtees 3; Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 4 Crook Jelly's Bar B 3; Crook White Swan B 6 Crook Queen's Head B 1; Crook Queen's Head A 2 Crook Coach and Horses B 5; Crook Coach and Horses A 1 Crook Belle Vue 6.

Tow Law Area League

Esh Stag's Head took the Captain's League title by four points. The final positions and points were 1st Esh Stag's Head 23 points; 2nd Newhouse Club 19; 3rd equal Tow Law Dan's Castle and Tow Law New Market B 17 each; 5th Esh McKennas 16; 6th Cornsay Royal Oak 15; 7th equal Tow Law Rose and Crown and Billy Row Club 14 each; 9th Tow Law New Market A 12; 10th Sunniside Comedian 11; 11th Hamsteels Inn 7.

The League Singles Championship will be held at Tow Law Dan's Castle on Monday, March 29 with the League Doubles Championship held at Esh Stag's Head on Monday, April 5.

Tow Law and District League

P W L Pt

Newhouse Club 36 23 13 106

Tow Law F. C. 36 26 10 105

Dan's Castle B 36 19 17 94

New Market B 36 17 19 89

Dan's Castle A 36 16 20 88

Rose & Crown 36 20 16 87

New Market A 36 19 17 87

S'side Comedian 36 13 23 83

Station 36 18 18 82

H R Black Horse 36 9 27 79

Willington and District League

The League Singles Championship qualifying stage was held at two venues with two players going forward to the Finals Night. The winners from Willington Lion and Unicorn were Ces Atkinson of the Prospect Club and Andrew Fleming of Willington Cottles. The winners from Willington Burn were Phil Blyth of Willington New Inn and John McIntosh of Willington Burn