The Darlington ladies inter-club six-rink team improved their Durham County League championship chances with a good performance against previous champions and local rivals Hartlepool over the last week.

Without any doubt star performance was turned in by Peggy Clark, Dorothy Donald, Joyce Weston and skip Doris Rewcastle, who led from start to finish to win by 14 shots at the Morrison Centre.

Alison Joyce, Edith Dunn, Mary Armstrong and Marjorie Bousfield (captain) beat the Pat Tweddle four while Kitty Robinson, Vi Johnson, Maureen Whitton and skip Ann Simpson turned in another impressive performance but were edged out of the rink points by Shaun Wilgress in a thrilling finish at Morrison.

Jean Peacock, Audrey Cairns, Olive Harris and Joyce Stephenson at skip looked well throughout their game to beat Ena Kirkbride as did Tracey Fairless, Margaret White, Rene Gordon and skip Dulcie Harbin against Pat Smart for Hartlepool.

Eileen Mitchell, Joan Hamer, Marjorie Nelson and skip Ann Anderson at one stage did not look as though they were going to get on the scoreboard against the experience Madeline Coates. They recovered in the later stages to come back from a 19-1 deficit to help the Quakers side secure a 8 points overall total in this season's quest for the inter-club championship title with 11 points at stake over each team encounter. The Quakers hope to repeat their previous successes in the county trophy chase after a very busy season.

Durham County seniors team, playing at the Morrison Centre against a much fancied Lancashire side, came good this Thursday with 169 shots to 129 over eight rinks.

Skips and scores were (Durham names first): Graham Peacock 11, Gordon Niven 25; Vince Robson 21, Colin Oates 19; Alan Stephenson 23, Bob Hindle 26; Billy Bell 18, Brian Oakes 16; Ken Lamb 29, Alan Hoskins 8; Joe Gibson 27, John Ware 11; Eric Ramsdale 18, J Gillespie 12 (after being 18-0 in an early lead); Brian Robson 22, Don Yeadon 8; final score - 40 shots in the lead to Durham who clinched ten valuable Northern counties championship points.

In seeking the Liberty Trophy All England championships Durham County are led by six very experienced skips including John Leeman (Stanley), Gary Smith (Sunderland), John Thurlbeck (Stanley), Bill Condron (Spennymoor), Andrew Kirtland (Darlington), David Bolt (Sunderland).