Planet Snooker Premier League: The first match in the new league took place at Durham Snooker Club where Paul Davison of Spennymoor entertained Antony Parson of Guisborough.

In the first frame Davison established a lead but Parsons came back strongly towards the end to take it at 80-56.

In the second Davison never left Parsons a clear ball to pot and put in a 49 break to win 70-0. Parsons looked likely to restore his lead in the third after taking fifteen points out of Davison with tight snookers, but eventually allowed the home player back into it and he took the frame on a re-spotted black.

Parsons went into an early lead in frame four but left Davison a chance, which he took to record the first century break in the league with 112 clearance.

Davison went ahead early in the next with Parsons again clawing his way back to a four points deficit, when Davison took the pink to take the frame.

A scrappy frame six saw Davison win 59-18. In the final frame Davison made 34 but missed the black off its spot when hard-up on the cushion. Parsons almost cleared up but missed the pink, which Davison pushed into the jaws of the pocket behind the black for a fine snooker. Parson missed and Davison tapped in to win 63-47 and by 6 frames to one.

After the match Davison said: "I was pleased with the way I played in the early frames but made too many errors later to allow Antony back in." Parsons said: "I played poorly, no where near my best, but I will improve during this league."

David Lilley of Hebburn, a favourite with many after his four wins in a row at the Hartlepool tournaments, crashed at home to David Craggs of Tow Law, who took the first frame with a 75 break.

Lilley replied with a 50 in the next and then won a re-spotted black ball fight to go one up. Craggs levelled in a close frame but then put it a 48 break to go ahead and took the deciding black in the next to extend his lead. Craggs finished in style with a 97 break with Lilley failing to score.

Former professional, Andy Craig of Stanley entertained main tour professional, Michael Rhodes of Coxhoe.

The home player found his absence from the top flight left him struggling with Rhodes taking the first three frames. In a tight fourth frame Craig took the pink and black to put his only score on the board. Rhodes put in a 73 break to take the fifth and then completed his win by taking the final two frames.

Mike Dunn of Redcar, the highest ranked player in this league, showed why he is the favourite to land the title when he whitewashed the visiting Chris West of Whitley Bay. Dunn included breaks of 63, 54 and 57 with West only getting two chanes all night, but failed on both.

Ex-England international, John McCallum of Ashington entertained the former England under-18 champion to produce the tightest match in front of over a hundred spectators. Wilson made a 58 break in the first but McCallum clawed his way back to take the frame with a 42 clearance. The match seesawed through to the players being down to the decider after Wilson had added a 66 break. The decider was very tense but Wilson finally took the final blue and pink to clinch his victory.

Results: Mike Dunn 7 Chris West 0; John McCallum 3 Gary Wilson 4; Paul Davison 6 Antony Parsons 1; Andy Craig 1 Michael Rhodes 6; David Lilley 2 David Craggs 5.

Next week's fixtures: Monday: Michael Rhodes (Coxhoe) v Paul Davison (Spennymoor) at Durham Snooker Club; Gary Wilson (Wallsend) v Mike Dunn (Redcar) at High Howden Social Club; Michael Rudd (Hartlepool) v David Lilley (Hebburn) at Hartlepool Snooker Centre.

Tuesday: Antony Parsons (Guisborough) v John McCallum (Ashington) at Ormesby Institute.

Wednesday: David Craggs (Tow Law) v Andy Craig (Stanley) at Tow Law W.M. Club. Matches begin at 7.30pm.

Worthington CIU Winter League

Wheatley Hill A slipped two points behind Spennymoor A at the top of the First Division after they were never ahead at Cockton Hill who won in the decider. Andrew Aisbitt put Cockton Hill ahead but Ronnie Peacock levelled. Kevin Mordica restored the home lead only to see Dave Walker level. In the decider, the home captain, George Chapman beat Alan Hall.

Spennymoor A travelled to Witton Gilbert and won by the odd point. The home points came from Paul Nord with a 56 break and Ian Renwick, whilst the Moors had wins from Paul Atkinson with a 73 break, Eddie Rhodes and Michael Pratt with a 38 break.

Witton remain third, 14 points adrift of Wheatley Hill A.

Newton Aycliffe lost a vital relegation battle in the decider at home to Old Shildon. David Waites put in a 44 break to put the visitors ahead but Michael Hewitt levelled with a 45 break. Richie Young put the home side ahead but Paul Armstrong equalised. In the decider Shildon's Martin Taylor beat John Briddick. This left Aycliffe two points below Old Shildon, who are one below Bearpark A.

Bearpark A did themselves a favour with a win in the decider at Brandon. Alan Smith and Shaun Easter put Bearpark ahead but Kevin Sample and Graham Jackson equalised. In the decider the visiting Glen Morton beat John Middleton.

John Bower was the only winner for Sherburn Village when they visited Fishburn A. The home side had wins from Charlie Hirst, Brian Quest, John Carter and John Griffin, who put in a 37 break.

Wingate only dropped one point on their visit to Shotton Palms who had Paul Hickman was the only home winner. The visitors points came from Jimmy Mason with a 38 break, Dean Jones, Geoff Howe and Steve Allen.

Crowtrees A moved 12 points clear at the top of the Second Division when they only dropped one point to the visiting Stanley Central, who had Walter Cornell as their only winner.

The home side had points from Phil Whitfield, Steve Armstrong with a 30 break, Sean Johnston and Sonny Hann. This defeat left Stanley sharing bottom spot with Wheatley Hill B

Newhouse share the second spot in the Second Division with Meadowfield, Coundon and Spennymoor B after they won in the decider at Meadowfield.

Paul Wright and Ronnie Pearson won for Newhouse with Stephen Hughes and Norman Smith levelling. In the decider Ian Dinsdale beat the home side's Martin Halliday.

Tom Robinson senior was the only winner for Belmont at Coundon, who had wins from Billy Goggins with a 31 break, Graham Goulbourn with a 30 break, Micky McKerry and Mally Ryder.

Spennymoor B stayed in the promotion race with an odd point win over the visiting Sacriston. Alan Clarke, Micky Anderson and Wayne Parry won for the Moors with Ronnie Bradley and Mark Appleby replying.

Wheatley Hill B were never headed by the visiting Willington.

Jock Frost put the Hill ahead but Stan Bennett levelled. Tony Ellison restored the home lead only to see Arthur Goldsborough equalise. In the decider the Hill's Ken Johnson beat Gordon Parkin.

Langley Park put themselves in serious relegation problems when they failed to take a point from the visiting Ferryhill, who had wins from Glyn Toas, Bernie Jones, Ken Wood, Neil Spender and Adrian Jones, with a 55 break.

Tow Law B moved up to share third place in the Second Division when they beat their A team for the loss of only one point. Doug Watson took the point for the A team whilst John Warriner, Eric Lockerbie, John Wilson and Adam orton replied.

Hunwick A share the third place after they only took one point from their visit to Leeholme A, who are three ahead in second place. Norman Kirkley won the lone point for Hunwick, whilst Ray Gill Alan Roe, Karl Thompson and Barry Shaw.

New Durham continue to extend their lead at the top of the Third Division with a whitewash home win over Leeholme B. Gordon Bowes, Neil Phillips, Tony Thompson, Kevin Scullion and Thomas Cairns took the points for the home side.

Hunwick B went down in the decider against the visiting Durham City. Arnold Fleming and Tom Ward won for the home side but Eric Wright and Barry Stoddart replied. In the decider Brian Dunn beat Barry Fleming on the black.

Ian Roddam, Chris Buston and Mark Wilson won for Ferryhill B to clinch a home win over Fishburn B, who had wins from Keith Binks and Michael Bell.

Results: Tow Law A 1 Tow Law B 4; Meadowfield 2 Newhouse 3; Witton Gilbert 2 Spennymoor A 3; Hunwick B 2 Durham City 3; Wheatley Hill B 3 Willington 2; Cockton Hill 3 Wheatley Hill A 2; Ferryhill B 3 Fishburn B 2; Langley Park 0 Ferryhill A 5; Newton Aycliffe 2 Old Shildon 3; New Durham 5 Leeholme B 0; Crowtrees A 4 Stanley Central 1; Brandon 2 Bearpark A 3; Leeholme A 4 Hunwick A 1; Spennymoor B 3 Sacriston 2; Shotton Palms 1 Wingate 4; Coundon 4 Belmont 1; Fishburn A Sherburn Village 1. Bearpark B v Crowtrees B no result - home team fined.

Worthington CIU Winter Singles

Quarter final draw: Dave Walker (Wheatley Hill A) v Paul Nord (Witton Gilbert); Graham Golbourn (Coundon) v Steve Armstrong (Crowtrees A); Kevin Sample (Brandon) v John Bower (Sherburn Village); John Hall (Brandon) v Mark Appleby (Sacriston). Winners to inform league secratry of results and acceptable semi-final dates before 10.30 pm on Monday, 22 March.

Worthington CIU Winter Pairs Championship

Semi-final draw, where matches are over the aggregate scores from three frames is: David Harris & Alan Craig (Stanley Central) v Bob Reay & Ronnie Peacock (Wheatley Hill A) at Coundon on Thursday, 18 March at 7.30 pm with the referee being Frank Nicholson of Coundon and George Chapman & Andrew Aisbitt (Cockton Hill) v Dave Walker & Alan Hall (Wheatley Hill A) at Crowtrees on Thursday, 11 March at 7.30 pm, where the referee is Alan Greener of Sherburn Village.

Worthington CIU Handicap Singles

Quarter final draw: Stephen Coates 24 (Langley Park) v Sean Johnston 24 (Crowtrees A); John Bower 18 (Sherburn Village) v Stuart Neil 6 (Coundon); Willis Joynes 12 (Witton Gilbert) v Dean Jones 8 (Wingate); Anthony Forster 40 (Leeholme B) v Stephen Hughes 20 (Meadowfield). Winners to inform league secretary of results and acceptable semi-final dates before 10.30pm on Monday, March 22.

Crook League

Crook Royal Sun moved up to third place with a good win at Crook Golden Fleece. The home side had wins from Trevor Smith and Chris Barber, whilst the visitors had singles wins from Simon Bowey, Cliffy Johnson, Brian Lonsdale and Ronnie Hope, who remains unbeaten this season. The Royal Sun added the doubles through Bowey and Hope.

Crook Queen's Head B won in the decider at home to Crook Olde Horse Shoe B to leave the visitors struggling to get back into the promotion race.

The Queen's had wins from Alan Saville, Dave Heslop and Stephen Gibson with Ian Armstrong, Stephen Craggs and Chris Raine levelling. In the decider Saville and Heslop beat Raine and Joanne Moore.

Crook Olde Horse Shoe A lead the First Division by one point from Crook Travellers Rest B, with Crook Royal Sun a further nine points adrift.

The Second Division is dominated by Crook Coach and Horses B with a 29 points lead, whilst Crook White Swan B strengthened their cause with a good win at Stanley Earl Derby and went five points clear of the Olde Horse Shoe B and the White Swan A.

* The next league meeting will be held at Crook White Swan on Tuesday, March 16 at 7.30pm when all teams must be represented.

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