Newfit Services Willington: Byers Green Royal Oak shot to the top of the table after they only dropped one point to the visiting Willington Black Horse Tavern in the only match of the week.

Gary Brunskill took a singles point to record the Tavern's lone score, whilst the home side had singles wins from Tommy Bell, Billy Dunnett, Mark Kidman, Malcolm Hughes and Ray Scott before adding the three doubles and the team game.

This big victory moved the Royal Oak eight points clear of the former leaders, Willington Lion and Unicorn, who slip to second place six points ahead of Willington Cottles, who have a match in hand.

Tow Law Coors

With the trophy places already decided the attention turned to the lower section of the table where Hamsteels Inn visited Tow Law New Market B hoping to collect enough points to finish in the top half at the end of their first season. The trebles were shared and the singles finished in a similar manner when Alan Thompson, Michael Bell and Stephen Umpelby won for the Market and Anthony Hird, Mike Roberts and Brian Agar replied. The Market then took doubles points through Tom Hauxwell with Michael Bell and Gavin Tennant with Stephen Umpelby to ensure victory, but Hamsteels closed the gap when Stephen Johnson and Anthony Hird took the final doubles.

The League Championship is already in the hands of Tow Law New Market A, who currently lead Newhouse Club by 32 points with one match remaining. Billy Row Club are third but trial Newhouse by 27 points.

There were 180s from George Gaskill of the Rose and Crown, Stephen Umpelby of the New Market B and Carl Wilcockson of Billy Row Club.

Results: Cornsay Royal Oak 2 Sunniside Comedian 9; Billy Row Club 8 Tow Law Dan's Castle 3; Esh Stag's Head 4 Tow Law New Market A 7; Tow Law Rose and Crown 2 Esh McKennas 9; Tow Law New Market B 6 Hamsteels Inn 5.

Crook Ladies League

The first round of the League Knockout Cup produced few surprises although Crook Jelly's Bar A made the best victory when they beat the visiting Crook Queen's Head B who had finished four places above them in the final table.

In the match which looked tightest to call Tow Law New Market B, who finished fifth, entertained Tow Law Black Horse who finished one place above them. However the Market came out on top by three points.

Crook Olde Horse Shoe, who finished tenth, put up a very good fight before they went down by the odd point at runners-up, Crook Jelly's Bar B. Crook Belle Vue Club also made a good fight of it when they visited the league champions, Crook Queen's Head A.

The leading individual scorers were Dawn Harrison 140 and 133 and Margaret Stewart 133 for the Queen's Head A, Julie Nelson 132 and 121 for Jelly's Bar A, Diane Mullinger 125 and Lesley Leighton 124 for the Olde Horse Shoe and Lynn Easton 120 for Crook Belle Vue.

Results: Tow Law New Market B 7 Tow Law Black Horse 4; Crook Jelly's Bar A 6 Crook Queen's Head B 5; Crook Jelly's Bar B 6 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 5; Crook Queen's Head A 7 Crook Belle Vue 4.

Second round draw: Tow Law New Market B v Crook Jelly's Bar B; Billy Row Royal George or Billy Row Green A v Victoria Club; Crook Travellers Rest or Tow Law Station v Crook Queen's Head A; Crook Jelly's Bar A c Crook Cricket Club.

Wear Valley Ladies League

It was sweet 17th for the Crook Surtees team as they were able celebrate their first win of the season following 16 consecutive defeats when they edged through to their odd point success at Crook White Swan. The sweet success however did not move them from the foot of the table but they are convinced they can build on their first victory.

The Surtees success slightly overshadowed the achievement of Carol Haygarth from Crook Olde Horse Shoe. Maximum 180s are somewhat rare in the league but Carol managed to hit her fourth of the season. The only other leading individual scores were 125 from Michelle Simpson of the Olde Horse Shoe and 119 from Andrea Dawson of Byers Green Royal Oak.

Crook Golden Fleece moved 16 points clear at the top of the table from Crook Royal Sun, who are two points ahead of Crook Olde Horse Shoe.

Results: Willington Brewer's Droop 4 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 5; Tow Law Dan's Castle 3 Crook Golden Fleece 6; Crook Coach and Horses 7 Crook Mill House 2; Crook White Swan 4 Crook Surtees 5; Byers Green Club 5 Byers Green Royal Oak 4; Willington Cricket Club 3 Howden Sunnydene Lodge 6. No result: Crook Bar 56 v Crook Royal Sun.

Crook League

Belle Vue are 30 points clear at the top of division one but just one point separates second side Fleece A and Surtees A in third place.

Joiners Arms are 15 ahead of Surtees B in division two. Coach and Horses and two points behind Surtees with Sunnydene a further point adrift.

Results: Division One: Golden Fleece A 5 (4) Belle Vue WMC 6 (1); Surtees A 7 (3) Australian 4 (2); Mill House 2 (5) Market 9 (0); Travellers Rest 3 (3) Cricket Club 8 (2); White Swan 3 (2) Old Horseshoe 8 (3); RAFA 2 (4) Royal Sun Inn 9 (1).

Division Two: Sunnydene Lodge 8 (3) Jelly's Bar 3 (2); Queens Head 5 (3) Coach and Horses 6 (2); Royal George 2 (2) Joiners Arms 9 (3); The Green 9 (3) Golden Fleece B 2 (2); Earl Derby 3 (3) Surtees B 8 (2). Dominoes results in brackets.

180s: G Hanson (Old Horseshoe); Micky Trotter (Mill House); Jeff Sneath and Doug McCarthy (Belle Vue); Stephen Hayton (Golden Fleece A).

Weardale Ladies

Blue Bell B still lead but Black Lion A have moved above Hare and Hounds who have a game in hand.

Results: St Johns Chapel Blue Bell B 5 St Johns Chapel Golden Lion B 3; Wolsingham Black Lion A 7 Rookhope A 1; Wolsingham Mill Race 5 Stanhope Bonny Moor Hen 3; Rookhope WMC 5 Wolsingham Black Lion B 3; Stanhope Pack Horse 4 Wolsingham Black Bull 4; Stanhope Queens Head 3 Eastgate Cross Keys 5; St Johns Chapel Golden Lion A 6 St Johns Chapel Blue Bell A 2.

Top scores: Gwen Ferguson 180 (Black Lion A); Margaret Sanderson 126 (Mill Race); Su Iveson 134 (Black Bull); Joanne Heatherington 134 (Golden Lion B); Wendy Peart 132 (Blue Bell A).

Newcastle Breweries Premier Thursday Night Invitation League

Individual heats

Heat 1 JUC: L Langley v P Atherton; M Bean v S Metcalfe; P Gregg v win 1.

Heat 2 Quaker: A Wilkinson v B Khan; C Cooper v P Jones; M Williamson v win 1.

Heat 3 Dton CC: C Absolom v G Donald; I Hunter v J Thompson.

Heat 4 Fire St: S Lindsay v P Mitchell; S Cadman v P Fisher.

Heat 5 JUC: N Embleton v M Hyslop; P Eastman v J Lawley.

Heat 6 Quaker: B Hird v G Harris; C Muir v J Welsh; M Aldworth v win 1.

Heat 7 Dton CC: S Tunstall v J Elliott; R Swainston v C Bromfield.

Heat 8 Fire St: M Lethbridge v A Lawson; C Francis v K Hewson.

* One winner from each heat to be played March 11.

Alliance Thursday Night Invitation League

Individual heats

Heat 1 Railway Tav: W Hill v M McDonald; K Moody v A Dixon; G Sutcliffe v win 1.

Heat 2 Glittering Star: M Harle v S Smith; E Hunter v J Cave; L Linley v win 1.

Heat 3 Greyhound: A Able v S Findlater; H Whitesmith v R Rees; S Morley v win 1.

Heat 4 Railway Tav: M Morley v S O'Neill; C Davies v P Harris; A Heathwaite v win 1.

Heat 5 Slaters: P Robson v D Halliday; J Williams v bye; D Sinfield v Miredmond; A Henderson v bye.

Heat 6 Builders: V Wilde v S Allen; C Smith v P Taylor; R Ackers v win 1.

Heat 7 Queens Head: F Grinder v A Ryan; A Pateman v bye; J Caine v B Mead; G Moorhouse v bye.

Heat 8 Falchion: B Auty v J Rowland; P Cave v bye; B Wellman v P Metcalfe; K Pratt v bye.

* One winner from each heat to be played March 11.

Forcett and District League

A Division Knockout Cup

1st Round: Croft WMC 5, Stanwick Arms 2.

2nd Round: Crown Inn A 7, Smallways 0; Travellers Rest 3, Crown Inn B 4; Wheatsheaf 4, Croft WMC 3; Four Alls 4, Fox & Hounds A 3.

B Division Knockout Cup

1st Round: White Swan 3, Fox Hall 4.

2nd Round: Fox Hall 0, Lord Nelson 4; Lord Nelson B 5, Black Bull 2; Angel Inn 2, Quoit & Social Club 5; Fox & Hounds B 5, Black Horse 2.

Stokesley and District League