Tow Law Scottish Courage League: Tow Law Football Club lifted themselves into third place when they won their re-arranged match at Tow Law New Market A in the deciding doubles.

The footballers went into a lead after the singles where they had wins from Billy Lyle, Charlie McGee, Charlie Donaghy and Keith Muse whilst Ian Turner and Goff Bramfit replied.

The home team fought back to level the match when they took the first two doubles through Ivor Childs with Terry Taylor and Tom Dowson with Ian Turner. The footballers edged to victory when Arthur Henderson and Charlie Donaghy beat Bill Goodall and Geoff Bramfit in the decider.

Willington and District League

Sunnybrow Brown Trout left themselves needing only four points from their outstanding match at Willington Lion and Unicorn to ensure their first Championship after they only dropped one point on their visit to Willington Brewer's Droop. The first five singles went to the Trout with wins from Dave Blackburn, Tony Atkinson, Lee Blackburn, Steve Richardson and Les Welsh before Billy Wragg took the Brewer's only point. The visitors completed a good night by taking all three doubles points.

Willington Burn lost four valuable points when they visited Willington New Inn and could only edge to victory by the odd point. The Burn had singles wins from Martin Rooney, Joe Chatterton, Vaughan Raine and John McIntoch, whilst Ian Spowart and Phil Blyth took singles for the home side. The Burn went to victory by taking two of the three doubles points.

Sunnybrow Brown Trout lead the table by six points from Byers Green Royal Oak and Willington Cottles B, who share second place five points clear of Willington Burn Inn. The top three have one match remaining, whilst the Burn have completed their programme.

Results: Byers Green Royal Oak 3 Prospect Club 2; Willington Cottles A 2 Hunwick Quarry 3; Willington Lion & Unicorn 1 Willington Cottles B 4; Willington New Inn 3 Willington Burn 2; Willington Brewer's Droop 1 Sunnybrow Brown Trout 4.

Durham and

District League

The sudden snowstorm disrupted the arranged games, with only two managing to get played. Ushaw Moor Flass Inn beat the visiting Ushaw Moor Winnings 11-2, whilst Spennymoor Voltigeur beat the visiting Bowburn Cooperage 7-6.

The next league meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 4, when all teams must be represented.

Auckland Area League

The second round of the League Singles Championship was played at eight venues with eight players at each trying to take one of the two places available for the next round.

The winners from the King's Head were Shaun Reynolds (Grand A) and Michael Richardson (Beehive); the winners from the Hillingdon were David Graham (Voltigeur A) and Ian Smith (Hillingdon); the winners from the Beehive were Jon Tomlinson (Manor) and Steven Lowther (Derby); the winners from the Grand were Steve Gwin (Beehive) and Andy Mole (Voltigeur A); the winners from the Voltigeur were Paul McLean (Wheatsheaf) and Peter Mernor (Manor); the winners from the Wheatsheaf were Tony Biddle (Voltigeur A) and Kelvin Anderson (Voltigeur A). Only one winner was declared from the Manor, where Darren Briggs (Voltigeur A) qualified and from the Derby, where Derek Cooper (Grand B) was successful.

County Super League

The Crook derby set the scene for an exciting new season when the B team pulled off a remarkable recovery to clinch a good win against the Crook A team. The B team reached the interval with an odd point lead after they had wins from Johnny Mason, who was going for a hat-trick of Individual Player of the Year awards, Gerald Parkin, Darren Tinkler and Cliffy Owens with their opponents scoring through Doug Bowey and two newcomers, Pip Samson and Alan Hope.

Steve Liddle and Neil Campbell moved the A team ahead but that proved to be their final point as Johnny Mason, David Stephenson, Darren Tinkler and Cliffy Owens took the remaining games to record a four points victory.

Spennymoor, the reigning champions, posted a very early warning that they intend to repeat their championship victory of last year, when they only dropped two points to the visiting Ferryhill. The visitors took the first and last points from the first half with wins from Phil Cox and Simon Corbridge. The Moors had two points from David Bromley, David Elliott, Gavin Witton, Steve Hunter and Paul Biddle with Richard Turner and Ronnie McAloon adding one each.

CIU Team

The semi-finals and final will be played at Low Spennymoor Club on Wednesday, February 18 at 7.30pm. The four teams remaining in the competition are Osbourne, Fencehouses Comrades, Ferryhill and Shotton Comrades.