Newfit Services Willington: League leaders, Willington Cottles crashed to their second defeat of the season after ten consecutive victories, when they only collected two points from their home match against Willington Lion and Unicorn.

The only singles winner for Cottles was Kenny Louth, who joined John Scott to take the home side's only other point when they won the doubles. The Lion and Unicorn had singles wins from Michael Pickering, Arthur Goldsborough, Kevin Hill, Alan Lee and Kevin Bake whilst Dave Hawkins with Stephen Goldsborough and Kevin Hill with Arthur Goldsborough added doubles points before they clinched a great victory by taking the team game.

Cottles retain the top spot but their lead has been cut back to just three points with Sunnybrow Brown Trout A in second place, three ahead of Willington Lion and Unicorn. However Byers Green Royal Oak are in fourth place and cannot be written off for they are only four points behind the Unicorn but have a match in hand.

Results: Hunwick Quarry 8 Willington Black Horse Tavern 3; Willington Black Horse Inn 2 Byers Green Royal Oak 9; Willington Brewer's Droop 1 Sunnybrow Brown Trout A 10; Willington New Inn 7 Sunnybrow Brown Trout B 4; Willington Burn 5 Hunwick Joiners Arms 6; Prospect Club 7 Willington Club 4; Willington Cott. 2 Willington Lion & Unicorn 9.

Tow Law Coors

Third placed Billy Row Club used their successes in the trebles and the doubles to go through to a five points home victory over Tow Law New Market B. The Club won both trebles and then had singles wins from Billy Jobson, John McCorquodale and Carl Wilcockson. However the visitors took singles through Michael Bell, Malcolm Boughey and Stephen Umpelby but completed the match by losing all three doubles.

Cornsay Royal Oak edged through to an odd point win at Tow Law Rose and Crown. The visitors started with wins in both trebles but then shared the singles when they had wins from Stan Witherspoon, John Close and Chris Close, whilst Christine Rand, Alan Spence and Vena Gwynnette replied. The Oak clinched their victory by taking the first doubles.

Results: Esh Stag's Head 8 Hamsteels Inn 3; Tow Law New Market A 11 Sunniside Comedian 0; Billy Row Club 8 Tow Law New Market B 3; Tow Law Rose and Crown 5 Cornsay Royal Oak 6. No result: Newhouse Club v Esh McKennas.

Crook Ladies League

Crook Queen's Head A leapt back to the top of the table when they only dropped one point from two matches, one at home to Tow Law Station, who managed to take the lone point and the other at Tow Law North Point, who failed to score. This pushed the Queen's into an 11 points lead with an unbeaten record over Crook Jelly's Bar B.

Jelly's B dropped three points on their visit to Billy Row Royal George but seem assured of the runners-up spot as they lead the third placed Victoria Club by 28 points.

The leading individual scorers were Lesley Leighton 140 for the Olde Horse Shoe, Helen Snowdon 132 for the Black Horse, Jackie Clark 129 for Jelly's B, Jackie Walsh 127 for the Royal George, Linda Blackett 126 for Belle Vue Club, Margaret Hesp 125 for the Queen's Head A, Freda Morrison 125 for the New Market A and Yvonne Pybourne 121 for Jelly's B.

Results: Crook Travellers Rest 8 Crook Belle Vue 3; Tow Law Black Horse 7 Tow Law New Market B 4; Crook Jelly's Bar A 7 Tow Law North Point 4; Billy Row Royal George 3 Crook Jelly's Bar B 8; Crook Queen's Head A 10 Tow Law Station 1; Tow Law New Market A 6 Crook Cricket Club 5; Crook Olde Horse Shoe 9 Billy Row Green B 2; Tow Law Station 5 Tow Law New Market A 6; Tow Law North Point 0 Crook Queen's Head A 11; Victoria Club 8 Crook Belle Vue 3. No result: Billy Row Green A v Victoria Club.

Wear Valley

Ladies League

Crook Golden Fleece reached the halfway stage of the league with a 12 points lead at the top after they beat the visiting Crook White Swan for the loss of only two points. Crook Royal Sun took over the second place after they whitewashed their hosts at Byers Green Royal Oak, a victory which gave them a one point advantage over Willington Brewer's Droop and Crook Olde Horse Shoe, who share the third place.

Results: Crook Mill House 4 Willington Cricket Club 5; Crook Bar 56 1 Howden Sunnydene Lodge 8; Byers Green Royal Oak 0 Crook Royal Sun 9; Crook Golden Fleece 7 Crook White Swan 2. The only outstanding match from the first half of the season is Tow Law Dan's Castle v Crook Surtees.

Crook League

Two second division sides beat first division opponents to reach the semi finals of the knockout cup. Billy Row beat RAFA and Royal George won a decider against Royal Sun Inn.

Market won a play off at Fleece in the only all first division game.

Results: Golden Fleece A 6 Market 7; RAFA 5 The Green 7; Belle Vue WMC 8 Sunnydene Lodge 4; Royal Sun Inn 6 Royal George 7.

Weardale Ladies

Results: St Johns Chapel Blue Bell B 6 Rookhope A 2; Rookhope WMC 5 St Johns Chapel Blue Bell A 3; St Johns Chapel Golden Lion A 4 Stanhope Bonny Moor Hen 4; Stanhope Queens Head 2 Stanhope Grey Bull 6; Wolsingham Mill Race 6 Blanchland Sports Club 2; Wolsingham Black Bull 3 Westgate Hare and Hounds 5; Wolsingham WMC 6 St Johns Chapel Golden Lion B 2; Wolsingham Black Lion A 6 Wolsingham Black Lion B 2; Stanhope Pack Ho. 4 Eastgate Cross Keys 4.

Top scores: Vi Mann 140; Jane Humble 134 (Hare and Hounds); Norma Parkin 140;100 (Mill Race); Joyce Harrison 140 (Blue Bell A); Kath Turnbull 138 (Golden Lion A); June Barron 140 (Blue Bell B).