Worthington CIU Winter League: Crowtrees A made their promotion intentions clearly known when they moved to the top of the Second Division with a whitewash success over the visiting Langley Park.

The home winners were Peter Laverick, Steve Armstrong, Sean Johnston, Sonny Hann and Keith McLauchlan, who finished off a very good night for his team with a 41 break.

New Durham also showed that they are firm favourites for promotion from the Third Division when they only dropped one point to the visiting Hunwick B. This result moved New Durham four points clear at the top. Hunwick opened out with a win from Tom Ward, but then the home side took over with wins from Neil Phillips, who put in a 35 break, Thomas Cairns, Tony Thompson and Gordon Bowes.

Wheatley Hill A opened out a two points lead at the top of the First Division after they only dropped one frame to the visiting Newton Aycliffe, who had Richie Young as their only winner. The points for the Hill came from Ronnie Peacock, Alan Hall, Dave Walker and Dean Bryden.

Spennymoor A, the reigning Championship holders, found themselves two down at home to Brandon when Graeme Jackson and Brian Graham, with a 37 break, took the first two fames. However Paul Atkinson with a 31 break and Michael Pratt levelled the scores before Eddie Rhodes put in breaks of 32 and 37 to beat Brandon's Kevin Sample in the decider. This leaves the Moors two points adrift of Wheatley Hill A in the First Division.

Newly promoted Coundon are in second place in the Second Division after they recovered for a two points deficit at Newhouse. The home side opened out with wins from John Maddox and Jimmy Hassen, but Billy Goggins and Mike McKerry levelled. In the decider, Coundon's Steven Bennett beat Paul Wright to move one point behind Crowtrees A.

Hunwick A moved up to share second place in the Third Division with their B team after they only dropped one point to the league newcomers from Bearpark B. The home side had wins from Ian Richardson, Peter Mernor, Neville Blenkinsopp and Des Mason, whilst Ian Toes won for Bearpark.

Witton Gilbert moved up to share third place in the First Division with Fishburn A after they only dropped one point at Shotton Palms. John Rooney junior, Ian Renwick, John Rooney senior and Paul Nord won for Witton with Paul Hickman scoring for the home side.

Fishburn A found themselves two down at Old Shildon when the home side had wins from Martin Taylor and Paul Armstrong, who put in breaks of 27 and 24. John Carter and John Griffin with a 32 break levelled the match and then Fishburn went to victory when Peter Davison beat Malcolm Parsley in the decider.

Spennymoor B moved into third place in the Second Division when they only dropped one point on their visit to Ferryhill. Ian Fawcett took the only point for the home wide whilst Wayne Parry, Alan Rouell, Micky Anderson and Alan Clarke won for the Moors.

Cockton Hill continued their move up the First Division with a three points away win over Wingate. The Hill took the first four frames through George Chapman, Vickers Bell, Harold Lomax and Andrew Aisbitt with Geoff Howe, who is making a welcome return to league play, taking the final frame for Wingate.

Newly promoted, Bearpark A are still looking for their first victory in the First Division and fared badly at home to Sherburn Village when they failed to pick up a point. The Village had wins from John Bower, Albert Bower, Peter McGowan, Alan Greener and Scott Mallaburn.

Willington won the local derby against the visiting Meadowfield in the decider Craig Hughes put the visitors ahead but then Bobby Lee and Arthur Goldsborough moved Willington ahead. Malcolm Hughes levelled the match but Willington edged to victory when Jeremy Martin beat Ian Hodgson in the decider.

Billy McGrath with a 34 break and Tom Robinson took the first and last frames for Belmont at Sacriston. The home side went to victory with wins from Willy Nixon, Dale Evans and Ronnie Bradley, who was making a welcome return to league play after a long lay off.

Results: Tow Law B 2 Leeholme A 3; Ferryhill A 1 Spennymoor B 4; Leeholme B 1 Tow Law A 4; Spennymoor A 3 Brandon 2; Sacriston 3 Belmont 2; Old Shildon 2 Fishburn A 3; Wheatley Hill A 4 Newton Aycliffe 1; Fishburn B 3 Crowtrees B 2; Wingate 1 Cockton Hill 4; Shotton Palms 1 Witt. Gilbert 4; New Durham 4 Hunwick B 1; Durham City 2 Ferryhill B 3; Bearpark A 0 Sherburn Village 5; Newhouse 2 Coundon 3; Stanley central 3 Wheatley Hill B 2; Willington 3 Meadowfield 2; Hunwick A 4 Bearpark B 1; Crowtrees A 5 Langley Park 0.

Kingsway Krugerrand Competition

Local hero, Andrew Aisbitt of Cockton Hill showed why he is a firm favourite to win this competition when he beat Jimmy Dufton of Stanley without dropping a frame. After a very tentative opening in the first frame, where the early safety play was of a very high standard, Aisbitt got in to put in a decisive 32 break to take the point at 64-21.

Dufton had a nightmare in the second frame when he missed many balls he normally would have sunk. This gave Aisbitt opportunities, which he efficiently snapped up, making runs of 19, 21 and 25 and leaving the cue ball safe after each to take the frame at 88-21.

In the third frame Dufton tried to slow down the pace by keeping Aisbitt in some tight safety but a long pot followed by a 20 break opened out a gap which the Stanley player was never able to close and he lost the frame and the match at 68-32.

On the other table, Paul Harland of Darlington made a good star against Sean Johnston of Crowtrees by putting in a 29 break whilst his opponent struggled to find his form. Johnston never got into the frame and lost it at 67-12.

There were signs that Johnston was finding some of his form in the second when he began to make pots. However Harland knocked in a 30 break, but Johnston was still in with a chance of taking the frame to a re-spotted black but made a very poor effort on the black and left it for Harland to take the second frame at 61-47.

The third frame saw Johnston get on top and steadily build up a lead, which he maintained to the end when he won 57-40. In the fourth frame Harland edged into a lead with Johnston lying snookers at every opportunity. The frame hinged on two spectacular escapes from Harland, one on the final red and the other on the blue, which put him in a position to take the frame and the match with a 67-30 victory.

On Thursday, November 20 at the Kingsway Club (above the Lightfoot Institute), Kingsway, Bishop Auckland the second pair of quarter finals matches should be well worth watching, with spectators free and welcome. The matches are Ronnie peacock of Wheatley Hill against Paul Harland of Darlington and Paul Hickman of Shotton against Andrew Aisbitt of Cockton Hill. Play commences at 7.30pm.

Crook League

Crook Belle Vue slipped from second to third place in the First Division after they lost in the deciding doubles at Crook Royal Sun. The singles were shared with Cliffy Johnson, Ronnie Hope and Simon Bowey winning for the home side and John Warriner, Pip Samson and Ian Hodkinson replying. In the decider the Sun's Graham Johnson and Ronnie Hope beat Brian Wright and Pip Samson.

In the Second Division Crook White Swan A went down to their second defeat of the season when the visiting Howden Australian beat them in the deciding doubles. Malcolm Blakett, Dave Stewart and Lee Airey won singles for the Swan with Ian Williams, Ray Newton and Peter Johnson levelling for the Aussie. In the deciding doubles Williams and Newton took the Aussie to victory by beating Stewart and Airey.

Results: Cr. Mill House 1 Cr. Travellers Rest B 6; Cr. Royal Sun 4 Cr. Belle Vue 3; Cr. Travellers Rest A 6 Cr. Surtees 1; Cr. Olde Horse Shoe A 7 Cr. Golden Fleece B 0; Will. Market 5 Cr. Spitfire Club 2; Cr. White Swan A 3 Howden Australian 4; Cr. Gold. Fleece A 2 Cr. White Swan B 5; Cr. Queen's Head A 5 Cr. Jelly's Bar B 2; Cr. Jelly's Bar B 6 Crook Queen's Head B 1; Crook Coach and Horses B 6 Will. Brewer's Droop 1; Stanley Earl Derby 2 Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 5.