Willington Lion and Unicorn travelled to Willington New Inn as the league leaders but they suffered a surprising defeat and now have to share the top spot with Willington Cottles.

At the New Inn the singles were shared when the home side had wins from Pat Swain, Phil Blyth and Dessie Ayre with Michael Pickering, Alan Lee and Arthur Goldsborough equalising. The visitors took one doubles point through Kevin bake and Michael Pickering but the New Inn had doubles points from Barry Atkinson with Phil Blyth and John Perkins with Lenny Glasper. The home side completed a great victory when they also took the team game.

Willington Cottles and the Lion and Unicorn lead the table by two points from Sunnybrow Brown Trout A, who are seven points ahead of Willington Burn Inn. The Lion and Unicorn have played an extra match over all the other teams.

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

Wear Valley

Ladies League

The Team Pairs Knock Out Cup qualifying stages were held at two venues with two teams from each going forward to the semi-finals at the end of the season.

The First Round results from Crook Surtees were: Crook Olde Horse Shoe 2 Crook White Swan 0; Crook Coach and Horses 2 Byers Green Royal Oak 0; Crook Golden Fleece 2 Crook Surtees 0. The Second Round results were Byers Green Club 2 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 0; Crook Golden Fleece 2 Crook Coach and Horses 0.

The First Round results from Howden Sunnydene Lodge were: Crook Bar 56 2 Willington Cricket Club 1; Willington Brewer's Droop 2 Tow Law Dan's Castle 0; Howden Sunnydene Lodge 2 Crook Mill House 0. The Second Round results were Crook Royal Sun 2 Crook Bar 56 1; Howden Sunnydene Lodge 2 Willington Brewer's Droop 0.

The end of season semi-finals will be Byers Green Club v Crook Golden Fleece and Crook Royal Sun v Howden Sunnydene Lodge.

The leading scorers in the qualifying stages were Michelle Simpson 140 for the Olde Horse Shoe, Stephanie Pinkney 132 for the Mill House, Tracey Thompson 125 for the Royal Sun, Nadine Maddison 125 and 121 and Rebecca Clark 123 for Sunnydene Lodge and Betty Chapman 121 for the Golden Fleece.

Weardale Ladies Darts

Mill Race gained a narrow victory and stay top though Hare and Hounds are just three points behind after a big win.

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

Top scores: Emma Craig 171 (Pack Horse).

Table: Mill Race 43; Hare and Hounds 40; Golden Lion B 38; Wolsingham WMC 37; Blue Bell B, Black Bull and Black Lion A 36; Queens Head 33; Rookhope WMC and Rookhope A 32; Pack Horse and Black Lion B 29; Sports Club 28; Blue Bell A and Bonny Moor Hen 27; Grey Bull 26; Cross Keys 25; Golden Lion A 22.