Coundon class shines through

Coundon visited Wheatley Hil B and only dropped one point when Jock Frost won for the home side. The Coundon winners were Steve Bennett, Stuart Neil, Frank Nicholson with a 34 break and Graham Golbourn.

Sacriston entertained Willington, who were relegated from the First Division and took the first frame with a win from Mark Appleby. Jeremy Martin took the second for Willington but then Kevin Laing and Stephen Bradley made certain of victory for Sacriston. Tom Parkin took the final frame for Willington.

The two newcomers to the league, Ferryhill B and Bearpark B both lost their first matches. Ferryhill B entertained Hunwick B and looked to be on their way to a whitewash defeat when Barry Fleming, Tom Ward, Trevor Lomax and John Bate took the first four frames. However Chris Buston stepped up to take the final point for the home side.

Bearpark B visited Tow Law A and looked to be in a strong position when they went 2-1 up with wins from Steve Gott and Peter Wilson with Tommy Williams replying. However Alan Spence squared the match and then Doug Watson beat the visiting Gary Horrocks in the decider.

Newly promoted to the First Division, Wingate travelled to Sherburn Village, where the home side went one up through Albert Bower. Wingate then moved into the lead with wins from John Bourne and Paul Harrison. Scott Mallaburn levelled the match and Sherburn went to victory when John Bower played a captain's part to beat Jimmy Mason in the decider.

Bearpark A were also new members of the First Division but got away to a bad start when they entertained Wheatley Hill A. The visitors moved into a winning lead when Dave Walker, Ronnie Peacock and Alan Hall put them three up. However the home side fought back to make the defeat respectable when they had wins from Glen Morton and Andy Donaldson.

Old Shildon fielded a completely new team when they took on the visiting league champions, Spennymoor A. It was tough baptism for the home side as Michael Pratt, Paul Atkinson with a 61 break, Eddie Rhodes and Paul Biddle took the first four frames. David Waites played a captain's part for Old Shildon by putting in a 47 break to save the whitewash.

Cockton Hill were back in action after a summer rest but they soon trailed at home to Fishburn A when Brian Quest and John Griffin took the first two frames. The Hill fought back to level with wins from Lee Taylor and Kevin Mordica and then Andrew Aisbitt beat the visiting John Carter in the decider.

Brandon were never headed in their home match against Witton Gilbert. Graham Jackson put the home side ahead with Paul Nord levelling. John Hall restored the home lead only to see Ian Renwick equalise. In the decider, Brandon's Kevin Sample beat Willis Joynes.

Newton Aycliffe made a great start to the new season when they went three up against the visiting Shotton Palms with wins from Mark Howe, Michael Hewitt and Richie Young. The visitors fought back to take the last two through Dave Swindle and Paul Hickman.

Spennymoor B edged through to an odd point home win over Langley Park with wins from Micky Anderson, Alan Clarke and Alan Rouell, whilst Paul Thompson and Kevin Keers replied for the Park.

Newhouse were never headed by the visiting Ferryhill A. Jimmy Hassen put the home side ahead with Dave Robson levelling. John Maddox restored the home lead but Glyn Toas equalised. In the decider Paul Wright took Newhouse to victory when he beat Neil Spender in the decider.

Crowtrees A were never in front at Meadowfield until they took the decider. Ian Hodgson put the home side ahead with Keith McLauchlan equalising. Malcolm Hughes moved Meadowfield ahead again but Sonny Hann levelled. In the decider Crowtrees Steve Armstrong beat Stephen Hughes.

Stanley Central went two up at Belmont with wins from Norman Rimmington and Mick Busby. However the home side then took over to take the last three frames through Chris Morley, Bill McGrath and Tom Robinson junior.

Durham City edged through to an odd point victory at Hunwick A with wins from Barry Stoddart, Brian Dunn and John Davies. The home side had wins from Andy Carr and Peter Mernor.

New Durham made a good start to what they think will be their promotion season when they only dropped one point at Leeholme A. Ray gill was the only home winner, whilst Neil Phillips, Brian Birks, Thomas Cairns and Tony Thompson took the visitors to victory.

Fishburn B made an odd point home win over Tow Law B with wins from Jamie Hodgson, Michael bell and George Whitleock, whilst the Lawyers replied through John Warriner and John Wilson.

Crowtrees B made a good start when Dave Lowery put in a 31 break to take the first frame against the visiting Leeholme B. They had further wins from Dave Taylor, John Hall and Martin Wolf with Adrian Forster taking the visitors lone point.

All teams must be prepared to pay their fees at the meeting in Meadowfield on Thursday, 30 October and also return all Summer League trophies. Tickets for the Presentation Evening will be available for collection.

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

Kingsway Krugerrand Competition

Ithe first match of the Second Round at the Kingsway Club in Bishop Auckland, Clyde Pearson of Darlington gave a classy, very competent performance to whitewash Alec Appleby, also from Darlington, and establish himself as both a crowd favourite and a good bet to take the Krugerand.

Pearson opened out steadily and after a bout of safety play got into the balls to knock in a 32 break with Appleby never able to recover and went down by 66-20. In the second frame Appleby made the better start but then Pearson took advantage of half a chance to put in a 34 break and followed it with a 22 break to take the frame at 79-28.

In the third frame, Pearson got off to a good start with a thirty points lead before he took advantage of a slack safety shot to put in a 61 break to take the frame at 91-0 and the match at 3-0. In the match on the other table, Thomas Cairns of New Durham put in a 24 break on his first visit to the table against Steve Armstrong of Crowtrees Club. Armstrong never managed to make up the deficit and lost the first frame by 60-32 In the second frame Armstrong made two decisive breaks of 24 and 29 to take the point at 62-18 when Cairns conceded with the last red on the table. After a tight start to the third frame, Armstrong potted a good long ball to make a 48 break and take the frame at 73-14.

On October 30, the two mouth-watering matches are Mike Thornton of Darlington against Ronnie Peacock of Wheatley Hill and John Bourne of Horden against Paul Hickman of Shotton. Spectators are free and very welcome to these matches in the Kingsway Club starting at 7.30 pm prompt.

CIU Individual Championship

Preliminary Round draw: K. Bradley (South Hylton) v D. Harris (Stanley Central); A. Greener (Sherburn Village) v W. Robson (Murton Victoria). There are byes for D. McQuire (South Hylton); R. Court (Cockfield); P. Atkinson (Spennymoor); A. Aisbitt (Old Shildon); S. Mallaburn (Sherburn Village); A. Twist (Sherburn Village); B. Shaw (Chilton & Windlestone); C. Harrison (Corporation Welfare); P. Maroney (Cockfield); A. Craig (Stanley Central); J. Bower (Sherburn Village); P. McGowan (Sherburn Village); M. Pratt (Chilton & Windlestone) and R. Roche (Langley Park).

Worthington CIU Summer Singles Championship

Scott Mallaburn of Sherburn Village met Gordon Bowes of New Durham in the semi-final played at Ferryhill. The first frame got away to a very slow start with both players concentrating on tight safety play. However when Bowes went for a snooker on the blue he went in-off with Mallaburn capitalizing with a 24 break. Bowes had to take the chance to get back into the frame but in doing so let Mallaburn back to the table to knock in a decisive 20 break to take the frame at 60-28. Once again Mallaburn made two decisive visits to the table in the second frame when he put in a 23 break and then completed the frame with a 25 break, taking the point at 65-24.

Early in the third frame Mallaburn made an early 16 with Bowes looking good for a big break but wobbled the black as the reds were broken. Nmallaburn took advantage of the situation to put in a winning 49 break to take the frame at 69-14 and the match at 3-0.

Scott Mallaburn will meet the winner of the other semi-final between Dave Walker of Wheatley Hill and Willis Joynes of Witton Gilbert at Fishburn on Wednesday, October 29.

Jack Jobson Memorial Singles Handicap

Brian Quest of Fishburn received two points start in each frame of the best of five match against Paul Nord of Witton Gilbert in the semi-final played at Durham City. The first frame as very tight although Quest was able to build up a slight lead going on to the colours. However, Nord pulled back into the lead with a series of clever, successful snookers and then potted brown, blue and pink to take the frame at 69-51.

The second frame saw neither player reach their true potential, although Quest did just enough to win 59-44 and level the match. In the third frame Quest took an early 25 points lead from some red-colour go safe play. Nord got back with a 24 break but Quest replied with 22 and did not allow Nord back into the frame, which ended with a win for Quest at 62-35. In the fourth frame Quest opened up an early lead with a 25 break and steadily increased it until he was 40 points ahead going into the colours. Nord set off on the snooker trail again, as he did in the first frame.

Brian Quest will now meet Alan Rouell of Spennymoor in the final at Tow Law on Monday, 3 November at 7.30 pm. Joan Jobson, Jack's widow will present the memorial trophy at the end of the five frames match.

Crook League

Crook Golden Fleece B maintained their unbeaten start after being promoted to the First Division when they won in the decider at Crook Belle Vue. The Fleece were thrilled by Trevor Smith, who put in a 76 break, a mark which will be difficult to beat, with Graham Young and Chris Baker adding singles points. The home side levelled with wins from John Warriner, Brian Wright and Dave Hakin. In the deciding doubles Jim Smith and Syd Booth took the Fleece to victory by beating Pip Samson and Brian Wright.

This victory for the Fleece took them up to share second place with Crook Royal Sun and Crook Olde Horse Shoe A two points behind the early leaders from Crook Travellers Rest B.

Crook Olde Horse Shoe B made their first win of the season when they only dropped two points against the visiting Crook Queen's Head A. The visitors points came from Phil hall and Neil Harker, whilst the Shoe had singles wins from Ian Armstrong, Chris Raine, Joanne Moore and Wayne Smith with Gary Hanson and Chris Raine adding the doubles.

This win took the Olde Horse Shoe B up to share second place in the Second Division.

Results: Crook Travellers Rest B 7 Crook Travellers Rest A 0; Crook Coach and Horses A 3 Crook Royal Sun 4; Crook Mill House 3 Willington Market 4; Crook Belle Vue 3 Crook Golden Fleece B 4; Crook Spitfire Club 1 Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 6; Crook White Swan B 4 Crook White Swan A 3; Crook Golden Fleece A 2 Crook Jelly's Bar A 5; Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 5 Crook Queen's Head A 2; Crook Jelly's Bar B 2 Willington Brewer's Droop 5; Crook Queen's Head B 2 Crook Coach and Horses B 5. No result: Stanley Earl Derby v Howden Australian.

Worthington CIU Pairs Semi final

Bob Reay and Ronnie Peacock of Wheatley Hill met Gordon Bowes and Thomas Cairns of New Durham at Crowtrees in an aggregate scores match from three frames. Reay and Peacock managed to close a gap at the start of the third frame but Cairns put in a 19 break to leave them playing catch-up again. With just four colours remaining on the table, New Durham led by 21 points and when Cairns pulled off a good pot on the brown it looked to be all over except that the cue ball kept running and trickled into the middle pocket. Reay took on a difficult shot to the corner with the ball rattling in the jaws, leaving Bowes a tap in to take the match at 161-147.

Worthington Durham County CIU

Summer League

Top Ten players in the First Division were: 1st Paul Biddle (Spennymoor A) played 18, won 18, lost 0, points scored 1174; 2 Paul Atkinson (Spenymmor A) 18, 17, 1, 1153; 3 Dave Walker (Wheatley Hill A) 17, 14. 3, 909; 4 John Griffin (Fishburn A) 18, 14, 4, 1000; 5 Ronnie Peacock (Wheatley Hill A) 17, 13, 4, 983; 6 John Armstrong (Shotton Palms) 17, 12, 5, 894; 7 Jeremy Martin (Willington) 18, 12, 6, 982; 8 Paul Wright (Newhouse) 16, 11, 5, 826; 9 John Rooney senior (Witton Gilbertt) 17, 11, 6, 835; 10 Paul Hickman (Shotton Palms) 18, 11, 7, 924.

Second Division's Top Ten were: 1st Mickey Anderson (Spennymoor B) 18, 15, 3, 1034; 2 Harold Lomax (Crook Belle Vue) 16, 13, 3, 858; 3 John Jackson (Meadowfield) 17, 13, 4, 841; 4 Keith McLauchlan (Crowtrees) 18, 13, 5, 927; 5 Steve Armstrong (Crowtrees) 15, 12, 3, 964; 6 Tony Ellison (Wheatley Hill B) 16, 12, 4, 806; 7 Sean Johnston (Crowtrees) 17, 12, 5, 855; 8 Walter Cornell (Stanley Central) 17, 12, 5, 803; 9 Jock Frost (Wheatley Hill B) 12, 11, 1, 658; 10 John Bourne (Wingate) 16, 11, 5, 906.

Third Division Top ten were: 1st Stephen Bennett (Coundon) 18, 16, 2, 998; 2 Lawrence Jones (Leeholme A) 17, 15, 2, 952; 3 Glen Morton (Bearpark) 18, 15, 3, 994; 4 Frank Nicholson (Coundon) 15, 14, 1, 848; 5 Thomas Cairns (New Durham) 18, 14, 4, 981; 6 Andy Donaldson (Bearpark) 17, 13, 4, 915; 7 Stuart Neil (Coundon) 16, 12, 4, 973; 8 Shaun Easter (Bearpark) 16, 12, 4, 836; 9 Heppell Hodgson (Tow Law A) 17, 12, 5, 786; 10 Alan Smith (Bearpark) 18, 12, 6, 904.