Auckland Area League: League newcomers Bishop Auckland Beehive got off to a flying start this week with Kevin Hopton, Steven Gwin and Dean Calcutt taking the first three singles against the visiting Bishop Auckland Grand B.

The visitors replied in fine style when Derek Cooper, Phil Young, David Wilson and Jason Colley took the next four games. Kevin Hopton and Steven Gwin both claimed their second points to give the home side a 5-4 lead but Phil Young, also with his second win levelled the scores. The doubles were the home side's, Rachel Rowell with Kevin Hopton taking the first and Steven Gwin with Maurice Rowell the second. David Wilson of the Grand B won the captain's game to leave the score at 7-6 to the Beehive.

Bishop Auckland King's Head visited Spennymoor Voltigeur A and started off well with Malcom Parry and David Jacomb taking the first two before Darren Briggs and David Graham levelled the scores. Steve Taylor put the visitors in front again but the reigning champions took over to win the next five games through Kelvin Anderson, Ian Mains, Dean Mains, Andy Mole and Darren Briggs. Steve Taylor with Malcolm Parry won the first doubles for the King's and Tony Biddle with Ian Mains the second for the home side.

Results: Bishop Auckland Beehive 7 Bishop Auckland Grand B 6; Bishop Auckland Derby 5 Spennymoor Voltigeur B 8; Bishop Auckland Green Tree 2 Spennymoor Hillingdon 11; Bishop Auckland Grand A 3 Bishop Auckland Manor 10; Spennymoor Voltigeur A 8 Bishop Auckland King's Head 5.

CIU Team Pool

First round draw: Vale of Derwent v Osbourne B; Crowtrees A v Shotton Comrades A; Grange Villa C v Consett Victoria; Grange Villa B v Shotton Comrades B; Fencehouses Comrades A v West Auckland; Grange Villa A v Fencehouses Comrades B; Ferryhill v Osbourne A; Easington Colliery v Crowtrees B. Results to be into the Branch Office by October 25.

Durham and District League

Bowburn Cooperage won their first game of the season when they beat the visiting Coxhoe Working Men's Club by the odd point. Steve Neal won the first game for the visitor's but Andrew Dunn levelled only to see George Bernard, Paul Mullen and Alistair Dixon win the next three for Coxhoe. The Cooperage then hit a purple patch by winning the next six games through Stephen Teasdale, Richie Brown, John Williamson, Simon Jackson, Brian Latue and Andrew Dunn. Alistair Dixon and Paul Armstrong made the score respectable when they took the last two for Coxhoe.

Framwellgate Moor Marquis of Granby moved to the top of the table with a one point advantage over Consett Stateside. Durham Snooker Club are a further two points adrift, whilst Sacriston Daisy Hill B, who are the fourth unbeaten side, are three points behind the Snooker Club.

Results: Sacriston Daisy Hill 'A' 7 Ushaw Moor Catholic Club 6; Ushaw Moor Winnings 3 Framwellgate Moor Marquis of Granby 10; Spennymoor Voltigeur 3 Sacriston Daisy Hill 'B' 10; Horden Big Club 6 Ushaw Moor Flass Inn 7; Gilesgate Three Horse Shoes 3 Durham Snooker Club 10; Witton Gilbert White Tun 8 Bowburn Hare and Greyhound 5; Bowburn Oak Tree 4 Consett Stateside 9; Bowburn Cooperage 7 Coxhoe W.M.C. 6.

Durham County Super League

Ithe top of the table clash Horden put themselves in a strong position to challenge for the Championship they now hold when they beat their hosts, Crook A, who lead the table. However, the eyes of the leaders look back worriedly to Spennymoor, who have a match in hand and still within reach. Crook A only managed to take four points when they had two from David Haygarth and one each from Jim Ainsley and Stephen Burke. Horden had two points each from Darren Jones, Paul Hickman and Steve Wylie with James Evans, Shaun Williams, Ged Evans and John Bourne adding one each.

Durham B moved into third place when they only dropped four points to the visiting Tow Law, who had two points from John Beveridge and one each from David Craggs and Shaun Umpelby. The Durham points came from Michael Rhodes, Andy Seal, Trevor Walton and Steve Thompson with two each, whilst Steve Armstrong and Ian Dinsdale added one each.

Results: Durham A 9 Willington 5; Durham B 10 Tow Law 4; Crook A 4 Horden 10.

Crook Individual League

Ia top of the table clash, Michael Burke edged through to beat David Haygarth by the odd point. However Haygarth completed his fixtures and went to the top of the table with an odd point success over Stephen Heyes. Doug Bowey made his second victory of the competition when he came through to beat Aaron Cowan. Stephen Heyes completed the evening's matches when he beat the early competition leader, Lee Scott by the odd point.

David Haygarth now leads the table by two points from Michael Burke, who has two matches in hand. David Craggs is equal on points to Burke but has one game less played, whilst Johnny Mason is two points adrift of Burke with the same number of games played.

Results: Stephen Heyes 2 Lee Scott 1; David Haygarth 1 Michael Burke 2; Doug Bowey 2 Aaron Cowan 1; David Haygarth 2 Stephen Heyes 1.

Durham Ranking Tournament

Durham Snooker Club will be the venue for the final qualifying Ranking Tournament on Sunday, 19 October when players will be aiming to reach the top 32 and so qualify for the 'Big Money' end of year tournament. Players entering must be registered by noon. In the latest Ranking List Michael Rhodes still leads the list, whilst Andy Seal has now moved from fifth to third, Dave Hodgson from fourteenth to tenth, Gary Carr from 16th to 12th, whilst Graeme Thompson made the massive leap from 31st to 22nd.

The Top Twenty players going into the final qualifying tournament from the 76 who have taken part are

1st Michael Rhodes merit points 102, ranking points 42; 2 Steve Thompson 79, 35; 3 Andy Seal 41, 30; 4 Chris Bowran 63, 27; 5 Kevin Rainbow 47, 27; 6 Alan Hogarth 35, 26; 7 Dave Lowery 28, 26; 8 Trevor Walton 33, 25; 9 Robert Hogarth 42, 23; 10 Dave Hodgson 33, 21; 11 Colin Hutchinson 43, 20; 12 Gary Carr 21, 20; 13 Andrew Mole 18, 20; 14 Steven Webb 40, 19; 15 Graham Comerford 35, 19; 16 Lyndsay Hood 8, 19; 17 John Mavin 9, 18; 18 David Castledene 24, 17; 19 Lee Holdsworth 19, 17; 20 Rob Day 4, 16.

Bishop Auckland and District League

The final of the League Knockout Cup proved to be a very one-sided affair as Crook Olde Horse Shoe only dropped one point against Willington Brewer's Droop, who did very well to reach that stage in their first season in the league.

The Shoe won 7-1 with the results: (Olde Horse Shoe names first) Johnny Mason 2 Paul Atkinson 0; Cliffy Owen 2 Paul Briddick 0; Gavin Witton 1 Tony Atkinson 1; Dave Walker 2 Stephen Britton 0.

In the re-arranged matches, Spennymoor Ash Tree regained the top spot when they only dropped one point on their visit to Crook Coach and Horses B, whilst a couple of wins for Bishop Auckland Derby moved them into a safe mid-table position. Bishop Auckland Football Club proved difficult opponents to beat as the third placed Crook Coach and Horses A struggled before edging through by the odd point.

Results: Bishop Auckland Derby 9 Witton Park Rose and Crown 4; Bishop Auckland Football Club 6 Crook Coach and Horses A 7; Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms 6 Bishop Auckland Derby 7; Crook Coach and Horses B 1 Spennymoor Ash Tree 12.

P W L Pts

Spennymoor Ashtree 28 21 7 252

Crook Olde Horse Shoe 27 25 2 247

Crook Coach & Horses A 27 23 4 225

Henknowle Manor A 26 20 6 212

Spennymoor Weardale 28 19 9 209

Tow Law Station 27 19 8 208

Bp. A. Snooker Club B 26 16 10 195

Bishop Auckland Derby 27 17 10 184

Bishop Auckland FC 26 13 13 171

Will. Brewer's Droop 27 12 15 156

Crook White Swan 27 10 17 154

Bp. A. Cumberland Arms 27 7 20 142

Crook Coach & Horses B 27 7 20 132

Witton Pk Rose & Crown 27 7 20 128

Toft Hill Three Tuns 26 4 22 123

Bp. A. Snooker Club A 27 4 23 122

Bp. A. RAFA Club 26 4 22 104

* Table takes into account the resignation of Henknowle Manor B

Tow Law Scottish Courage League

Tow Law Dan's Castle A stretched their lead at the top of the table to four points after they only dropped two points to the visiting Hamilton Row Black Horse, whilst the second and third teams were fighting out an odd point result. The visiting Black Horse took their two points in the singles with wins from Barry Sims and John Robinson, whilst the Castle A had singles points from Anthony Hird, Lee Stockdale, Ian Johnson and Gary Watson to add to their three doubles points.

Sunniside Comedian edged through to an odd point win to stay in second place, five points ahead of the visiting Tow Law Football Club. The Comedian had singles wins from Ray Johnson, Dave Walton, Keith Race and John Hildreth whilst Terry Ginty and Keith Muse replied for the footballers, who managed to take two of the three doubles.

Results: Tow Law Station 4 Tow Law Rose and Crown 5; Tow Law New Market B 5 Tow Law Dan's Castle B 4; Newhouse Club 6 Tow Law New Market A 3; Sunniside Comedian 5 Tow Law Football Club 4; Tow Law Dan's Castle A 7 Hamilton Row Black Horse 2.

Willington and

District League

Ithe top match of the week, Willington Cottles B managed to hold on to their second place in the table after they beat their third placed hosts at Willington Burn Inn. The singles were shared with Martin Rooney, Robert Thompson and Stephen Kyle winning for the Burn whilst Paul Trow, Brett Fleming and Jimmy Gallagher levelled. Cottles then took the first two of the three doubles to win by the odd point and stay seven points behind the league leaders, Sunnybrow Brown Trout. Willington Cottles B hold a four points lead over Byers Green Royal Oak and Willington Burn Inn, who share the third place.

Results: Sunnybrow Brown Trout 6 Hunwick Quarry 3; Willington Cottles A 5 Willington Brewer's Droop 4; Willington Lion and Unicorn 4 Byers Green Royal Oak 5; Willington New Inn 6 Prospect Club 3; Willington Burn Inn 4 Willington Cottles B 5.