Newfit Services Willington: Byers Green Royal Oak, who were being tipped as the possible champions in their first season in the league, crashed to their first defeat of the season when they visiting league leaders from Sunnybrow Brown Trout A won by three points.

This allowed the trout to move nine points clear of Willington Cottles with Willington Lion and Unicorn a further point adrift.

The Royal Oak had singles wins from Trevor Kerr, Mark Kidman and Ray Scott with Scott and Kidman adding a doubles. The Trout's singles points came from Jason Martin, Trevor Allchurch and Michael Pickles with Alan Bolam with Nigel Baker and the brothers, Paul and Trevor Allchurch taking doubles to add to the team game.

Willington Brewer's Droop visited Sunnybrow Brown Trout B with both teams looking for their first victory of the season. The Trout opened out well in the singles with wins from Ken Longhorne, Ian Stoker, Ray Corner and Andy Fitzpatrick with Steve Smith and Billy Wragg replying. The Brewer's then took over to take the remaining points from the doubles with wins from Diane Fleming with Billy Wragg, David Gallagher with Timothy Fleming and Steve Smith with Ray Smith and finally won the team game.

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

Tow Law Coors

Tow Law Dan's Castle managed to make their second victory of the season when they beat the visiting Hamsteels Inn and, in the process, had their first maximum of the season from Wayne Tennant. The Castle lost both the trebles but then had singles wins from Rachel Hepple, Wayne Tennant, Lee Stockdale, Anthony Hird and Angela Suddes with only Brian Agar replying. Chris Bowes joined Wayne Tennant to clinch victory by taking one of the three doubles points.

The two leading teams both just dropped one point in their matches. Leaders, Newhouse Club had Steve Turner beaten by the visiting Dorothy Mowbray of Tow Law Rose and Crown, whilst Tow Law New Market A's, John Parkin was beaten by Stephen Umpelby of the New Market B team.

This leaves Newhouse Club eleven points ahead of the New Market A, who have two matches in hand. Billy Row Club are in third place, five points behind the New Market A but with an extra match played.

Esh Stag's Head failed to get back into the top three when they were stretched to the limits before beating the visiting Cornsay Royal Oak in the decider. The oak raced into a four points lead after they took both trebles points and had singles wins from Ray Young and Brian Bayles. However the home side recovered and took the remaining singles through Colin Tomlinson, Mike Whiteman, Ken Brown and Dave Hindmoor to square the match. The first two doubles were shared but then Whiteman and Hindmoor took the Stag's to victory when they beat Ian Truby and Sonia Windsor in the decider.

Results: Newhouse Club 10 Tow Law Rose and Crown 1; Esh Stag's Head 6 Cornsay Royal Oak 5; Tow Law New Market A 10 Tow Law New Market B 1; Sunniside Comedian 6 Esh McKenna's 5; Tow Law Dan's Castle 6 Hamsteels Inn 5.

Crook Ladies League

Despite being third from the bottom of the table, Billy Row Royal George continued their steady improving form by holding the visiting league leaders, Crook Queen's Head A to three points. The George became only the third team this season to take four points from the unbeaten leaders, who hold an eleven points advantage at the top.

The gaps between the leading teams is widening as second placed, Crook Jelly's Bar B went fifteen points ahead of the Victoria Club, who whitewashed the Billy Row Green B to move thirteen points ahead of fourth placed, Tow Law Black Horse.

The leading individual scorers were Lesley Leighton 140 and 133 and Christine Dunn 140 for the Olde Horse Shoe, Beverley Hutchinson 140 and Yvonne Pybourne 130 for Jelly's A, Norma Parkin 140 and Pam Barron 125 for Jelly's B, Jean Vitty 132 and Barbara Smith 127 for the Cricket Club, Eileen Simpson 127 for the Travellers Rest and Dawn Harrison 121 for the Queen's A.

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

Wear Valley Ladies League

Byers Green Club held on tot heir six points lead at the top after they beat the visiting Tow law Dan's Castle by the odd point. Second placed, Crook Olde Horse Shoe produced a similar home win over Crook Surtees, but Crook Royal Sun jumped up just two points behind the Shoe after their big win at Willington Cricket Club.

The leading individual scorers were Wendy Eddlestone 140 and 126, Stephanie Pinkney 123 and Emma Fleming 121 and 101 for the Brewer's Droop, Yvonne Richardson 138 and Paula Stephenson 134 for the White Swan, Sophie Brockwell 132 for the Royal Sun, Kath Reynolds 132, Carol Coute 108 and Margaret Storey two 105's for the Coach and Horses, Joan Mills 121 and Betty Chapman 115 for the Golden Fleece, Pat Davis 121 for the Olde Horse Shoe Diane Miller 114 for Byers Green Club and Lynn Heathcoat 102 for the Surtees.

Results: Willington Cricket Club 1 Crook Royal Sun 8; Byers Green Club 5 Tow Law Dan's Castle 4; Crook Olde Horse Shoe 5 Crook Surtees 4; Willington Brewer's Droop 6 Crook Mill House 3; Willington Cottles 4 Crook Golden Fleece 5; Crook White Swan 5 Howden Sunnydene Lodge 4. No result: Bar 56 and Byers Green Royal Oak.

Weardale Ladies League

Leaders Wolsingham Mill Race lost when they faced Westgate Hare and Hounds.

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

Top scores: Mollie Balmer 132 (Blue Bell A); Jane Humble 140 (Hare and Hounds); Tracey Hetherington 140 (Wolsingham WMC); June Barron 138;122 (Blue Bell B); Freda Mills 121;127 (Bonny Moor Hen).

Crook League

Jeff Sneath (Belle Vue) and Alan March (Cricket Club) both scored 180's and also finished games on bull when the two sides met in the knockout cup.The only game to go to a decider was at Green Tree where the home side won the play off against Fleece B.

Results: Australian 10 Crown 2; Coach and Horses 4 Sunnydene Lodge 7; White Swan 1 Surtees 7; Cricket Club 4 Belle Vue 7; Joiners Arms 7 Surtees A 5; Old Horseshoe 4 Royal Sun Inn 7; Jelly's Bar 3 RAFA 9; Green Tree 7 Golden Fleece B 6.

Jonathan Ward Team

First round draw: Crowtrees v West Auckland; Southwick A v Belmont B; New Hesledon B v Relton Terrace; Stanley Empire v Murton Victoria A; Ryton v New Hesledon A; Ferryhill A v Stormont Main; Coxhoe v Murton Victoria B; Easington Lane v Ferryhill B. Results to be into the Branch Office by Saturday, November 1.