Bishop Auckland and District League: The two top teams both struggled but Crook Olde Horse Shoe managed to go one point clear of Spennymoor Ash Tree with an odd point win at Bishop Auckland Football Club, whilst the Ash Tree were losing by the odd point at home to Bishop Auckland Derby.

At Bishop Auckland Football Club the singles were shared when Lee Diaz and Craig Lumley took two singles points each and Lee Taylor one with the Shoe levelling with two wins each for Johnny Mason and Cliffy Owen to add to one from Dave Leighton. Richard Walker joined Johnny Mason to take the doubles for the Shoe but Lee Taylor took the first captain's game to level the match. Stephen Liddle took his revenge and took the team to victory when he beat Taylor in the second captain's game.

Spennymoor Ash Tree fell behind in the singles when they only managed to take three points with Steve Hunter scoring two and Paul Biddle one. The visiting Bishop Auckland Derby shot to certain victory with two points each for Chris Peacock, Stuart Milne and Andrew Delve with Stephen Lowther adding one. The Ash tree recovered to keep the defeat to a minimum when Stephen Jones and Steve Hunter won the doubles and Paul Biddle beat Chris Peacock in both captain's games.

Results: Crook Coach and Horses A 8 Willington Brewer's Droop 5; Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms 4 Tow Law Station 9; Bishop Auckland Snooker B 8 Crook Coach and Horses B 5; Witton Park Rose and Crown 6 Henknowle Manor A 7; Henknowle Manor B 8 Bishop Auckland Snooker A 5; Bishop Auckland Football Club 6 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 7; Spennymoor Ash Tree 6 Bishop Auckland Derby 7; Bishop Auckland RAFA 5 Spennymoor Weardale 8. Crook White Swan v Toft Hill Three Tuns postponed.

Tow Law Scottish Courage League

League leaders, Tow Law Dan's Castle A were taken to the decider before the edged to victory at Tow Law Rose and Crown. The visitors began in grand style with wins from Anthony Hird, Lee Stockdale and Colin Armstrong but the home side recovered to level with wins from Gavin Hammell, John Mudd and Anthony Ward. After the first two doubles were shared the Castle went to victory when Colin Armstrong and Alan Henderson beat Gavin Hammell and Richard Charlton.

This kept the Castle A six points clear at the top of the table, but Sunniside Comedian slipped from second place after they lost at Tow Law New Market B, allowing Tow Law Football Club to move one point ahead of them.

The New Market B shared the singles with the Comedian when they had wins from Tom Carter, Michael Bell and David Spencer with Ray Johnson, John Conley and John Hildreth levelling. The first two doubles were shared but the New Market B went to victory when Michael Bell and Ray Weir beat Morgan Errington and John Conley.

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

Willington and District League

There was am amazing recovery by Byers Green Royal Oak when they visited Willington Burn Inn for they lost the first five points and their unbeaten record, but managed to salvage the remainder to maintain their pride. The Burn looked to be on line for a whitewash success as they had wins from Martin Rooney, Robert Thompson, Stephen Kyle, John McIntosh and Gordon Foster. However Gary Slater managed to take the final singles for the Oak and this lifted his team for they went on to win all three doubles points to only lose by the odd point.

Sunnybrow Brown Trout retained their unbeaten record in style on their visit to Willington Cottles A, who only managed to take one point when Neville Ridley won his singles.

The singles winners for the Trout were: Dave Blacuckland Green Tree 1 Bishop Auckland Manor 12; Spennymoor Hillingdon 3 Bishop Auckland King's Head 10; Spennymoor Voltigeur A 8 Spennymoor Voltigeur B 5.

Durham Ranking Tournament

Ithe new Ranking List published for Sunday's Tournament at Durham Snooker Club, Michael Rhodes retains top place, but Robert Hogarth jumps up six places from thirteenth, whilst Colin Hutchinson jumps ten places up to tenth.

All players are looking for good results on Sunday, not only to collect the prize money, but to lift them in the rankings to be seeded more generously in the end of year "Big Money" Tournament in November. There is still a chance for new players to make the final 32, who will enter the end of year tournament and they can qualify by entering and producing good results on Sunday at Durham Snooker Club at noon.

Top 20 on the Ranking Order: 1st Michael Rhodes 86 merit points, 35 ranking points; 2nd Steve Thompson 70, 30; 3rd Chris Bowran 63,27; 4th Kevin Rainbow 47, 27; 5th Andy Seal 41, 27; 6th Alan Hogarth 35, 26; 7th Robert Hogarth 42,23; 8th Dave Lowery 42, 23; 9th Trevor Walton 28, 21; 10th Colin Hutchinson 43, 20; 11th Andrew Mole 18, 20; 12th Steven Webb 40, 19; 13th Graham Comerford 35,19; 14th Dave Hodgson 33,18; 15th David Castledene 24,17; 16th Gary Carr 20, 17; 17th Lyndsay Hood 8, 16; 18th Dave Harrop 35, 15; 19th John Mavin 9,15; 20th Michael Winnick 19, 14.

Brandon and Byshottles League

The presentation night will be on Thursday, October 2 at the Brancepeth Castle Inn, 8pm start.

Thursday, October 9 sees the annual meeting, to be held at the Prince Bishop, Brandon, 7.30pm. Any teams within the Brandon & Byshottles parish interested in joining the league may attend the meeting. A £30 bond is required at the meeting from any new teams, refundable on completion of all fixtures.

Singles final: P Parkinson (D&G B) 5, J Morland (Bish A) 2.

Durham and District League

Bowburn Hare and Greyhound made a great recovery to beat the visiting Gilesgate Three Horse Shoes by three points after they made a storming finish to change the 5-4 deficit into an 8-5 victory when they took the last four points.

The Hare and Greyhound had two points each from B. Taylor, G. Maughan and R. Miller with D. Hann, D. Taylor and B. Hann adding one each. There was one point for D. Lumley, J. Mavin, F. Powell, N. Bailey and A. Robson.

The early league leaders are Consett Stateside with a two points advantage over Framwellgate Moor Marquis of Granby, whilst Durham Snooker Club are a further point adrift in third place.

Results: Sacriston Daisy Hill A 3 Sacriston Daisy Hill B 10; Ushaw Moor Catholic Club 3 Durham Snooker Club 10; Framwellgate Moor Marquis of Granby 12 Bowburn Oak Tree 1; Consett Stateside 12 Horden Big Club 1; Coxhoe WM Club 9 Witton Gilbert White Tun 4; Bowburn Hare and Greyhound 8 Gilesgate Three Horse Shoes 5; Ushaw Moor Winnings 3 Ushaw Moor Flass Inn 10. Bowburn Cooperage v Spennymoor Voltigeur no result.

Crook League

Quarter final results of the League Singles Championship: Gavin Witton 3 Johnny Mason 0; Neil Campbell 3 Ronnie Hope 0; Stephen Liddle 3 Micky Toward 0; Paul Briddick 3 Les Scott 0.

Semi-final draw: Gavin Witton v Stephen Liddle and Paul Briddick v Neil Campbell. The finals night will be held at Crook Spitfire Club on Wednesday, October 1 at 7pm.