Crown, Joiners Arms, Earl Derby and Surtees are the newcomers to the league that comprises two divisions of 12 clubs. Eric Johnson and Kevin Potts had a 21 dart 701 game for RAFA against Belle Vue WMC.

Results: Division One: Golden Fleece A 10 (3) Mill House 1 (2); Surtees A 9 (3) Travellers Rest 2 (2); Market 8 (3) White Swan 3 (2); Australian 5 (1) RAFA 6 (4); Belle Vue WMC 7 (2) Royal Sun Inn 4 (3); Cricket Club 6 (1) Old Horseshoe 5 (4).

Division Two: Sunnydene Lodge 6 (3) Green Tree 5 (2); Queens Head 3 (0) Royal George 8 (5); Crown 1 (3) The Green 10 (2); Coach and Horses 10 (4) Earl Derby 1 (1); Jelly's Bar 6 (3) Surtees B 5 (2); Joiners Arms 10 (1) Golden Fleece B 1 (4).

180s: Jeff Sneath (Belle Vue).

Tow Law Coors

League leaders, Newhouse Club had to pull off a great recovery before they managed to beat the visiting Sunniside Comedian by the odd point. The trebles were shared but then the Comic went ahead with singles points from Bill Railton, Ray Johnson, Peter Moore and Colin Edwards, whilst only Steve Turner and Keith Liddle won for the home side. The Club then needed to take all three doubles to snatch victory and they just managed it.

The leading individual scorers were Steve Turner with 180 for Newhouse and Les Hopps 140 for Billy Row Club.

Results: Cornsay Royal Oak 4 Tow Law New Market B 7; Esh Stag's Head 10 Esh McKennas 1; Billy Row Club 10 Hamsteels Inn 1; Tow Law New Market A 9 Tow Law Dan's Castle 2; Newhouse Club 6 Sunniside Comedian 5.

The withdrawal of Tow Law Station has altered the league table, which now reads as follows after the points gained against the Station have been deleted.

P W L Pts

Newhouse Club 12 10 2 94

New Market A 11 10 1 92

Billy Row Club 12 9 3 91

New Market B 12 9 3 83

Esh Stag's Head 12 8 4 82

S'side Comedian 12 6 6 65

Hamsteels Inn 12 5 7 54

Royal Oak 12 4 8 52

Esh McKennas 12 2 10 45

Dan's Castle 12 1 11 33

Rose and Crown 11 1 10 24

National Individual Championship

Ferryhill Club can boast of having two of the top four singles darts players after Roy Brown won through his semi-final to join Phil Nixon, who had already qualified.

Brown entertained Jez Porter from Leicester in front of a very good crowd, who saw some great throwing. The first leg of the best of five went to Brown when he checked out in 11 darts.

The second leg was taken to a replay after the players drew because of the equal darts rule. However in the re-run, Brown got on top and went on to take the leg in fourteen darts. Brown completed a whitewash success when he took the third leg in 13 darts.

During the match, Brown hit three 180s, whilst Porter found the maximum twice.

Weardale Ladies League

Blue Bell B slumped to their second successive defeat when they entertained Black Lion A.

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

Top scores: Kelly Wall 126 finish (Golden Lion B); Claire McCreanor 140; Linda Heatherington 138 (Wolsingham WMC); Joan Kellett 135; June Barron 134 (Blue Bell B).

Richmond League

Results, September 12: Ship 3 Half Moon 5; Black Bull 2 Croft 6; King William 2 Comrades B 6; Comrades A 3 Cricket Club 5; Board Inn v bye; Crown v Bay Horse (result card not yet received). The Black Horse have dropped out of the League, leaving one team each week with a bye.