Magic McKennas head the rest after close victory

The visitors' only managed to take one singles point when Harold Parkin won, whilst McKennas had wins from Colin Leight, Eddie Starr, Mike Davis, Alan Hennigan and Colin Trepht. The Club managed to take two of the three doubles. This leaves them in third place as Esh Stag's Head moved one point behind McKennas and one ahead of the Club, who are one ahead of Tow Law New Market B.

No team has managed to take all nine points this season but Cornsay Royal Oak became the third team to reach eight when they only dropped the one point at Hamsteels Inn. The previous eight scorers have been Billy Row Club twice and Tow Law New Market B. The home side's only point came in the doubles when Brian Agar and Graeme Forster won. The singles winners for the Oak were Roy Young, Brian Bailes, Steve Witherspoon, Joe Close, Tom Cairns and Colin Close.

Results: Sunniside Comedian 3 Esh Stag's Head 6; Tow Law Station 4 Tow Law New Market A 5; Tow Law Dan's Castle 4 Newhouse Club 5; Tow Law New Market B 5 Tow Law Rose and Crown 4; Esh McKennas 6 Billy Row Club 3; Hamsteels Inn 1 Cornsay Royal Oak 8.

Crook League

Crook Belle Vue took the First Division Championship despite being beaten in the final game by the visiting Crook Travellers Rest A. The Club finished three points clear of the runners-up from Crook Royal Sun, who won their final match by the odd point against Crook Olde Horse Shoe B. Crook Travellers Rest B finished in third place, four points adrift of the Royal Sun.

Crook Travellers Rest A had singles wins from John Carroll, Anthony Bell and Gavin Hudspeth to match Belle Vue's wins from Ivor Phillipson, John Warriner and Dave Hakin. The Travellers then snatched victory when Alan Thompson and John Carrolll beat Ian Hodkinson and Dave Hakin in the deciding doubles.

The Second Division title went to Willington Brewer's Droop in their first season in the league, but they also were beaten in their final match where they went down to the visiting Howden Australian by the odd point. Hunwick Club finished one point behind the Brewer's, but had a 12 points advantage over Crook King's Head and Crook Spitfire Club, who shared third place.

Results: Crook Jelly's Bar A 3 Crook White Swan 4; Crook Travellers Rest B 6 Crook Mill House 1; Crook Queen's Head A 4 Crook Coach and Horses A3; Crook Belle Vue 3 Crook Travellers Rest A 4; Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 5 Willington Market 2; Crook Royal Sun 4 Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 3; Crook Golden Fleece A 4 Crook King's Head 3; Willington Brewer's Droop 3 Howden Australian 4; Croft Social Club 1 Crook Queen's Head B 6; Crook Coach and Horses B 1 Crook Spitfire Club 6; Crook Surtees 6 Crook Jelly's Bar B 1; Hunwick Club 4 Crook Golden Fleece B 3; Howden Australian 3 Willington Brewer's Droop 4.

Wilington League

Willington Lion and Unicorn moved to the top spot in the table after they only dropped two points to the visiting Sunnybrow Brown Trout B. The home side had singles wins from Alan Lee, Dave Hawkins, Phil Allison and Michael Pickering, to add to the doubles of Hawkins and Lee, whilst the Trout B replied with a singles point from Ken Longhorne and a doubles point, when Longhorne was joined by Alan Fitzpatrick.

The Lion and Unicorn hold a one point lead at the top over the Prospect Club and Byers Green Royal Oak, who are just one point ahead of Willington Cottles and Hunwick Joiners Arms.

Results: Byers Green Royal Oak 3 Prospect Club 4; Victoria Club 2 Willington Cottles 5; Hunwick Joiners Arms 6 Willington Brewer's Droop 1; Sunnybrow Brown Trout A 3 Willington Black Horse Inn 4; Willington Black Horse Tavern 2 Willington Club 5; Hunwick Quarry 4 Willington Commercial 3; Willington Lion and Unicorn 5 Sunnybrow Brown Trout B 2.

Tow Law and District League

Newhouse Club kept up their title chances as they reached the halfway stage only four points adrift of the leaders with a home win of the visiting Tow Law New Market B. The Club raced into a three points lead with wins from Peter McMann, Harry Dinsdale and Graeme Thompson. However their progress was halted when John Beveridge and Tom Hauxwell took the final two points.

Tow Law Dan's Castle B managed to stay ahead of Newhouse Club with an odd point win at Hamilton Row Black Horse to put them three points behind the leaders, Tow Law Football Club. The Horse had points from Alan Taylor and Barry Sims, whilst the Castle went to victory with wins from Paul Murray, Angela Suddes and Anthony Lee.

The top five leading points scorers are Graeme Thompson (Newhouse) 13; Colin Armstrong (Dan's Castle A), Harry Dinsdale (Newhouse), Terry Ginty and Charlie McGee (Football Club) 12 each.

Results: Tow Law Dan's Castle A 1 Sunniside Comedian 4; Tow Law New Market A 3 Tow Law Rose and Crown 2; Hamilton Row Black Horse 2 Tow Law Dan's Castle B 3; Tow Law Football Club 4 Tow Law Station 1; Newhouse Club 3 Tow Law New Market B 2.

The positions and points at the end of the first half of the season are 1st Tow Law Football Club 53 points; 2nd Tow Law Dan's Castle B 50; 3rd Newhouse Club 49; 4th Tow Law New Market A 46; 5th equal Tow Law New Market B and Hamilton Row Black Horse 45 each; 8th equal Tow Law Rose & Crown and Sunniside Comedian 42 each; 9th Tow Law Dan's Castle A 41; 10th Tow Law Station 37.

Willington and District League

The new season opened with a remarkable result at Willington Commercial, where the home side lost against Sunnybrow Brown Trout in a match where all the points were on against the down. The visitors went ahead when Ken Longhorne beat Richard Chwieseni with the Commercial levelling when Chris Clough beat Harry Sewell. The Trout regained the lead when Dave Blackburn beat Paul Carter but again the Commercial levelled when Phil Blyth beat Les Blackburn. In the decider the Trout went to victory when Tony Atkinson beat Dessie Ayre.

Results

Byers Green Royal Oak 4 Hunwick Quarry 1; Willington Lion and Unicorn 3 Willington Burn 2; Willington Commercial 2 Sunnybrow Brown Trout 3.