Worthington Durham County CIU: Summer League, Leeholme B, bottom of the Third Division, made only their second win of the season but in doing so seriously upset the promotion chances of their hosts at neighbouring Coundon.

Coundon, who were confidently expecting a good win went one down when Lee Todd beat Willy Shoulder. The home side recovered with wins from Steven Bennett and Frank Nicholson but were then shocked when Stuart Neil, who put in a 30 break, was beaten on the black by Christopher Davison. In the decider Mark Brown also took the final black to beat John Paul Wringe.

First Division leaders, Spennymoor A went down to their first home defeat of the season when Brandon beat them in the decider. The only previous defeat for the Moors was away to Shotton Palms in the second week of the season.

Spennymoor A made a good start when Paul Biddle put them ahead but John Hall equalised. Paul Atkinson restored the home lead but Graham Jackson again pulled Brandon level. In the decider, the Brandon captain, Brian Graham beat Michael Pratt.

This victory leaves Spennymoor ten points clear of Wheatley Hill A, with Newton Aycliffe a further six points adrift. The Brandon victory does not help their relegation battle as they are still in equal bottom place with Willington and Witton Gilbert, two points behind Sherburn Village, Fishburn A and Shotton Palms. So, with three matches left the relegation battle will probably have many twists to come.

Wheatley Hill A strengthened their case or the runners-up spot after they only dropped one point to the visiting Willington. Dennis Clish, Alan Hall, Ronnie Peacock and Dave Walker won for the Hill with Arthur Goldsborough taking Willington's lone point.

Newton Aycliffe were never headed when they entertained Witton Gilbert and went ahead with a win from Michael Hewitt. Ian Renwick equalised only to see Peter Brown restore the home lead. Paul Nord pulled Witton level again but the home side went to victory when Bill Barrigan beat John Rooney junior in the decider.

Shotton Palms went behind in the first frame against the visiting Newhouse when Ronnie Pearson won. However the palms eased their relegation worries by taking the next four points through John Armstrong, Barry Hall, Jimmy Evans junior and Paul Hickman.

Fishburn A made their first whitewash victory of the season when the visiting Sherburn Village failed to score. The home winners were John Carter, John griffin, Alan Buist, Peter Davison and Brian Quest.

Meadowfield held on to their top place in the Second Division thanks to a win in the decider at Ferryhill. Stephen Hughes put the visitors ahead but Ian Fawcett levelled. John Jackson then took the second point for Meadowfield but was very fortunate when Mark Wilson potted the deciding black but went in-off. Glyn Toas pulled Ferryhill level but Malcolm Hughes took Meadowfield to victory when he beat Adrian Jones in the decider.

Crowtrees moved up just a point behind Meadowfield when they only dropped one point on their visit to Langley Park. Peter Laverick, Sean Johnston, Sonny Hann and Keith McLauchlan took the first four for the visitors with Ray Coates saving the whitewash in the fifth frame.

Stanley Central slipped three points behind Crowtrees when they could only win in the decider against the visiting Spennymoor B, who still have their eyes on a possible promotion spot. Jim Dufton and Walter Cornell put the Central ahead but Alan Rouell and Phil Wilson levelled. In the decider, Stanley's Norman Rimmington beat Wayne Parry.

Durham City seem doomed to relegation but put up a good fight against the visiting Wingate, who were taken to the decider before winning. Barry Stoddart put the City ahead but Joe Hennessey and Dave Hammond took the next two for Wingate. Michael Pratt squared the match but Wingate's Dean Jones beat Eric Wright in the decider.

Crook Belle Vue slipped down into the second relegation place when they only took one point from the visiting Wheatley Hill B. Harold Lomax put Crook ahead but then the Hill took over with wins from Ken Johnson, Tony Ellison, Jock Frost and Peter Taylor.

In a re-arranged Second Division match Langley Park beat their hosts at Durham City by the odd point. Brian Dunn and Michael Pratt won for the City with Ray Coates, Robert Roche and Kevin Keers taking the Park to victory.

Bearpark went two points clear of Coundon at the top of the Third Division when they beat their hosts at Leeholme A by the odd point. The home side had wins from Anthony Forster and Lawrence Jones, whilst the visiting winners were Andy Donaldson, Alan Smith and Glen Morton.

New Durham are a point behind Coundon after they were surprisingly beaten at home by Hunwick. Thomas Cairns put the home side ahead but then Barry Fleming and Ton ward moved Hunwick ahead. Gordon Bowes levelled the match but Hunwick's Des Mason beat Brian Birks in the decider.

Tow Law A moved into fourth spot in the table when they only dropped one point on their visit to Sacriston, who had Neil Burn as their only winner. The Lawyers points came from Heppell Hodgson, Stephen Laing, Doug Watson and Tommy Williams.

Fishburn B went down in the decider on their visit to Tow Law B. Lee Stockdale gave the home side a great start with a win over George Whitelock, but Alan Wilson squared the match. Adam Orton restored the home lead only to see Winston Hodgson level. In the decider the Lawyers, Norman Plews beat Barry Underwood.

Any teams who have not submitted their entries to the Harry Little Memorial Pairs Handicap should do so immediately as the draw will be made in the next week. Any queries about the competition should be referred to the secretary on 01388 730444.

Results: Tow Law B 3 Fishburn B 2; Durham City 2 Wingate 3; Newton Aycliffe 3 Witton Gilbert 2; Coundon 2 Leeholme B 3; Crook Belle Vue 1 Wheatley Hill B 4; Wheatley Hill A 4 Willington 1; Sacriston 1 Tow Law A 4; Stanley Central 3 Spennymoor B 2; Spennymoor A 2 Brandon 3; Shotton Palms 4 Newhouse 1; New Durham 2 Hunwick 3; Ferryhill 2 Meadowfield 3; Leeholme A 2 Bearpark 3; Langley Park 1 Crowtrees 4; Fishburn A 5 Sherburn Village 0; Durham City 2 Langley Park 3.

The Jack

Jobson Memorial Handicap Singles

Quarter finals draw: Mark Appleby 21 (Sacriston) v Paul Nord 14 (Witton Gilbert); Anthony Forster 45 (Leeholme A) v Lee Todd 50 (Leeholme B); Ray Coates 21 (Langley Park) v Alan Rouell 28 (Spennymoor B); Brian Quest 16 (Fishburn A) v Ronnie Peacock 8 (Wheatley Hill A). Results to be into the secretary by Monday, 22 September.

Crook League

The Annual General Meeting of the League will take place at Crook Traveller's Rest on Tuesday, 9 September at 7.30 p.m. There are vacancies for any new teams, who can obtain advance information from the secretary, Les Scott on 01388 762583. All teams intending to compete must be represented at this meeting.

Worthington CIU Summer Singles Championship

Quarter finals draw: Willis Joynes (Witton Gilbert) v Tom Parkin (Willington); Dave Walker (Wheatley Hill A) v George Whitelock (Fishburn B); Gordon Bowes (New Durham) v Barry Shaw (Leeholme A); Keith McLauchlan (Crowtrees) v Scott Mallaburn (Sherburn Village). Games to be played on or before 22 September.

Worthington CIU Summer Pairs Championship

Quarter finals draw: John Bower & Alan Greener (Sherburn Village) v John Rooney sen & John Rooney jun (Witton Gilbert); Bob Reay & Ronnie Peacock (Wheatley Hill A) v John Griffin & John Carter (Fishburn A); Stephen Bennett & Stuart Neil (Coundon) v Michael Pratt & Paul Atkinson (Spennymoor A); David Louth & Wayne Parry (Spennymoor B) v Gordon Bowes & Thomas Cairns (New Durham). Results to be into the League Secretary by 10.30 pm on Monday, 22 September.

Kingsway Krugerrand Competition

Thomas Cairns of New Durham Club made a great start to his match against Steven Bradley of Sacriston Club when he put in a 30 break to recover from an early deficit and take the first frame at 61-56. Inspired by the early recovery he went on to take the second at 70-30 thanks to some good potting and some very tight safety play.

Bradley commanded the third frame as he scored a few and went very safe. Cairns failed to get into the frame and went down by 53-8. The third frame was very tight but it was Cairns who steadily eased into the lead and went into the next round with a 53-33 victory.

On the other table Scott Mallaburn of Sherburn Village Club fought out a long, slow five frames match against Alec Appleby of Darlington Riley's with the result going down to the final black.

Appleby made the better start and put in a 28 break to go one up with a frame score of 68-20. Mallaburn squared the match when he came through to win 54-41. However another hard fought frame saw Appleby restore his lead with a 68-42 win, but Mallaburn took the match into the decider when he produced a 63-23 winning frame.

The decider was dominated by good safety play with neither player ever having a clear-cut chance of getting among the balls. It was nip and tuck throughout until Mallaburn took the pink to go 38-34 ahead. Disaster struck for the Sherburn player as he tried to play safe on the final black and saw the cue ball slide slowly in-off to leave Appleby as the 41-38 winner.

On Thursday, 11 September, at the Kingsway Club (above the Lightfoot Institute in Kingsway, Bishop Auckland) at 7.30 pm Stuart MacKenzie of Darlington will play Peter Laverick of Crowtrees Club and Vickers Bell of Cockton Hill Club will play Sonny Hann of Crowtrees Club. There is free entry for spectators, who are very welcome.

Worthington Durham County CIU

Summer League

All entry forms for the new season, which begins on Tuesday, 14 October, must be handed in to the League Meeting to be held in Meadowfield Club on Thursday, 25 September at 7.30 p.m. Any former members who have not received entry forms should contact the secretary on 01388 730444 immediately. There are still vacancies for new teams and any interested should contact the secretary on the telephone number shown