Railton wins in vain as Billy Row climb to the top

Home landlord, Bill Railton tried to show his side the way when he won his singles but this proved to the only point for the Comic as the visitors' had singles wins from Geoff Walsh, Harold Parkin, Keith Garland, Edna Dawson and John Coatsworth to add to the three doubles.

The former leaders, Esh Stag's Head went down to the visiting Tow Law Dan's Castle and slipped down to third place. The Stag's had singles win from Craig Tomlinson, John Hodgson and Ray Brown with the Castle levelling with wins from Lee Stockdale, Anthony Hird and Rachel Heppell. The home side took the first doubles but the Castle edged to victory by taking the final two doubles.

Billy Row Club lead the table by one point from Esh McKennas, with Esh Stag's Head a further point adrift and just a point ahead of Tow Law New Market B.

Positons and points in the Captain's Table: 1st Newhouse Club 10 points; 2nd Tow Law New Market A 8; 3rd equal Tow Law Dan's Castle, Tow Law New Market B and Esh Stag's Head 7 each; 6th equal Tow Law Rose and Crown, Sunniside Comedian and Esh McKennas 5 each; 9th Cornsay Royal Oak 4; 10th equal Tow Law Station and Billy Row Club 3 each; 12th Hamsteels Inn 2.

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

Crook League

Crook Royal Sun gave themselves a mountain to climb in their quest for the First Division title when they went down by three points at home to Crook Mill House, leaving them four points adrift of the leaders, Crook Belle Vue with just two matches left. The Mill House were able to move up to third place, five points behind the Sun.

John Parkin and John Hunt were the only winner for the Royal Sun, whilst the Mill had singles points from Alan Bibby, Peter Clement, Ian Bibby and Alan Saville to add to the doubles of Norman Slack and Alan Bibby.

Willington Brewer's Droop stayed on course for the Second Division title in their first season after they only dropped two points at Crook Golden Fleece A. The home side's two single points came from the father and daughter combination of Keith and Rebecca Newton. The Brewer's had singles wins from Jimmy Fleming, Billy Wragg, Vince Conaty and Brett Fleming with Conaty and Wragg adding the doubles.

This result leaves the Brewer's Droop one point clear at the top with a match in hand. Hunwick Club are in second place, nine points ahead of Crook King's Head.

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

Willington League

Willington Brewer's Droop went down in the deciding doubles when they entertained Willington Lion and Unicorn in a battle of the unbeaten teams. The Brewer's had singles wins from Jimmy Fleming and John Ferens with Ray Smith and Jason Martin adding a doubles. The visitors' went to victory with singles wins from Phil Allison, Dave Hawkins and Micky Pickering with Alan Lee and Dave Hawkins taking the deciding doubles.

Newcomers, Byers Green Royal Oak are the early leaders with a one point advantage over the Lion and Unicorn and the Prospect Club, who lead the Brown Trout B and the Brewer's Droop by a single point.

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

Tow Law and

District League

Tow Law Football Club held on to the top spot by a single point after they went down to the visiting Tow Law Rose and Crown. The visitors' took the first four points through Anthony Ward, Steven Todd, Lee Mowbray and Gavin Hammell before Charlie Donaghy saved the whitewash by taking the final point for the footballers. This defeat allowed Tow Law Dan's Castle B to close the gap to one point with New House Club a further two points adrift. Hamilton Row Black Horse boosted their league placing when they only dropped one point to the visiting Tow Law New Market B, who had David Spencer as their only winner. The Horse had wins from Pat Elliott, Steve Wilkie, John Robinson and Alan Taylor.

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

CIU Pairs Championship

First Round draw: R. Allison & J. Smith (Chilton & Windlestone) v A. Beckworth & A. Gray (Stanley Empire); G. Lowes & C. Johnson (Vale of Derwent) v A.V. Sennett & J. Lowe (Horden Labour & Trades); J. Richardson & W. Evans (West Auckland) v W. Jones & S. Scott (Horden Labour & Trades); H. Moore & K. Wilkinson (Ferryhill) v T. Evans & R. Douthwaite (West Auckland); J. Johnson & S. Johnson (Crowtrees) v F. Smith & W. Hodgson (Ferryhill); G. Gray jnr & S.R. Hall (Grange Villa) v W. Cowey & H. Atkinson (Fishburn); C. Stainsby & S. Smith (Darlington) v D. Houghton & I. Swales (Fishburn); G. Smith & D. Birchall (Fishburn) v L. McEwan & R. Bell (New Hesledon); J. Bell & R. Parkinson (Belmont) v R. Hodgeson & D. Johnson (Stanley Empire); K. Laybourne & F. James (Whitehill Park Tenants) v D. Patterson & J. Hancock (Belmont); W. Cooper & G. Harris (Ferryhill) v R.J. Mulroy & P. Scott (Middlestone Moor); D. Smith & S. Bell (Crowtrees) v G. Peaden & P. Whitfield (Crowtrees); T. Dodd & J. Bayles (Grange Villa) v A. Lithgow & T. Ward (Cockton Hill); J. Pearson & D. Harrison (Chilton & Windlestone) v M. Stoker & D. Stoker (New Hesledon); A. Richardson & F. Greenwood (Ferryhill) v R. Wharton & M. Robinson (Fishburn); J. Dean & P. Neary (Horden Labour & Trades) v J. Wray & D. Illingworth (Ferryhill).