Tow Law Area League: Cornsay Royal Oak sent the league leaders, Esh Stag's Head down to their second defeat of the season when they pulled off a good recovery to win by the odd point.

The singles were shared when Sonia Windsor, Joe Close and Steve Witherspoon won for the Oak and Colin Tomlinson, Dave Metcalfe and Mally Walker equalised. The Stag's then went ahead by taking the first doubles but the Oak levelled to set up a decider. It was here that the visiting Stag's head failed when Brian Bayles and Ray Young of the Oak beat Dave Metcalfe and John Hodgson.

This defeat for the Stag's Head allowed Billy Row Club and Tow Law Station to close the gap at the top to just one point. The joint second teams played each other at the Club with the Station edging through by the odd point. The Club's only singles winners were Gary Walsh and Harold Parkin, whilst Norman brown, Ron Kitching, Steve Kenny and John Campbell won for the Station, who took the first doubles to ensure victory.

Tow Law New Market A and Sunniside Comedian are chasing the top three and only trail the joint second placed teams by two points.

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

Crook League

Crook Travellers Rest B lifted themselves into third place in the First Division after they only dropped one point to the visiting Crook Jelly's Bar A, who had Keith Dixon as their only winner. The Travellers points came from Jim Ainsley, Bill Fairhurst, Michael Burke, Aaron Cowan and Doug Bowey with Jimmy Singlewood and Bill Fairhurst adding the doubles.

Crook Belle Vue maintained a four points lead at the top of the First Division with Crook Royal Sun, who have a match in hand, five points ahead of the Travellers B. In the Second Division Willington Brewer's Droop lost in the decider at Crook Coach and Horses B to leave them two points behind the leaders, Hunwick Club but with a match in hand and a five points lead over the joint third placed team from Crook Surtees and Crook King's Head.

Crook Coach and Horses B had singles points from Gerald Parkin and Arthur Willey to add to the doubles of David Stephenson and Gerald Parkin, whilst the Brewer's levelled with singles wins from Billy Wragg, Vince Conaty and Ian Stoker. In the decider the Coach landlord, Les Scott beat the league's leading singles winner, Jimmy Fleming.

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

Tow Law and

District League

Tow Law Football Club held on to their top spot in the table when they only dropped one point to their hosts at Tow Law New Market A. The footballers looked to be in line for a whitewash success when they had wins from Charlie Donaghy, Terry Ginty, Charlie McGee and Billy Lyle. However Goff Bramfitt saved the home side's ignominy by taking the final singles point.

Newhouse Club remained a point behind the Football Club after they only dropped one point to the visiitng Tow Law Dan's Castle B, who had Lee Stevenson as their only winner.

The home points came from Graeme Tompson, Dave Morris, Rob Day and Harry Dinsdale.

Hamilton Row Black Horse and Tow Law Station now share third place, five points behind Newhouse, after the Station visited the Horse and came through by the odd point. Jim Christalow and Steve Wilkie took points for the hosts, whilst Alan Ogilvie, Christopher Reed and Neil Morrallee took the visitors to victory.

Results: Newhouse Club Tow Law Dan's Castle B ; Sunniside Comedian 0 Tow Law New Market B 5; Tow Law Dan's Castle A 2 Tow Law Rose and Crown 3; Hamilton Row Black Horse 2 Tow Law Station 3; Tow Law New Market A 1 Tow Law Football Club 4.