Tow Law Area League: Tow Law Station and Sunniside Comedian fought out a tight top of the table battle with the visiting Comic winning in the decider but the result did nothing for either team as both Esh Stag's Head and Billy Row Club produced wins which took them into the top two places.

The Stag's lead by one point with Billy Row Club one ahead of the Station and the Comedian who share third place.

The singles were shared at the Station when Shaun Kenny, Norman Brown and Jacqueline Hope winning for the home side, whilst Dave Thompson, Alan Riley and George Whitfield levelled. The Station took the first doubles but the visitors equalised and went to victory when Peter Moore and George Whitfield beat Jacqueline Hope and Norman Brown in the decider.

Results: Esh Stag's Head 6 Tow Law Rose and Crown 3; Tow Law Dan's Castle 3 Esh McKennas 6; Billy Row Club 7 Cornsay Royal Oak 2; Tow Law New Market A 6 Hamsteels Inn 3; Newhouse Club 2 Tow Law New Market B 7; Tow Law Station 4 Sunniside Comedian 5.

Crook League

The top of the table clash produced a win for Crook Royal Sun when they visited the leaders, Crook Belle Vue. The home side only managed to take two points when Jack Walker and Ivor Phillipson won their singles. The Sun had singles wins from Cliffy Johnson, John Hunt, Kenny Smith and Dave Haygarth, with Smith and Haygarth adding the doubles. This good win, put more into context when it should be realised that the league rules allow the home team to have the first down in every match, moves the Royal Sun just five points behind the Club with a match in hand, whilst Crook Queen's Head A are a further three points adrift in third place.

In the Second Division, league leaders, Hunwick Club slipped up on their visit to Crook Spitfire Club, where they only managed to take two points when Dave Robson and Paul Maddison won their singles. The home side had singles wins from Rob Grayson, Eddie Phillipson, Ronnie Rinaldi and Dave Sneath with Rinaldi and Phhillipson adding the doubles.

Hunwick Club still lead the Second Division by one point from Willington Brewer's Droop, who have a match in hand and are four points ahead of Crook King's Head.

Results: Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 4 Crook Travellers Rest B 4; Willington Brewer's Droop 3 Crook Queen's Head B 4; Crook Travellers Rest A 5 Crook White Swan 2; Crook King's Head 5 Crook Jelly's Bar B 2; Crook Coach and Horses A 0 Crook Mill House 7; Crook Spitfire Club 5 Hunwick Club 2; Crook Queen's Head A 6 Willington Market 1; Crook Golden Fleece A 3 Crook Coach and Horses B 4; Crook Jelly's Bar A 4 Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 3; Crook Surtees 6 Croft Social Club 1; Crook Belle Vue 2 Crook Royal Sun 5; Howden Australian 1 Crook Golden Fleece B 6.

Tow Law and District League

Tow Law Football Club held on to their top spot in the table when they won the tight match against the visiting Hamilton Row Black Horse, who were in second place. Pat Elliott put the Horse ahead but Charlie McGee and Arthur Henderson took the next two to ease the footballers ahead. Steve Wilkie levelled the match but then the home side went to victory when Charlie Donaghy beat Barry Sims in the decider.

Tow Law Dan's Castle B got back to winning ways and edged up to share third place in the table after they only dropped one point to the visiting Tow Law New Market A, Phil Spencer took the only points for the visitors. Whilst Angela Suddes, Tommy Joyce, Wayne Johnson and John Spencer won for the Castle

Tow Law Football Club lead Newhouse Club by one point with Hamilton Row, the New Market A and Dan's Castle B sharing third place a further three points adrift.

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

CIU Pairs Championship

Preliminary round draw: G. Peaden & P. Whitfield (Crowtrees) v L. Scott & K. Chambers (Vale of Derwent); R. J. Mulroy & P. Scott (Middlestone Moor) v G. Ellis & N. Barton (Stanley Empire); W. Cowey & H. Atkinson (Fishburn) v C. Simpson & D. Gardner (Cockfield); M. Dent & D. Dent (West Auckland) v A. Richardson & F. Greenwood (Ferryhill); A.J. Guile & T. White (Darlington East End) v K. Laybourne & F. James (Whitehill Park); J. Wray & D. Illingworth (Ferryhill) v G. Robson & R. Atkinson (Belmont); B. Warnett & B. Bagshaw (Fishburn) v R. Allison & J. Smith (Chilton & Windlestone); A. Stobie & W. Carter (Darlington East End) v J. Richardson & W. Evans (West Auckland); C.T. Hargrave & S. Burlison (Sunderland National Reserve) v C. Stainsby & S. Smith (Darlington); R. Wharton & M. Robinson (Fishburn) v S. Dodds & L. Irwin (Vale of Derwent); L. McEwan & R. Bell (New Hesledon) v S. Wray & T. Wray (Ferryhill); A. Lithgow & T. Ward (Cockton Hill) v A. Lyons & B. Milburn (Stanley Empire); J. Dean & P. Neary (Horden Labour & Trades) v J. Lockey & D. Thompson (Fishburn); M. Townsend & I. Bowes (West Auckland) v J. Bell & R. Parkinson (Belmont); J. Miller & E. Campbell (Chilton & Windlestone) v G. Lowes & C. Johnson (Vale of Derwent); A. Buist & R. Johnson (Fishburn) v H. Moore & K. Wilkinson (Ferryhill); F. Snaith & T. Magee (Ferryhill) v T. Dodd & J. Bayles (Grange Villa); J. Treweeke & R. Hall (New Hesledon) v J. Johnson & S. Johnson (Crowtrees). Results to be into the Branch Office by 9 August.

CIU 5s & 3s Individual Championship

Preliminary Round draw: D. Thompson (Fishburn) v D. Patterson (Belmont); T. Dodd (Grange Villa) v J. Robinson (Whitehill Park Tennants); C. Stainsby (Darlington) v R.J. Mulroy (Middlestone Moor); G. Robson (Belmont) v K. Gleghorn (Catchgate Excelsior); R. Atkinson (Belmont) v J. Pearson (Chilton & Windlestone); A. Buist (Fishburn) v J. Bayles (Grange Villa); B. Smiles (Whitehill Park Tennants) v P. Dodsworth (Fishburn); G. Gray jnr (Grange Villa) v J. Hancock (Belmont); P. Southern (Catchgate Excelsior) v A.J. Guile (Darlington East End Club). There are seven byes. Results to be into the Branch Office by 9 August.

CIU 5s & 3s Pairs Championship

Preliminary Round draw: M. Townsend & I. Bowes (West Auckland) v D. Patterson & J. Hancock (Belmont); J. Blakie & W. Burlinson (Town End Farm) v S. Dodds & l. Irwin (Vale of Derwent); C. Stainsby & S. Smith (Darlington) v J. Bell & R. Parkinson (Belmont); J. Egglestone & S. Bell (Crowtrees) v W. Dillon & J. Smith (Low Spennymoor & Merrington Lane); T. Dodd & S. Bowen (Grange Villa) v P. Southern & D. Milburn (Catchgate Excelsior); A. Tarn & E. Stephenson (Whiteh!ll Park Tennants) v G. Smith & D. Birchall (Fishburn); A. Richardson & F. Greenwood (Ferryhill) v T. Evans & R. Douthwaite (West Auckland); S. Farquhar & S. Dixon (Town End Farm) v G. Gray jnr & S.R. Hall (Grange Villa); J. Pearson & D. Harrison (Chilton & Windlestone) v R.J. Mulroy & P. Scott (Middlestone Moor). There are 23 byes. Results to be into the Branch Office by 9 August.