Esh Stag's Head retained the League Championship when they beat the visiting Tow Law Station in the final match of the season.

The home side needed six points to be certain of holding on the trophy and that was precisely what they scored.

Mike Wightman put the Stag's ahead but George Hope levelled. The home side then came with three in a row through Alan Maughan, John Hodgson and Mally Walker before Sean Kenny took the final singles point for the Station. The visitors kept their hopes of a victory alive by taking the first doubles but the Stag's went out victors and champions when they took the last two doubles.

Tow Law New Market B ended their season on a very disappointing fifth consecutive defeat. After leading the table for a good part of the season the New Market B finished in fourth place when they only scored three points on their visit to bottom team, Stanley Earl Derby.

The Derby had singles wins from Les Sanders, Mally Henry, Wayne Anderson and David Lacey whilst the visiting winners were Alan Whiteman and Stephen Umpelby. Doris Elsbury and Tom Dowson took the only doubles point for the visitors.

The League Singles Championship will be held at Cornsay Royal Oak on Monday, February 17 and the League Doubles Championship on Monday, 24 February at Stanley Earl Derby.

Results: Tow Law Dan's Castle 4 Cornsay Royal Oak 5; Tow Law New Market A 3 Newhouse Club 6; Hamilton Row Black Horse 3 Tow Law Cattle Mart 6; Tow Law Rose and Crown 6 Sunniside Moss Inn 3; Sunniside Comedian 6 Esh McKennas 3; Esh Stag's Head 6 Tow Law Station 3; Stanley Earl Derby 6 Tow Law New Market B 3.

Willington League

*eaders Willington Black Horse Tavern maintained their four point lead at the top of the table but were taken to the deciding doubles before they won by the odd point at the Victoria Club. The Victoria had singles wins from Alan beck and Julie Hall but the Tavern moved ahead when they had singles wins from Peter Taylor, Aynsley Rainbow and Dave Hawkins. The home side squared the match when Julie hall and Alan Beck won the first doubles but the Tavern edged through to victory when Laurie Norman and Dave Hawkins beat Norman Bolam and Ronnie Greensmith in the decider.

Willington Black Horse Inn held on to second place, four points behind the leaders but seven ahead of the third placed Willington Lion and Unicorn, who have a match in hand.

Results: Prospect Club 2 Willington Cottles 5; Willington Brewer's Droop 4 Hunwick Joiners Arms 3; Willington Lion and Unicorn 4 Sunnybrow Brown Trout 3; Willington Black Horse Inn 4 Willington Commercial 3; Victoria Club 3 Willington Black Horse Tavern 4; Willington Club 4 Willington Burn 3.

Crook League

Crook Coach and Horses A put pressure on the First Division leaders, Crook Belle Vue when they cut their lead to just two points following their victory over their hosts at Crook Spitfire Club. Crook Travellers Rest B also won by three points to stay just a point behind the Coach.

The Spitfire Club took two singles through Rob Grayson and Ronnie Rinaldi whilst the Coach and Horses had singles wins from Paul Fiddis, Tut Lee, Dickie Varley and Les Scott to add to the doubles win from John Race and Dickie Varley.

Crook King's Head went down in their first game since moving to the top of the Second Division but they managed to hold on to their leading position despite the defeat in the deciding doubles at Crook Jelly's Bar B. Crook Queen's Head B moved up just two points behind the King's Head, with Willington Market just a point behind.

Crook Jelly's Bar B had singles wins from Neil Stoker, Michael Harker and Lee Genner with Dave Brown, Carl Maddison and Kevin Carter levelling for the visiting King's Head. In the deciding doubles the Jelly's pairing of Harker and Genner beat Darren Alderson and Kevin Carter.

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

Willington and

District League

The Prospect Club lost by the odd point at home to Sunnybrow Brown Trout but they still held on to the top spot with a seven points advantage. However their lead looks very slender when the second placed Willington Cottles A have three matches in hand and the equal third placed teams from Willington Lion and Unicorn and Willington Brewer's Droop B are just a point behind Cottles with just one more game played.

At the Prospect, the visiting Sunnybrow Brown Trout went into a two points lead with wins from Harry Sewell and Rita Welch. The home side fought back to square the match when Kath Nyland and Ces Atkinson won. In the decider the Trout's Ian Stoker beat Keith Hirst.

Results: Hunwick Club 2 Willington Brewer's Droop A 3; Willington Brewer's Droop B 2 Willington Lion and Unicorn 3; Prospect Club 2 Sunnybrow Brown Trout 3.