Tow Law Bass League

Hamilton Row Black Horse pulled off their best victory of the season when they travelled to Newhouse Club and ended the rather remote mathematical hopes the home side had of overtaking Tow Law New Market A in the race for the Championship. The New Market took advantage of the slip and clinched the title by beating their hosts at Tow Law Station for the loss of only one point.

The Black Horse started in great form by taking both the trebles points and then went five ahead when Alan Brown and John Christalow took the first two singles. Newhouse revived their hopes when they had singles points from Steve Turner, Tom McQuillan and Keith Liddle but Steve Wilkie ended their run by taking the final singles for the Horse, who went on to take two of the three doubles points.

Worse was to follow for Newhouse for they lost a chance of sharing the title in the Captain's Table when Tom McQuillan was beaten by Alan Brown. This leaves Tow Law New Market A certain to at least share the title with only Esh Stag's Head in a position to share it.

The leading individual scorers were R. Johnson with a maximum for the Comedian, G. Beveridge and L. Cullinan 140 each for the Moss, D. Dixon 140 and a fifteen darts finish, J. Parkin two 140's, D. Yeoman 140 and R. McFadden 140 for the New Market A, M. Henry two 140's for the Earl Derby and S. Boughey and C. Boughey 140 each for the Cattle Mart. A. Maughan of the Stag's Head had the best finish of the week with a 116 check out.

Results: Tow Law New Market B 5 Sunniside Comedian 6; Tow Law Dan's Castle 3 Tow Law Cattle Mart 8; Tow Law Station 1 Tow Law New Market B 10; Cornsay Royal Oak 4 Stanley Earl Derby 7; Esh McKennas 9 Tow Law Rose and Crown 2; Sunniside Moss Inn 4 Esh Stag's Head 7; Newhouse Club 4 Hamilton Row Black Horse 7.

Willington League

Willington Cottles pulled off one of the best results of the week when they only dropped two points to the visiting Willington Black Horse Inn. The home side had singles wins from Keith Nicholson, Joe Bone, Andrew Robinson and John Barron, who hit a maximum. The visitors replied with wins from Stevie Cason and

Alan Pearson. Cottles then took all three doubles point when they had wins from John Barron with Andrew Robinson, Chris Todd with Brian Vayro and John Scott with Kenny Louth, who also hit a maximum. The home side completed a good night when they won the team game. Hunwick Joiners Arms were stretched at home by Willington Club before they edged through to an odd point defeat and stay at the top of the table with a seven points advantage over Willington Black Horse Tavern. Third placed, Willington Club are 13 points adrift of the Tavern and only two ahead of the Victoria Club, who have a match in hand.

Results: Willington Burn 4 Prospect Club 7; Hunwick Joiners Arms 6 Willington Lion and Unicorn 5; Sunnybrow Brown Trout 2 Victoria Club 9; Willington Commercial 3 Hunwick Quarry 8; Willington Black Horse Tavern 6 Willington Club 5; Willington Cottles 9 Willington Black Horse Inn 2.

Crook Ladies League

Crook Jelly's Bar B opened up the race for the runners-up spot when they travelled to Tow Law New Market B and won by three points. This result cuts the New Market's lead to just two points over Crook Travellers Rest and three over Crook Jelly's Bar B. However there is no chance of any of them landing the Championship for Crook Queen's Head A hold a massive 72 points lead.

The leading individual scorers were Eileen Graham 140 and a 119 check-out for the Queen's A, Christine Dunn 134 and Lesley Leighton 121 for the Olde Horse Shoe, Tanya McFadden 133 for the Dan's Castle, Dawn Pedelty 125 for the Royal George, Carol Newton 122 for the Victoria, Linda Blackett 121 for Belle Vue Club, Y Paciorek 121 and Ann Adams 120 for the Green Tree and Christine Marley 121 for the New Market B.

All delegates and captains are asked to note that the next league meeting has been changed to Tow Law Dan's Castle from Crook Cricket Club and will take place on Tuesday, 28 January at 8pm when sponsor forms are requested to be returned. Results: Crook Queen's Head B 0 Victoria Club 11; Tow Law North Point 5 Tow Law New Market A 6; Tow Law Station 7 Billy Row Green 4; Tow Law New Market B 4 Crook Jelly's Bar B 7; Crook Jelly's Bar A 2 Crook Queen's Head A 9; Crook Olde Horse Shoe 5 Tow Law Black Horse 6; Crook Travellers Rest 3 Crook Cricket Club 8; Crook Belle Vue 7 Tow Law Dan's Castle 4; Billy Row Royal George 3 Howden GT 8.

Wear Valley Ladies League

Crook Royal Sun shot to the top of the table with an almost perfect result at Croft Social Club, who managed to break the duck by scoring a point. This good win for the Sun was helped by the former leaders, Crook Mill House going down by three points at home to Crook White Swan.

The Royal Sun now lead the table by four points from the Mill House, who are just one point ahead of Willington Brewer's Droop.

The leading individual scorers were Shirlie Brown 134 for the Golden Fleece, Freda Brown 133 for Oakenshaw, Stephanie Pinkney 125 for the Mill House, Carolyn Turnbull 125 for Sunnydene Lodge, Sylvia Dennison 124 for Croft Social Club and Leslie Bolam 120 for Hunwick Quarry. Results: Crook Golden Fleece 4 Oakenshaw 5; Croft Social Club 1 Crook Royal Sun 8; Crook Coach and Horses 6 Howden Sunnydene Lodge 3; Crook Bar 56 5 Crook Three Blue Bells 4; Crook Mill House 3 Crook White Swan 6; Crook Surtees 5 Hunwick Quarry 4; Willington Brewer's Droop 5 Byers Green Club 4. Re-arranged match: Hunwick Quarry 4 Oakenshaw 5.

Crook League

Old Horseshoe were the only side to take maximum points in the first division dominoes games. Despite the win the Horseshoe remain a point adrift at the foot of the table. Second division darts leaders Cricket Club lost at third placed Coach and Horses. Fourth side Australian made up a little leeway on the leading trio with a victory over Jelly's A.Results: Division One: Travellers Rest 6 (3) Golden Fleece A 5 (2); White Swan 8 (2) Mill House 3 (3); Blue Bells 7 (0) Old Horseshoe 4 (5); Sunnydene Lodge 1 (2) Belle Vue WMC 10 (3); Market 11 (4) Royal George 0 (1); RAFA 6 (3) Royal Sun Inn 5 (2). Division Two: The Green 6 (3) Queens Head 5 (2); Australian 7 (2) Jelly's Bar A 4 (3); Jelly's Bar B 5 (4) Farrers Arms 6 (1); Coach and Horses 6 (2) Cricket Club 5 (3). 180's: Kenny Hawkey (Belle Vue).

Weardale Ladies Darts

Results: St Johns Chapel Golden Lion B 4 Westgate Hare and Hounds 5; Wolsingham WMC 2 St Johns Chapel Blue Bell B 7; Eastgate Cross Keys 5 St Johns Chapel Golden Lion A 4; Wolsingham Black Lion B 7 Stanhope Bonny Moor Hen 2; Stanhope Queens Head 2Wolsingham Black Lion A 7; Rookhope A 3 Blanchland Sports Club 6; Stanhope Pack Horse 9 Rookhope WMC 0; St Johns Chapel Blue Bell A 3 Wolsingham Black Bull 6;

Top scores: Eva Roddam 140 (Blue Bell B); Mary Wearmouth 138 (Cross Keys); Julie Lonsdale two 133's (Rookhope A); Pauline Hepple 131 (Sports Club); Ann Herd 130 (Black Lion B).