Old Shildon, the reigning champions, went down to their second defeat of the season when the visiting leaders, Spennymoor A twice came from behind to win in the decider and go four points clear at the top of the table.

Michael Pratt put Old Shildon ahead but the visitors levelled with a win from Paul Atkinson. Stephen Bennett put in a 32 break to restore the home lead only to see Paul Biddle square the match. In the decider the Moors John Wilson put in breaks of 28 and 25 to beat the home captain. Jossie Aldworth.

Wheatley Hill still share the second place in the table with Old Shildon after they went down at home by the odd point to Willington. The visitors raced away to a three-nil lead with wins from Stan Bennett, Arthur Goldsborough and Jeremy Martin. The Hill restored some pride when Dean Bryden and Dave Walker took the final two points.

Wingate held on their top spot in the Second Division after they only dropped one point at Ferryhill. The visitors looked to be on their way to a maximum victory when they had wins from Dave Hammond, John Bourne, Geoff Howe and Steve Allen. Ferryhill saved the whitewash when Steve Wray took the final frame.

In a top of the table match in the Second Division at Newhouse, Bearpark moved above their hosts into second place when they only dropped one point. The visitors had wins from Shaun Easter, David Jackson, Glen Morton and Alan Smith before Steve Mountain took the final frame for Newhouse. This leaves the unbeaten Bearpark three points behind Wingate and two ahead of Newhouse.

Sacriston strengthened their chance of landing the Third Division title when they only dropped one point on their visit to the leaders, Durham City, who had Gary Ward as their only winner but just failed to take another when Brian Dunn put in a 30 break but lost on the black. The Sacriston winners were Steve Bradley, Willy Nixon, Mark Appleby and Dale Evans.

Tow Law created history on their refurbished table when they whitewashed the visiting Hunwick B. In their many meetings the Lawyers had never completed a whitewash but this time everything went right with wins from Heppell Hodgson, Tommy Williams, Alan Spence, Ernie McEleavey and Charlie Donaghy.

Cockton Hill managed to stay a point behind Old Shildon and Wheatley Hill A in the First Division after taking the last three points at Brandon. Kevin Sample and Graham Jackson with a 39 break put Brandon ahead. However Lee Taylor and George Chapman pulled the visitors level and then Vickers Bell clinched victory for the Hill when he beat Colin Goodrick in the decider.

Newton Aycliffe collected two vital points in their bid to avoid relegation from the First Division when they visited Fishburn A. The home side had wins from Brian Quest, John carter and John Griffin but Stuart Neil and Richie Young scored for the visitors.

Witton Gilbert were twice in front at Sherburn Village before going down in the decider. Peter Johnson put the visitors ahead with Scott Mallaburn putting in a 42 break to level. John Rooney junior restored the Witton lead only to see Peter McGowan equalise. In the decider Sherburn captain, John Bower beat Paul Bennett.

The battle at the foot of the First Division saw the visiting Meadowfield leave Shotton Palms at the bottom when the visitors took the last three points. Colin Jobes and Jimmy Evans junior put the Palms ahead but Craig Hughes and John Jackson levelled. In the decider, Meadowfield's Ian Hodgson beat Paul Hickman.

Belmont moved into fourth spot in the Second Division with a win in the decider at Hunwick A. Chris Morley put the visitors ahead but Des Mason and Norman Kirkley then moved the home side ahead. Billy McGrath levelled the match and Belmont went to victory when Colin Robinson beat Phil Blyth in the decider.

Crowtrees A slipped badly down the Second Division when they only took one point on their visit to Langley Park. The home side took the first four frames through Ray Coates, Paul Nord, Kevin Keers and Stephen Coates before Sean Johnston broke the Crowtrees duck.

Wheatley Hill B failed to lift themselves from the foot of the Second Division when they went down by the odd point at Spennymoor B. The home side had wins from Alan Rowell, Phil Wilson and Wayne Parry, whilst the Hill replied through Tony Ellison and Jock Frost.

Crook Belle Vue moved up just one point behind Sacriston in the Third Division when they only dropped one point to the visiting Leeholme B, who had Lee Todd as their only winner. Belle Vue had points from Gordon Sample, John Warriner with a 30 break, Ken Rider and Eric Lockerbie.

Coundon moved up to share the third place in the Third Division after they whitewashed the visiting Leeholme B. Frank Nicholson, the Coundon captain, set the high mark for the top break in the division with a 61 run and he was joined by Ross Hardaker, John Paul Wringe, Gary Goulbourne and Mally Rider as home winners.

Leeholme A made their second victory of the season when they recovered from a two points deficit at home to New Durham. John Robertson and Kevin Scullion put the visitors ahead but then Karl Thompson and Barry Shaw levelled. In the decider Leeholme's Lawrence Jones beat Thomas Cairns on the black.

Results: Shotton Palms 2 Meadowfield 3; Sherburn Village 3 Witton Gilbert 2; Fishburn A 3 Newton Aycliffe 2; Brandon 2 Cockton Hill 3; Wheatley Hill A 2 Willington 3; Old Shildon 2 Spennymoor A 3; Spennymoor B 3 Wheatley Hill B 2; Langley Park 4 Crowtrees A 1; Hunwick A 2 Belmont 3; Newhouse 1 Bearpark 4; Ferryhill 1 Wingate 4; Durham City 1 Sacriston 4; Tow Law 5 Hunwick B 0; Crook Belle Vue 4 Leeholme B 1; Coundon 5 Fishburn B 0; Leeholme A 3 New Durham 2.