Tow Law Area League: Tow Law New Market B held on to their top spot with an odd point victory at Cornsay Royal Oak and stay five points ahead of Newhouse Club, but both teams are threatened by Esh Stag's Head, who moved up just two points behind the Club with two matches in hand.

Gavin Tennant, Tom Dowson, Tom Hauxwell and Phil Spencer took singles points for the New Market, whilst George Cairns and Barry Bailes replied. The Royal Oak took two of the doubles but Doris Elsbury and Tom Dowson won their doubles to clinch the victory for the New Market.

Esh Stag's Head made their thrust to repeat last year's championship win when they only dropped two points to the visiting Stanley Earl Derby, who took only one singes when Laurie Sanders won. The Stag's had singles wins from Tom March, Dave Metcalfe, John Hodgson, Mally Walker and Mike Wightman.

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

Willington League

Willington Black Horse Tavern edged through to an odd point victory in the decider when they visited Willington Cottles. This result keeps them at the top of the table but Willington Black Horse Inn jumped into second place just two points adrift. Willington Lion and Unicorn are now in third place, just two points behind the Black Horse Inn.

Willington Cottles had singles points from Arthur Burnham and John Barron, whilst the Willington Black Horse Tavern moved ahead with singles wins from John Gallagher, Dave Hawkins and Aynsley Rainbow. The home side then levelled the match when John Barron and Arthur Burnham took the first doubles but the Tavern went to victory when Peter Taylor and Harold Farrer beat Bret Fleming and Brian Vayro in the deciding doubles.

Results: Willington Black Horse Inn 5 Willington Brewer's Droop 2; Prospect Club 3 Willington Lion and Unicorn 4; Willington Club 1 Victoria Club 6; Willington Cottles 3 Willington Black Horse Tavern 4; Willington Commercial 4 Sunnybrow Brown Trout 3; Hunwick Quarry Burn 3 Hunwick Joiners Arms 4.

Crook League

Crook Queen's Head A lifted themselves up to a respectable mid-table position after their odd point victory over the visiting Crook Olde Horse Shoe. The Queen's clinched their victory in the singles when they had wins from John Howarth, Heidi Moses, Phil Hall and Peter Genner. The Shoe replied with singles wins from David Stephenson and Gerald Parkin to add to the doubles win by Ian Armstrong and Jimmy Luke.

In the Second Division Crook Coach and Horses B only dropped one point at Howden Australian to move into fifth place, only seven points behind the leaders with a match in hand. The Australian looked to be going down to a whitewash defeat but rescued the situation when Ron Flouders and Michael Lee took the final doubles. The Coach had singles points from Andrew Reynolds, Darren Mudd, Gary Redmond, Mark Thexton, Peter Holliday and Stephen Goddard.

Crook Belle Vue lead the First Division by three points with a match in hand. The second placed Crook Coach and Horses A are two points ahead of Crook Travellers Rest B. In the Second Division, Crook Surtees had their lead at the top cut to one point with Crook Queen's Head B closing the gap and moving three points ahead of Crook Jelly's Bar A.

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

Willington and

District League

Willington Brewer's Droop's lead at the top of the table was cut to two points when they dropped two points to the visiting Sunnybrow Brown Trout. The Trout had wins from Harry Sewell and Les Welsh, whilst Bob Saunders and Jimmy Fleming levelled. In the decider the Brewer's Vince Conaty beat Ian Stoker.

Willington Lion and Unicorn and Hunwick Club share second place after both won for the loss of only one point. Neville Ridley took the only home point for Willington Black Horse Tavern against Hunwick Club, who had wins from David Thompson, Alan Carr, Ian Richardson and Paul Maddison.

Karl Patterson won the only point for Willington Commercial in their home match against Willington Lion and Unicorn, who had wins from Paul Williams, Sheila Lee, Donald Young and Alan Lee senior.

Results: Hunwick Quarry Burn 2 Willington Brewer's Droop A 3; Prospect Club 3 Willington Cottles A 2; Willington Commercial 1 Willington Lion and Unicorn 4; Willington Black Horse Tavern 1 Hunwick Club 4; Willington Brewer's Droop B 3 Sunnybrow Brown Trout 2.

CIU Singles Championship

Preliminary Round draw: P. Neary (Horden Labour & Trades) v M. Towers (Cockfield); W. Jones (Horden Labour & Trades) v J. Bell (Belmont); J. Pearson (Chilton & Windlestone) v B. Redshaw (Newton Aycliffe); M. Pike (Chilton & Windlestone) v D. Thompson (Fishburn); J. Dean (Horden Labour & Trades) v N. Smith (Glendale); R. Allison (Chilton & Windlestone) v M. McGlasham (Horden Labour & Trades); R.J. Mulroy (Middlestone Moor) v A. Richardson (Ferryhill); A. Gray (Stanley Empire) v T. Dodd (Grange Villa); K. Wilkinson (Ferryhill) v F. Greenwood (Ferryhill); J. Hancock (Belmont) v S. Scott (Horden Labour & Trades); R. Atkinson (Belmont) v R. Wharton (Fishburn); D. Gardner (Cockfield) v D. Houghton (Fishburn); J. Morland (Old Shildon) v I. Swales (Fishburn); M. Aldworth (Old Shildon) v C. Simpson (Cockfield); W. Hodgson (Ferryhill) v G. Robson (Belmont); D. Patterson (Belmont) v G. Smith (Fishburn); A. Buist (Fishburn) v J. Miller (Chilton & Windlestone); N. Barton (Stanley Empire) v D. Birchall (Fishburn); G. Gray, jnr. (Grange Villa) v B. Milburn (Stanley Empire); M. Stoker (Belmont) v J. Bayles (Grange villa); S. Bowen (Grange Villa) v J.P. Dodsworth (Fishburn); J. Lockey (Fishburn) v D. Johnson (Stanley Empire); G. Ellis (Stanley Empire) v A. Beckwith (Stanley Empire); M. Ridley (Stanley Empire) v J. Watson (Stanley Empire); J. Smith (Chilton & Windlestone v A. Tanner (Cockfield); T. Jones (Old Shildon) v G. Bell (Chilton & Windlestone). Results to be into the Branch Office by December 28.

The following players will receive byes: P. Hubbick (Glendale Social); E. Campbell (Chilton & Windlestone); P. Reed (Ferryhill); A. Bell (Old Shildon); R. Hodgson (Stanley Empire); D. Cowans (Fishburn).