Brandon became the early leaders of the First Division after they only dropped one point at Newton Aycliffe, who had Bill Barrigan as their only winner.

The Brandon points came from John Hall, Graeme Jackson, Brian Graham and Colin Goodrick.

Spennymoor A moved in just a point behind Brandon after their whitewash success at Witton Gilbert, where they had wins from Paul Biddle, Paul Atkinson, John Wilson, Ronnie Bateman and Eddie Rhodes.

Cockton Hill share third place with Wheatley Hill A. Cockton Hill entertained newly promoted, Sherburn Village and won by a maximum. The home winners were Vickers Bell, who was making his debut for the home side, Lee Taylor, George Chapman, Andrew Aisbitt and Harold Lomax.

Wheatley Hill A only dropped one point on their visit to Fishburn A in the usually keenly contested neighbourly match. John Griffin was the only point scorer for Fishburn, whilst Ronnie Peacock, Jack Wright, Alan Hall and Dennis Clish won for the Hill.

Old Shildon were taken to the decider before edging through by the odd point at Shotton Palms. Billy Goggins took the first frame with a 40 break, no mean feat on the tight pockets of the Shotton table, only to see Colin Jobes and Dave Swindle move the home side ahead. Stephen Bennett put in a 28 break to level the match and Old Shildon went to victory when Charlie Blake beat Barry Hall in the decider.

Meadowfield, newly promoted, made their first victory in the top bracket when they beat the visiting Willington. Gordon Parkin gave the visitors a good start but from that point Meadowfield took over with wins from Norman Smith, Malcolm Hughes, Craig Hughes and Stephen Hughes.

Bearpark, newly promoted, moved up to share the top spot in the Second Division with Hunwick A and Stanley Central after they took the first three frames against the visiting Wingate, who were also newly promoted. David Jackson, Glen Morton and Shaun Easter put Bearpark ahead but John Bourne and Geoff Howe pulled back points for the visitors.

Hunwick A came from behind to win the decider on their visit to Langley Park. Des Mason put Hunwick ahead but then Ray Coates and Paul Nord scored for the Park. Phil Blythe levelled the match and Neville Blenkinsopp played a captain's part to take Hunwick to victory by beating Peter Morgan.

Despite going down by the odd point at Crowtrees A, Stanley Central have a share in the top spot. Neil Phillips, Sonny Hann and Sean Johnston put Crowtrees into a winning position but Norman Rimmington and Walter Cornell fought back for the Central to make the score respectable. The position is so tight in the Second Division that the three joint leaders only hold a one point advantage over four teams below them.

Spennymoor B produced a very good home performance to beat Ferryhill, who only managed one point when Bernie Jones won. The Moors had wins from Stuart Ball, Alan Rowell, Wayne Parry and David Louth.

Belmont made their first win of the season when they visited Wheatley Hill B and won in the decider. Mick Short put the visitors ahead but Jock Frost and Tony Ellison won for the Hill. Steven Armstrong levelled the match but Billy McGrath took Belmont to their first win this season by beating Kenny Johnson.

Hunwick B opened up a two points lead at the top of the Third Division after they whitewashed the visiting Fishburn B. The home winners were Trevor Lomax, David Penman, Barry Fleming, Tom Ward and John Bate.

Sacriston, who whitewashed the visiting Crowtrees B, moved into second place, one point ahead of Coundon and Durham City. The Sacriston winners were Dale Evans, Steven Bradley, Jeff Evans, Willy Nixon and Mark Appleby.

Coundon moved up to share third place with their hosts, Durham City after edging through to victory in the decider. Eric Wright put Durham City ahead with Willy Shoulder levelling. Brian Dunn restored the home lead only to see Ross Hardacre level. In the decider, Coundon went to victory when Frank Nicholson beat Gary Ward.

New Durham won in the decider on their visit to Leeholme B. Brian Burkes put the visitors ahead but Glen Douthwiate and Ray Gill then won for the home side. Thomas Cairns squared the match and New Durham went to victory when Kevin Scullion beat John Taylor.

Tow Law made an odd point victory over Leeholme A with wins from Heppell Hodgson, Alan Spence and Charlie Donaghy. The visitors replied with wins from Ian North and Lawrence Jones.

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

Harry Little Memorial Handicap Pairs

First round results: Harry Dinsdale & James Hassen 29 (Newhouse) beat E. Risbridger & K. Richardson 24 (Sacriston); Jossie Aldworth & Michael Pratt 5 (Old Shildon) beat Sean Johnston & Neil Phillips 24 (Crowtrees); Tommy Williams & Alfie Edwards 41 (Tow Law) lost to Alan Richardson & Willy Nixon 26 (Sacriston); Brian Graham & John Hall 10 (Brandon) beat Frank Nicholson & Dennis Payne 17 (Coundon); Lawrence Jones & Anthony Forster 37 (Leeholme) lost to Des Mason & Norman Kirkley 33 (Hunwick); David Blyth & Tony Ellison 19 (Wheatley Hill B) lost to Stephen Bennett & Paul Armstrong 12 (Old Shildon); Karl Thompson & Ray Gill 40 (Leeholme) lost to Albert Bower & Michael Bower 31 (Sherburn Village); John Griffin & Brian Quest 13 (Fishburn A) beat Mally Ryder & Willy Shoulder 29 (Coundon); John Taylor & Brian Harrison 45 (Leeholme) beat Adrian Twist & Mark Abbott 28 (Sherburn Village); George Chapman & Andrew Aisbitt 5 (Cockton Hill) lost to Ray Coates & Peter Morgan 26 (Langley Park).

Worthington CIU Team Knockout

First round draw, to be played on or before Monday, December 9: Leeholme B v Newhouse and Sherburn Village v Crowtrees A.

Second round draw, to be played on Tuesday, December 17: Spennymoor B v Ferryhill; Leeholme A v Newton Aycliffe; Stanley Central v Sacriston; Wingate v Sherburn Village or Crowtrees A; Hunwick B v Wheatley Hill B; Brandon v Durham City; Fishburn A v Bearpark; New Durham v Spennymoor A; Old Shildon v Tow Law; Crowtrees B v Belmont; Willington v Leeholme B or Newhouse; Meadowfield v Fishburn B; Crook Belle Vue v Cockton Hill; Wheatley Hill A v Langley Park; Witton Gilbert v Hunwick A; Shotton Palms v Coundon.

Worthington CIU Summer Singles

The final of this year's competition has had to be delayed again because Dave Walker of Wheatley Hill, who meets Jimmy Evans of Shotton Palms, is still in hospital, where he has been for six weeks.

The league officials and all the players wish him a speedy recovery.

The final, which is now postponed from November 4, will be played at New Durham, with Alan Greener of Sherburn Village officiating, on a date to be arranged.

Crook League

Crook Olde Horse Shoe, the unbeaten leaders of the First Division, looked bound for their first defeat when they lost the first three frames against the visiting Crook Royal Sun. David Haygarth, Gary Butterfield and Ronnie Hope made the storming start for the Sun but the Shoe recovered to square the match when Darren Tinkler, Steven Craggs and Brian Johnson took the last three singles. In the doubles decider the Shoe retained their unbeaten tag when Dave Walker and Darren Tinkler beat Ronnie Hope and Wayne Smith.

In the Second Division, Crook Jelly's Bar A edged through to beat the visiting Howden Australian but dropping three points meant they lost their top place. Willington Market took over at the top after they recorded the first maximum win of the season in the Second Division with the visiting Crook Coach and Horses B on the receiving end.

Jelly's A had singles wins from Stephen Russ, Michael Jewitt, John Gibson and Andrew Heyes, whilst the Aussie had singles wins from Stephen Burke and Ray Newton to add to the doubles from Andy McCabe and Stephen Burke.

The Olde Horse Shoe lead the First Division by seven points from Crook Travellers Rest B, who are three ahead of Crook Belle Vue. The Second Division new leaders, Willington Market are two points ahead of Jelly's Bar A and four ahead of Crook Surtees.

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