Local leagues

Cornsay Royal Oak pulled off their best win of the season when they beat the visiting Championship challengers, Esh Stag's Head with a recovery in the doubles. The home side had singles wins from Stan Windsor, Terry Cairns and Barry Bailes, whilst the Stag's levelled through Brian March, John Hodgson and Mattie Walker. The visitors then went ahead by taking the first doubles but the Oak equalised leaving Stan Windsor and Chris Close to win the decider by beating Tom and Bill March.

Tow Law New Market B lead the table, despite their defeat, by three points from Newhouse Club, who are three points ahead of Tow Law Rose and Crown. Esh Stag's Head trail the leaders by eight points but have two matches in hand.

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

Willington League

Hunwick Joiners Arms made a good start on their visit to Sunnybrow Brown Trout when Michael McClurg won the first game but from that point the visitors took over and never dropped another point as they moved into second place in the table, one point behind Willington Black Horse Tavern and three points ahead of the Prospect Club. The Trout's singles winners were Maureen Fox, Leslie Welsh, Stephen Longhorne and Rita Welsh, whilst Kenny Longhorne with Leslie Welsh and Jimmy Hodgson with Rita Welsh added the two doubles points.

Results: Willington Black Horse Tavern 4 Willington Brewer's Droop 3; Hunwick Quarry Burn 3 Prospect Club 4; Willington Commercial 4 Willington Market 3; Willington Cottles 7 Victoria Club 0; Willington Burn 4 Willington Lion and Unicorn 3; Sunnybrow Brown Trout 6 Hunwick Joiners Arms 1.

Crook League

Crook Mill House were able to move up to share second place in the First Division after they won the doubles decider against their hosts at Crook Royal Sun. The home side had singles points from David Haygarth, John Parkin and Gary Butterfield, whilst the visitors equalised with wins from Norman Slack, Peter Clement and Ian Bibby. In the decider Alan Bibby and Peter Clement beat John Howcroft and David Haygarth.

Crook King's Head won their Second Division match at Crook Golden Fleece B when Carl Maddison and Steph Gill beat Trevor and Jim Smith in the deciding doubles. Earlier Freda Smith, Graham Young and Colin Howe won for the Fleece with Mark Wilshaw, Darren Alderson and Carl Maddison set up the decider.

Crook Belle Vue lead the First Division by six points from the Mill House, Travellers Rest B and Coach and Horses A, who share second place. The Second Division is much tighter with the Queen's Head B and Surtees sharing top spot, one point ahead of Willington Market, who are two points ahead of the Golden Fleece B and Jelly's Bar A.

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

Tow Law and

District League

Tow Law Rose and Crown strengthened their hopes of landing the Championship when they beat the visiting Tow Law Football Club in the decider to go four points clear of Lanchester King's Head with just one match to play. The visiting Footballers went two down when Derek Mowbray and Lee Mowbray took the first two points for the Rose and crown but the match was squared when Jim Day and Keith Muse won for the visitors. In the decider Anthony Ward beat the visiting Arthur Henderson.

Tow Law North Point moved into equal third place, three points behind the King's Head and level with Hamilton Row Black Horse, who have a match in hand.

Lanchester King's Head got back level at the top of the Captain's League when Ronnie Minto beat Gavin Tennant at Tow Law New Market B. The King's lost the chance of moving ahead when they lost in the re-arranged game against Tow Law Dan's Castle A. The New Market B and the King's Head could now be involved in a play-off for the title unless one wins and the other loses their last match.

Results: Tow Law Dan's Castle A 2 Lanchester King's Head 3; Tow Law Dan's Castle B 0 Hamilton Row Black Horse 5; Tow Law Cattle Mart 1 Tow Law North Point 4; Tow Law New Market B 3 Tow Law Football Club 2; Esh Winning Football Club 3 Tow Law New Market A 2; Sunniside Comedian 4 Tow Law Dan's Castle A 1; Tow Law New Market B 2 Lanchester King's Head 3; Tow Law Rose and Crown 3 Tow Law Football Club 2.

CIU Pairs Championship

Quarter final draw: J. Miller & E. Campbell (Chilton & Windlestone) v D. Thompson & J. Lockey (Fishburn); T. Dodd & J. Bayles (Grange Villa) v R. Allison & J. Smith (Chilton & Windlestone); R. Wharton & M. Robinson (Fishburn) v G. Gray jnr & S. R Hall (Grange Villa); S. Johnson & J. Johnson (Crowtrees) v K. Wilkinson & H. Moore (Ferryhill). Results to be into the Branch Office by November 2.

Willington and

District League

Willington Brewer's Droop B moved two points clear at the top of the table after they only dropped one point to the visiting Willington Commercial. The home side looked to be on for a whitewash success when they took the first four points through Vinnie Conaty, Jimmy Fleming, Shona Britton and Davey Gallagher but Ernie Plaskett opened the Commercial's scoring in the final match by beating Bob Saunders.

The Prospect Club moved into second place after only dropping one point to the visiting Willington Cottles B, who had Keith Healey as their only winner. Darren Peacock, Colin Atkinson, Paul Morris and Keith Holland scored for the Prospect, who are now two points ahead of Hunwick Club.

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