Durham County Super Pool League

It looks almost certain Horden will be champions in their debut year. Shildon are currently in second place two points ahead of Durham B. Crook B who have won their last eleven matches are seven points behind Shildon with a game in hand,however Hordens next two games are against Crook B (Oct 13th at Belle vue club) and Durham B(Oct 20th at Horden catholic club) this could allow Crook A and Ferryhill back in the race for a top three finish.

Results week 18. Crook A 6 Durham B 8, Aycliffe A 7 Consett 7, Horden 10 Aycliffe B 4, Durham A 5 Crook B 9.

Matches played in brackets. Horden 151 pts (16) Shildon 122 (16) Durham B 120 (16) Crook A 119 (17) Ferryhill 116 (16) Crook B 115 (15) Aycliffe A 115 (17) Consett 93 (15) Bishop 91 (15) Durham A 90 (14) Aycliffe B 79 (17).

Bishop Auckland and District Pool League

Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B secured third place in the final table after they beat their hosts at Bishop Auckland Derby in the deciding doubles. The captain's games were played first with Chris Peacock taking both for the visitors against Michael Richardson. The Derby followed to level with wins in the singles from Michael Richardson and Kevin Singleton with one each, whilst Paul Stewart and Andrew delve added two each. The visitors replied with two points from Kevin Stewart and one each from Chris Peacock and Paul Willey. The Derby clinched their victory when Steve Balanaves and Kevin Stewart beat Paul Stewart and Andrew Delve in the deciding doubles.

P W L PTS

Crook Olde Horse Shoe 30 27 3 270

Crook Coach & Horses 30 24 6 252

Bp. A. Snooker Club B 30 22 8 244

Spennymoor Ashtree 30 22 8 240

Bp. A. King's Head 30 23 7 236

Tow Law Station 30 20 10 235

Henknowle Manor 30 19 11 225

Bishop Auckland F. C. 30 18 12 209

Spennymoor Weardale 30 13 17 187

Bishop Auckland Derby 30 12 18 177

Bp. A. Snooker Club A 30 7 23 152

Toft Hill Three Tuns 30 7 23 150

W. Park Rose & Crown 30 10 20 148

Bp. A. R.A.F.A. Club 30 8 22 141

Ferryhill Greyhound 30 5 25 129

Bp. A. Cumberland Arms 30 3 27 125.

Tow Law Pool League

Tow Law Dan's Castle A put themselves firmly in the frame to land their first Championship when they only dropped two points against their visiting challengers from Tow Law Football Club, who only managed two of the doubles points. The singles winners for the Castle were Ian Johnson, David Craggs, Lee Stockdale, Anthony Hird, Jamie Dowson and Lee Furber. This result moved the Castle into a six points lead with a match in hand, whilst Tow Law New Market B moved a point ahead of Tow Law Football Club. Tow Law New Market B only dropped one singles in their home match against Tow Law Dan's Castle B, who had David Murray as their only winner. The New Market had wins from John Beveridge, Gavin Tennant, Robert Hopps, David Spencer and Ray Weir. However after winning the first doubles, the New Market lost the last two doubles and so failed to strengthen their runners-up chances.

Results: Tow Law Cattle Mart 4 Hamilton Row Black Horse 5; Sunniside Comedian 4 Tow Law New Market A; Tow Law Rose and Crown 5 Lanchester King's Head 4; Esh Football Club 8 Tow Law North Point 1; Tow Law New Market B 6 Tow Law Dan's Castle B 3; Tow Law Dan's Castle A 7 Tow Law Football Club 2.

Bishop Auckland Area Pool League

Ferryhill Station Eldon Arms, who were topping the table after the first two weeks, played hosts to Henknowle Manor. The visitors got off to the better start by taking the opening two frames through Ron Wright and Peter Mernor. Steve Wray then replied with one for the home side before Martin Armstrong and Steven Webb made it four-one to the Manor. Dave Bromley then took the next game for the hosts and the Manor took the next three with wins from Peter Mernor, Jon Tomlinson and Steven Webb with John Mason then taking the final game for The Eldon Arms to leave the score after the singles 3-7. Dave Bromley and John Mason won the opening doubles for the home side who also took the second through Terry Wray and Steve Webster. Finally, Steven Webb, with his third win of the night in the captains gave the Manor another point for an 8-5 victory.

Results (singles in brackets): Bishop Auckland Bay Horse 5 (3) Spennymoor Voltigeur 8 (7); Bishop Auckland Derby 11 (8) Spennymoor Victoria 2 (2); Ferryhill Station Eldon Arms 5 (3) Henknowle Manor 8 (7); Bishop Auckland Grand A 8 (5) Bishop Auckland Kings Head 5 (5); Bishop Auckland Green Tree 9 (6) Bishop Auckland Wheatsheaf 4 (4); Spennymoor Hillingdon 5 (4) Bishop Auckland Grand B 8 (6).

Willington Pool League

Willington Black Horse Tavern needed a recovery act in the doubles in the first week of the new season to edge through to an odd point victory in their home match against Willington Brewer's Droop B. The singles were shared with Nevile Ridley, Tommy Parkin and Andrew Irwin winning for the home side, whilst Carol heslop, Jimmy Fleming and Davey Gallagher replied. The Brewer's went ahead when Gallagher and Fleming took the first doubles but Steven Pardew and Eddie Haig took the second to set up the decider, where Neville Ridley and Tommy Parkin beat Tom Fleming and Mike Ashurst.

Results: Hunwick Club 7 Willington Cottles B 2; Willington Black Horse Tavern 5 Willington Brewer's Droop B 4; Willington Lion and Unicorn 7 Sunnybrow Brown Trout 2; Willington Cottles A 6 Hunwick Quarry Burn 3. No results received from Prospect Club v Willington Commercial or Willington Brewer's Droop A v Willington Market.

Worthington Durham County CIU Team Knock Out

Old Shildon left themselves in line for a league and Cup doubles after they beat Fishburn A on the final pink in the semi-final played at Brandon. The Fishburn team received 69 points start but this was almost halved in the first frame when Charlie Blake beat Peter Davison. The Fishburn player was not up to his usual standard and Blake was able to pick up valuable points from unsuccessful safety play.

In the second frame Shildon's Jossie Aldworth opened with 20 break and was able to close the overall gap to sixteen points after he came through to beat Brian Quest in a game where both players missed chances that they would usually have taken to win the frame.

The third frame brought snooker of a very high standard when Michael Pratt met Fishburn's John Griffin. The Fishburn player commanded the frame with a series of small breaks followed by first class safety. However the only error made by Griffin came when he gave Pratt his first chance on the blue and he showed his quality by taking blue, pink and black to make the score more respectable.

Old Shildon's Andrew Aisbitt gave a fine display of potting coupled with good safety play to move his team 13 points clear when he put in a 33 break to beat Wayne Oliver. Billy Goggins took the 13 start against Charlie Hirst but there was never a major gap between them. However Hirst managed to edge ahead until Goggins needed blue, pink and black for victory. Hirst tried a thin cut but only hit the blue off the cushion and went in-off. Goggins took the finish in style. Old Shildon will now meet Durham City after they beat Newton Aycliffe at Spennymoor.

Worthington Durham County CIU Summer League

Old Shildon repeated their Championship win, whilst Newhouse returned to the First Division after many years in the lower sections. Wingate won their way back into the Second Division with Crowtrees regaining their spot there. Ferryhill and Newton Ayc;liffe lost their First Division status, whilst Durham City and Fishburn B slipped back down to the Third Division. The final tables were-

DIVISION ONE

P W L PTS

Old Shildon 18 13 5 60

Wheatley Hill A 18 13 5 54

Shotton Palms 18 11 7 52

Fishburn A 18 10 8 52

Spennymoor A 18 11 7 50

Brandon 18 11 7 46

Willington 18 7 11 37

Witton Gilbert 18 6 12 35

Ferryhill 18 4 14 32

Newton Aycliffe 18 4 14 32

DIVISION TWO

P W L PTS

Newhouse 18 11 7 56

Sherburn Vill. 18 15 3 54

Langley Park 18 11 7 50

Meadowfield 18 12 6 49

Crook Belle Vue 18 8 10 47

Spennymoor B 18 6 12 41

Wheatley Hill B 18 7 11 40

Stanley Central 18 6 12 40

Durham City 18 9 9 37

Fishburn B 18 5 13 36

DIVISION THREE

P W L PTS

Wingate 16 13 3 56

Crowtrees 16 12 4 51

Coundon 16 9 7 44

New Durham 16 10 6 43

Leeholme A 16 9 7 37

Hunwick 16 7 9 37

Sacriston 16 4 12 34

Tow Law 16 5 11 32

Leeholme B 16 3 13 26

Crook League

With all teams having completed three matches, Crook Olde Horse Shoe lead the First Division by six points from Crook Belle Vue, who are two points ahead of Crook Travellers rest B with all three teams boasting an unbeaten record. Crook Royal Sun share the third spot with the Travellers B on 12 points. Fifth position goes to Crook Spitfire Club with 9 points; 6th equal are Crook Queen's Head A, Crook White Swan and Crook Travellers Rest A with 8 points each, whilst Crook Mill House and Crook Coach and Horses B share the bottom place with 7 points each.

Crook Jelly's Bar A are the only unbeaten team in the Second Division and lead by one point. Crook Golden Fleece B, Crook King's Head and Willington Market, who have 13 each; share second place; 5th Howden Australian 12 points; 6th Crook Surtees 10; 7th Crook Jelly's Bar B 9; 8th Crook Queen's Head B 8; 9th Crook Coach and Horses B 7 and 10th Crook Golden Fleece A 6 points.

The next League Meeting will be held in Crook White Swan at 7.30p.m. on Tuesday, 15 October when all teams must be represented.

Worthington Snooker Durham County CIU Plate

The semi-finals produced two thrillers with Sacriston winning on the final black qualifying to meet Wheatley Hill A, who won on the final pink.

Sacriston received 12 points start against Langley Park at Tow Law and looked to have increased their lead when Jeff Evans made a good early start against Lenny Thompson. However Thompson recovered and only went down by one point.

Peter Morgan of Langley Park gave a fine potting display against an off-colour Steve Bradley and raced into a fifty-two points lead with breaks of 14 and 17 followed by good safety. However Bradley slowly came into the frame and found his confidence with a 3 break and then finished by taking the last three colours to only lose by seventeen points.

The third frame saw the battle of the captains with Ray Coates starting Langley Park four points ahead. However in a very tight battle Alan Richardson came through to win and move Sacriston 17 points ahead. Stephen Coates followed his brother to the table for the Park and knocked in a vital 20 break against Dale Evans to move his team two points ahead. The final frame saw Kevin Keers of Langley Park and Kevin Laing go very carefully through the early stages. A 19 break by Laing was overhauled by Keers, who edged ahead to the point where Sacriston needed the last three colours for victory. An unfortunate double kiss on a safety shot by Keers let Laing in to take blue and pink and then produce a nail-biting cut into the pocket on the final black to take Sacriston through.

At Leeholme, Wheatley Hill A were conceding 29 points to Newhouse but fell further behind when John Maddox knocked in. A further 16 followed by 22 to beat John Worthington by 68 points.