Tow Law New Market A convincingly won the top of the table clash at Newhouse Club by seven points to go one ahead of their hosts at the top of the table with a match in hand.

The Market started in a fine style by taking both the trebles points and then having singles wins from Kenneth Atkinson, David Dixon, Bob McFadden and Bobby Gray, whilst Brian Jones and Tom McQuillan took singles for the home side. However in the doubles the New Market again dominated and took all three.

Hamilton Row Black Horse fell further away from the pace when they lost their second consecutive match when they only collected three singles from their trip to Tow Law Cattle Mart. The Mart had singles wins from Colin Boughey, Joe Jordan and Stephen Boughey whilst the visitors replied through Alan Brown, Steve Wilkie and Ken Brown.

The leading individual scorers were S. Wilkie with 180 and two 140's and M. Kennedy with 180 for Hamilton Row, L. Johnson 160 and S. Corden 140 for Dan's Castle, S. Boughey and C. Boughey 140 each for the Cattle Mart, D. Mowbray 140 for the Rose and Crown and A. Elston and S. Umpelby 140 each for the New Market B. J. Close of the Royal Oak made the best start of the week with 140, whilst S. Greenbank hit a 134 start for the Moss Inn and T. Hauxwell 100 for the New Market B.

Results: Cornsay Royal Oak 5 Tow Law Dan's Castle 6; Tow Law Cattle Mart 8 Hamilton Row Black Horse 3; Tow Law New Market B 9 Stanley Earl Derby 2; Sunniside Moss Inn 6 Tow Law Rose and Crown 5; Esh McKennas 5 Sunniside Comedian 6; Newhouse Club 2 Tow Law New Market B 9.

Willington League

Willington Black Horse Tavern were taken to the decisive team game before they edged through by the odd point against the visiting Prospect Club. The visitors had made a promising start when they took the singles at 4-2 with wins from John Glasper, Paul Morris, Geoff Maddison and John Peacock, whilst the home side had singles from Kevin Bake and Harold Farrer.

The Tavern took the first two doubles through Gary Brunskill with Kevin Bake and Paul Allchurch with Harold Farrer. The Prospect kept their hopes alive with a doubles point from Trevor Bourne and Geoff Maddison but the team game pushed the Tavern to the top.

Willington Club are in second place, a point behind the leaders and two ahead of Hunwick Joiners Arms. Willington Burn, who have a match in hand, are just one point adrift of the Joiners.

Results: Hunwick Joiners Arms 6 Victoria Club 5; Willington Burn 10 Willington Black Horse Inn 1; Willington Brewer's Droop 6 Willington Lion and Unicorn 5; Sunnybrow Brown Trout 2 Willington Club 9; Willington Black Horse Tavern 6 Prospect Club 5. Hunwick Quarry Burn v Willington Cottles postponed.

Crook Ladies League

Crook Travellers Rest, in second place in the table, visited Tow Law Black Horse and were beaten by the odd point. This dropped them down to fourth place as three teams fight for the runners-up spot. The Championship already seems to be in the hands of Crook Queen's Head A, who are thirty-seven points clear. However in the second place battle, Tow Law New Market B are one point ahead of Crook Jelly's Bar B, with the Travellers Rest a further point adrift. There was an early challenge to these three from the Victoria Club but then have now dropped twenty-one points behind the Travellers.

Adele Divers of the Tow Law Cattle Mart joined the short list of players to hear the magic "180" cry but did not manage to inspire her team to victory at Crook Olde Horse Shoe. The other leading individual scorers were June Barron with 140 for Jelly's Bar B, Gail Abbott with 140 and 121 for the Queen's Head A, Helen Snowdon 140 for Tow Law Black Horse, Christine Hammond 138 for Tow Law Station, Diane Nesbitt 133 for the Travellers Rest, Judith Graham 134 for the Commercial, Joan Charlton 124 for the New Market B, and Alison Miller of the New Market A and Jackie Quarmby of the Victoria Club with 121 each.

Results: Tow Law Dan's Castle 6 Tow Law New Market A 5; Tow Law New Market B 6 Willington Black Horse 5; Willington Commercial 1 Crook Queen's Head A 10; Crook Jelly's Bar B 8 Tow Law Station 3; Crook Queen's Head B 4 Crook Belle Vue 7; Crook Olde Horse Shoe 6 Tow Law Cattle Mart 5; Billy Row Green 3 Crook Cricket Club 8; Victoria Club 5 Billy Row Royal George 6; Tow Law Black Horse 6 Crook Travellers Rest 5. Tow Law North Point v Howden Green Tree postponed.

Wear Valley Ladies League

The four unbeaten teams lead the table with pride of place going to Crook Mill House, who only dropped one point at Crook Surtees to move six points clear. Oakenshaw were stretched at Croft Social Club before edging through by the odd point to hold second place, three points ahead of Hunwick Quarry Burn and Crook Royal Sun, who both have a match in hand.

The leading individual scorers were Barbara Atkinson of Oakenshaw with 126, Kim Pritchard 121 and Wendy Eddleston 115 for the Mill House and Marie Hudspeth 114 for the Surtees.

Results: Willington Brewer's Droop 5 Howden Sunnydene Lodge 4; Crook Coach and Horses 2 Crook Royal Sun 7; Croft Social Club 4 Oakenshaw 5; Crook Surtees 1 Crook Mill House 8; Crook White Swan 2 Crook Three Blue Bells 7. Crook Golden Fleece v Hunwick Quarry Burn postponed.

Crook League

Division One: RAFA 2 (3) Golden Fleece A 9 (2); Travellers Rest 4 (2) Mill House 7 (3); White Swan 2 (3) Old Horseshoe 9 (2); Blue Bells 4 (2) Belle Vue 7 (3); Sunnydene Lodge 6 (2) Royal George 5 (3); Royal Sun Inn 2 (4) Market 9 (1). Division Two: Croft Social Club 1 (1) Queens Head A 10 (4); Green Tree 4 (2) Jelly's Bar A 7 (3); Australian 9 (3) Farrers Arms 2 (2); Jelly's Bar B 8 (4) Kings Head 3 (1); Golden Fleece B 0 (2) Cricket Club 11 (3); The Green 6 (1) Coach and Horses 5 (4). 180's; W Krayzaniak (Croft).

Weardale Ladies League

Blue Bell A are enjoying their best start to the season and three consecutive wins sees them in fourth place. The top of the table has a familiar look. Hare and Hounds lead with Mill Race and Blue Bell B joint second a point behind.

Results: Blanchland Sports Club 5 Stanhope Pack Horse 4; St Johns Chapel Golden Lion A 1 St Johns Chapel Blue Bell B 8; St Johns Chapel Blue Bell B 4 St Johns Chapel Golden Lion B 5; St Johns Chapel Blue Bell A 7 Stanhope Grey Bull 2; Eastgate Cross Keys 3 Stanhope Bonny Moor Hen 6; Wolsingham Mill Race 5 Wolsingham WMC 4; Wolsingham Black Bull 3 Rookhope A 6; Westgate Hare and Hounds 6 Stanhope Queens Head 3.

Top scores: Michelle Emmerson 125;135 (Pack Horse); Kath Nattrass 133; Jane Humble 121 (Hare and Hounds); Claire Wayper 120; Lesley Ann Bell 120;100 (Black Bull); Elma Hardy 121; Carron Storey 100 x 3 (Queens Head).