Durham Ranking Tournament : Michael Rhodes came through to maintain his position at the top of the ranking List when he beat his close friend, Dave Lowery 5-1 in the final.

However it was not plain sailing for Michael as he almost went out in the quarter finals where Graham Comerford came close to lowering his colours for the first time.

Last 16 results: Colin Hutchinson 3 Helen Sharpe 1; Dave Hodgson 3 Dave Jones 0; Graham Comerford 3 Nick Veuger 1; Michael Rhodes 3 Gary Carr 1; Tim Aberdeen 0 Lee Holdsworth 3; Trevor Walton 2 Mark Szczypka 3.

Quarter final results: Colin Hutchinson 3 Dave Hodgson 2; Graham Comerford 2 Michael Rhodes 3; Lee Holdsworth 0 Mark Szczypka 3; Dave Lowery 3 David Taylor 0.

In the semi-finals Colin Hutchinson lost to Rhodes 4-1, whilst Lowery beat Mark Szczypka by the same score.

The current top 15 in the Ranking List, from which the top 32 qualify for the big money end of year tournament, are 1st Michael Rhodes 97 merit points, 41 ranking points; 2nd Colin Hutchinson 53, 35; 3rd Andy Seal 47, 26; 4th Gary Carr 29, 26; 5th Dave Lowery 22, 24; 6th Dave Hodgson 27, 21; 7th Chris Bowran 36, 20; 8th Leigh Mavin 23, 20; 9th Nick Veuger 14, 20; 10th Tim Aberdeen 11, 20; 11th Graham Comerford 27, 19; 12th Lee Holdsworth 17, 19; 13th Darren Grainger 30, 18; 14th John Mavin 17, 18; 15th Mark Szczypka 17, 14.

The two remaining Ranking Tournaments will be held at Durham Snooker Club on Sunday, September 22 and Sunday, October 27. Any new player could still qualify for the end of season tournament if they were to produce good runs in these two tournaments.

Crook League: Michael Burke of Crook Travellers Rest B became the League Singles Champion when he beat Simon Bowey of Crook Royal Sun A in the deciding frame of the best of five before a packed Crook Spitfire Club.

The League Doubles Championship was a much more one-sided affair when John Warriner and Paul Knighton of Crook Belle Vue whitewashed Dave Walker and Dave Leighton of Crook Olde Horse Shoe B in their best of five final.

Tow Law League: Tow Law North Point's Championship hopes took a severe dent when they only took two points from the visiting Tow Law Football Club who moved up to third place.

Tow Law Dan's Castle, who postponed their match because of holidays lead the table by three points with the North Point, who have played an extra match, just two points ahead of the Football Club.

Tow Law Football Club went ahead with a singles win from Terry Ginty but Dave Morton equalised. From there the footballers took the remaining singles through Arthur Henderson, Jim Day, Charlie Donaghy and Keith Muse. Only Alan Henderson and Colin Armstrong managed to take a doubles point for the home side.

Tow Law Cattle Mart pulled off an odd point home victory over Sunniside Comedian when Marc Williams and Wayne Tennant beat John Hildreth and Bill Railton in the deciding doubles. The Mart had singles wins from Paul Longstaff, Wayne Tennant and Alan Ogilvie, whilst Ray Johnson, Morgan Errington and John Hildreth replied before the first two doubles were shared.

Results: Tow Law New Market B 4 Tow Law Rose and Crown 1; Lanchester King's Head 4 Tow Law New Market A 1; Hamilton Row Black Horse 3 Tow Law Football Club 2; Tow Law North Point 3 Tow Law Football Club 2; Tow Law Cattle Mart 3 Sunniside Comedian 2. Hamilton Row Black Horse v Tow Law Dan's Castle A postponed. Tow Law Dan's Castle B v Esh Football Club no result.

CIU Team Championship: Preliminary round draw: West Auckland v Croft; Quarrington Hill B v Ferryhill A; Quarrington Hill C v Grange Villa A.

The following teams receive byes Osbourne A, Crowtrees, Thornley, Ferryhill B, Grange Villa B, Fencehouses Comrades A, Whitehill Park Tenants, Osbourne B, Consett Station, Quarrington Hill A, Southwick, Shotton Comrades and Fencehouses Comrades B. Results to be into the Branch Office by October 5.

Bishop Auckland and District League: Spennymoor Ashtree lost valuable points as they began to make up their games in hand and lost at home to Bishop Auckland King's Head.

The home side had singles points from Paul Biddle, Stephen Jones and Tony Biddle, whilst the King's Head moved into the lead with two points from Malcolm Parry and Stephen Bainbridge whilst Andrew Tuesday, Kevin Watson and David Jacomb added one each Jacomb and Bainbridge then added the doubles for the King's before Paul Biddle beat Kevin Watson in both captains games.

Crook Olde Horse Shoe whitewashed the visiting Bishop Auckland RAFA Club to move 19 points clear of Crook Coach and Horses, who are ten points ahead of Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B, who have a match in hand.

The draw for the semi-finals of the Knock Out Cup is Crook Olde Horse Shoe v Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B and Bishop Auckland Football Club v Tow Law Station. The final will be on the table of the winners of the first match on Thursday, September 19.

The final games to be re-arranged are to be played on Monday, September 16 when Henknowle manor House play Bishop Auckland RAFA Club and Spennymoor Ashtree play Witton Park Rose and Crown. The final weeks full fixture list will be played on Thursday, September 26.

Results: Bishop Auckland Football Club 10 Witton Park Rose and Crown 3; Crook Olde Horse Shoe 13 Bishop Auckland RAFA Club 0; Spennymoor Ashtree 5 Bishop Auckland King's Head 8.