Brandon put pressure on the leaders when they moved up to share the second spot in the First Division following their victory at Ferryhill.

The home side only managed one point when Neil Spender won, but Brandon coasted through with wins from Brian Graham, Graham Jackson, Kevin Sample and John Hall.

Fishburn A held on to their top place after they took the first three points at home to Willington. However the visitors fought back to take the last two points and dent the Championship hopes of their hosts. Wayne Oliver, Charlie Hirst and John Griffin won for Fishburn with Tom Parkin and Arthur Goldsborough replying for Willington.

Wheatley Hill A were never headed when they entertained Shotton Palms but were taken to the decider before the Hill's odd point victory allowed them to hold on to their second place in the table. Alan Hall put the home side ahead but Paul Hickman levelled. Ronnie Peacock restores the Hill's lead but Dave Swindle pulled the Palms back into the match. In the decider Wheatley Hill's Dave Walker beat Colin Jobes. Despite the defeat, Shotton Palms are only four points behind the leaders and not out of the Championship race.

Old Shildon managed to stay one point behind Wheatley Hill A and Brandon following their odd point win at Spennymoor A. Charlie Blake put the visitors ahead only to se Ronnie Bateman and Paul Atkinson win for the Moors. Michael Pratt levelled the match and then Shildon's Steven Bennett beat Karl Welsh in the decider.

In a vital relegation battle at Witton Gilbert, Newton Aycliffe only managed to pick up one point when John Briddick took the first frame. From that point the home side took over with wins from John Rooney junior, Mick Vicary, Willis Joynes and Ian Rennwick, who put in a 44 break.

Crook Belle Vue are having their best season for years and went four points clear at the top of the Third Division after beating the visiting Fishburn B by the odd point. The home side had wins from Derek Potts, John Warriner and Ken Rider with Fishburn replying through Dave Wilson and Winston Hodgson.

Three teams, Newhouse, Langley Park and Sherburn Village, share the second spot in the Second Division. Newhouse entertained Langley Park, who went two up with wins from Ray Coates and Paul Morgan. Newhouse equalised with wins from Jimmy Hassen and John Maddox. But Stephen Coates took the Park to victory when he beat Steve Mountain in the decider.

John Bower put Sherburn Village ahead of the visiting Durham City but then John Davies and Barry Stoddart took points for the visitors. Peter McGowan levelled the match and then Sherburn's Alan Greener beat Michael Pratt in the decider.

Stanley Central's home win over Spennymoor B moved the visitors out of touch with the Second Division leading bunch. Only Alan Clarke managed a point for the Moors whilst the Central had wins from Walter Cornell, Harold Grimes, Jim Dufton and Frank Foster.

Meadowfield came through to an odd point home win over Wheatley Hill B when they had points from John Jackson, Malcolm Hughes and Stephen Hughes. Jock Frost and Steve cave took the points for the Hill.

The shock in the Third Division came at Leeholme A, where the league leaders, Wingate went down by the odd point. The home side had wins from Lawrence Jones, Barry Shaw and Tony Clish with the visitors replying through Geoff Howe and Paul Harrison.

Leeholme B belied their lowly table position in the Third Division by taking two points from their hosts at New Durham. The home side had wins from Terry Patterson, Tom Thompson and Thomas Cairns whilst Leeholme had points from Karl Thompson and Ray Gill.

Sacriston took the first and last frames on their visit to Tow Law to go down by the odd point. Neil Burn put the visitors ahead but then wins from Heppell Hodgson, Arthur Henderson and Doug Watson moved the Lawyers into a winning position before Dale Evans took the final frame for Sacriston.

Coundon went down on the final black on their visit to Hunwick in a match which seriously dented their promotion prospects. Neville Blenkinsopp and Barry Fleming put Hunwick ahead only to see Dennis Payne and Frank Nicholson level the match. In the decider Hunwick's Norman Kirkley beat John Paul Wringe on the black.

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