Lakes head contenders

In week eight of the 2002 Billiards League the Redcar Lakes still remain at the top of the table by two clear points after beating the Redcar Literary's 'B' team by 2 games to 1.

Gary Beckett (-20) was first up for the Lakes playing Andrew Fairley (Scr). Beckett won this first game by 150 - 131 aided by a 31 break. Dave Beckett (-10) then played the Lit's Barry Chapman (Scr). The match was finely balanced with Barry Chapman coming out on top by 150 - 145. Chapman compiled an excellent 32 break during this encounter. The final game was awarded to Mark Andrews of the Lakes owing to Anthony Kyme's non attendance. The Redcar Literary's 'A' team faired better when beating Carlin How again by 2 games to 1. Chris Hartley (+30) was first to the table playing Carlin's Brian Magor (+40). Magor won this very closely contested match by the finest of margins by 150 - 149. Callum Robinson (+30) then levelled the match when beating Andrew Wiseman (+45) by 150 - 133. John Hartley (-35) was awarded the final game owing to Carlin only being able to field two players. The Final of the England Team Billiards competition was played at the Saltburn Conservative Club on Monday 15th July between the Redcar Lakes Social and Redcar Literary's 'A' team. The Lakes won this match by 2 games to 1.

League Table

P W Pts

Redcar Lakes 8 6 17

Redcar Lit 'A' 8 6 15

Redcar Lit 'B' 7 2 9

Carlin How 7 1 4

On a sadder note the League lost one of it's very special characters when Mick Smylie died following a very brief illness on the 17th July. The thoughts of all CBSL Members are with Mick's family and friends during this sad time.

Durham County Super League

Itop match of the week Crook B entertained Durham B and the homeside won 8-6.Crook B had two wins from Darren Tinkler,Gerald Parkin and John Warrinner,one win each for David Stephenson and Peter Sampson.

Durham replied with two wins from Andy Seal and one each from Paul Brockway, Trevor Walton, Chris Bowron and Dave Hodgson.

Aycliffe A entertained Ferryhill and took a 8-3 lead but Ferryhill won the last three frames to make it more respectable going down 8-6. Winners for Aycliffe A with two wins were Johnny Mason and Eddie Mackay and one win each for Dave Bromley,Christopher Mason,Craig Poskett and Andrew Tuesday. Ferryhill replied with two wins from Simon Corbridge and one win each from Steve Wray,Steve Webster,Phil Cox and Terry Wray.

Horden continued their unbeaten league run when they beat the visiting Crook A 8-6.Winners for Horden with two wins were John Bourne,Steven Wylie and James Evans,one win each from Paul Hickman and Tommy Forster.Crook A replied with two wins from Steve Liddle and Jim Ainsley,one win each from Michael Burke and Stephen Heyes.

Aycliffe B had their first win of the season when they beat the visiting Bishop Auckland 9-5.Aycliffe B had two wins from Gary Spooner and Richie Bellwood,one win each from Ross Killip,Gary Parker,Paul Archer,Paul Wade and Carl Little.Bishop had wins from Warren Stamp,Peter Mernor,Kevin Watson,Ron Wright and David Baird.

Consett won 8-6 when they beat the visiting Shildon.Consett had two wins from Dave Harrop,Jim Dixon and Kevin Rainbow,one win each from Colin Armstrong and David Wilkinson.Shildon replied with two wins from Michael Hoggart and one win each from Paul Armstrong,Rance Richardson,Martin Taylor and Ian Sanderson.

Leading players are John Bourne(Horden) and Dave Harrop(Consett) 18 wins,Darren Jones(Horden) and Andrew Tuesday(Aycliffe A) 17 wins,Dave Bromley(Aycliffe A),Simon Corbridge(Ferryhill) and Chris Bowron(Durham B)16 wins.

Bishop Auckland and District League

There were vastly contrasting matches in the quarter finals of the Team Knock Out Cup with two of the game being extremely tight and the other two ending in easy victories. The league leaders, Crook Olde Horse Shoe visited Spennymoor Ash Tree and led 6-1 but the home side fought back to take the match to the first captain's game.

The Shoe had two singles points from Cliffy Owen and Gerald Parkin with Gavin Witton and Steve Hunter adding one each. The Ash Tree replied with two points from Ronnie McAloon and one each from Paul Biddle and Stephen Jones. The gap was further closed when Stephen Jones and Ronnie McAloon took the doubles but then the Shoe's Gavin Witton clinched victory when he beat Paul Biddle in the first captain's game.

The match at Bishop Auckland Football Club went one game further before the home side beat the visiting Crook Coach and Horses. The footballers had two points from Lee Taylor and one each from Tony Lambert, Carl Neilson and Mark Quinn whilst the Coach levelled with two points from Les Scott and one each from Michael Burke, Neil Harker and Aaron Cowan. The footballers took the doubles through Craig Lumley and Tony Lambert. Michael Burke levelled the match with a clearance from the break in the first captain's game against Lee Taylor. However in the decider Lee took his revenge when he looked completely beaten until Michael mistakenly potted the black out of sequence.

Results: Bishop Auckland RAFA 1 Tow Law Station 7; Bishop Auckland Snooker Club A 1 Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B 7; Bishop Auckland Football Club 7 Crook Coach and Horses 6; Spennymoor Ash Tree 5 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 7.

Crook League

Aunder strength Crook Travellers Rest B struggled before coming back to force a draw against the visiting Crook Mill House. The Mill moved into a 7-5 lead with singles points from Eddie Ryan, Alan Saville, Stephen Heyes, Mark Nicholls and Ian Bibby to add to the doubles wins from Mark Nicholls with Alan Saville and Stephen Heyes with Eddie Ryan. The Travellers five points came from Aaron Cowan and Jim Ainsley with two each and one from Michael Burke. Michael Burke took his second point to give his team the chance of a draw and Jimmy Singlewood took this opportunity when he beat Stephen Heyes in the final game of the night.

Crook Jelly's Bar A moved up to share the top spot in the Second Division with Willington Market but were stretched on their visit to Croft Social Club. The home side had singles points from Bob Spence, Ian Robson, Mark Gibson, Dave Parvin, Bernie Robson and a doubles point from Ian Robson and Derek Leighton. Jelly's points came from Michael Jewitt with two and one each from Ray Hall, Andy Palmer, Kevin Carter, Keith Dixon and Andrew Heyes with Kevin Carter and Andy Palmer adding a doubles point.

Results: Crook Travellers Rest B 7 Crook Mill House 7; Crook Coach and Horses A 6 Crook Travellers Rest A 8; Crook Spitfire 4 Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 10; Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 8 Crook Surtees 6; Crook Royal Sun A 3 Crook Belle Vue 11; Crook Queen's Head B 11 Crook Coach and Horses B 3; Croft Social Club 6 Crook Jelly's Bar A 8; Crook Jelly's Bar B 10 Crook Royal Sun B 4; Crook White Swan 9 Crook Queen's Head A 5. Willington Market v Crook Golden Fleece postponed.

Tow Law League

Tow Law North Point held on to their top spot in the table following a very close match at fellow challengers, Tow Law New Market B. the home side only managed singles wins from Tommy Sloan and Ray Weir whilst the visitors went ahead with wins from Alan Henderson, Dave Morton, Gary Watson and Howard Spoors. The home side took two doubles but Dave Morton and Gary Watson clinched the odd point victory when they beat Shaun Umpelby and Tommy Sloan.

Tow Law Dan's Castle A moved up to share the top spot with the North Point after they won by three points at Esh Football Club. The home side took the first singles through Ken Brown but then the Castle had wins from David Craggs, Lee Stockdale, Anthony Hird, Lee Furber and Jamie Dowson. The home side took two of the doubles to make the score more respectable.

Tow Law Rose and Crown got back to winning ways when they only dropped two points to the visiting Tow Law New Market A and have moved back up to share third place with Tow Law New Market B, six points behind the joint leaders.

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