Worthington Durham County CIU Knock-out Cup

First Division, Shotton Palms were disappointed to see the re-spotted black disappear in the final frame at Second Division Wheatley Hill B for it meant their exit from the competition. The home side received forty-seven points start but Jimmy Evans closed the gap and moved Shotton into a five points lead at the end of the first frame. Barry Hall won the second frame for the Palms by a single point and Dave Swindle followed this with a twenty-nine points victory for the visitors. Jock Frost and Ken Johnson pulled the Hill back into contention and eventually Johnson levelled the match in the final frame. The black was re-spotted with Johnson just pipping Paul Hickman.

Newhouse travelled to Crowtrees to receive 14 points start in another match, which went down to the wire. Sean Johnston took the first frame for Crowtrees by two points with Neil Phillips winning by 46 and Peter Laverick by seven to extend the home lead to 34 points. Newhouse fought back with wins from Steve Mountain and John Maddox but they ended up fourteen points short of their target. Tony Clish and Adrian Forster took frames for Leeholme A at Fishburn B but the wins from Alan Wilson, Michael Bell and Dave Wilson scored enough points to take the home side to victory.

Stanley central shrugged off their Second Division staus to beat the visiting First Division, Willington by 47 points. The central had frame wins from Walter Cornell, Frank Foster and Jim Dufton, whilst Willington replied through Gordon Parkin and Arthur Goldsborough.

Langley Park enetertained Brandon and took the first frame when ray Coates won by two points. However the visitors then took over and won the remaining frames through Kevin Sample, Brian Graham, Graeme Jackson and Colin Goodrick.

Tow Law received 65 start from the visiting Wingate and extended it by eleven points when Arthur Henderson took the first frame. However from that point the visitors took over with wins from John Bourne, Paul Harrison, Geoff Howe and Steve Allen to go through.

Leeholme B received 103 start from the visiting Spennymoor B and then shocked the visitors when Brian Harrison and John Taylor took the first two frames to extend the lead to 164 points. Phil Wilson, Wayne Parry and Alan Clark all made good efforts for the Moors but were unable to close the gap and lost by 50 points.

Sacriston entertained Sherburn Village and only managed to take one frame when Willy Nixon won However wins from Scott Mallaburn, Alan Greener, John Bower and Peter McGowan saw the visitors safely through.Newton Aycliffe won all five frames against the visiting Crook Belle Vue to go through by 73 points. The home winners were John Briddick, Bill Barrigan, Ron Hall, Michael Hewitt and Simon Tweddle.

New Durham played their first Team Knock Out match at home to league champions, Old Shildon and never managed to take a frame as the visitors went through with wins from Michael Pratt, Jossie Aldworth, Billy Goggins, Andrew Aisbitt and Steven Bennett. Coundon found the going just as tough when they entertained First Division, Fishburn A. Frank Nicholson managed a two points win for Coundon but John Griffin, John Carter, Charlie Hirst and Peter Davison saw the visitors through.

Spennymoor A made a great recovery at home to Wheatley Hill A in a scratch match. Dave Walker and Alan Hall moved the Hill into a forty-six points lead after the first two frames but then Paul Biddle won for the Moors by 15 points, John Wilson by 91 and Paul Atkinson by thirty-seven to take Spennymoor through.

Meadowfield did not drop a frame to the visiting Witton Gilbert as Ian Hodgson, Stephen Hughes, Malcolm Hughes, Craig Hughes and Norman Smith took them to victory.

Results: Stanley Central 280 Willington 233; Meadowfield 303 Witton Gilbert 164; Sacriston 215 Sherburn Village 293; Fishburn B 274 Leeholme A 301; Newton Aycliffe 307 Crook Belle Vue 234; Spennymoor A 294 Wheatley Hill A 197; Wheatley Hill B 309 Shotton Palms 308; Crowtrees 254 Newhouse 240; Tow Law 224 Wingate 252; Leeholme B 315 Spennymoor B 265; New Durham 167 Old Shildon 321; Coundon 156 Fishburn A 342; Langley Park 235 Brandon 287. Ferryhill, Durham City and Hunwick had byes.

South West

Durham Association

Darlington Snooker Club A whitewashed their hosts at Northgate to strengthen their hopes of a Championship but second placed, Hopetown maintained the pace when they also recorded a maximum win at Darlington Railway Institute.

The situation is so tight in the Second Division that a single mis-cue in a frame can cost the team at least one place in the table. Darlington Snooker Club C lead the table by one point from Bishop Auckland Cricket Club with Darlington Rileys and Darlington Snooker Club B just a further point adrift.

Results: Darlington Cricket Club 3 Tindale Crescent 0; Northgate 0 Darlington Snooker Club A 4; Darlington Railway Institute 0 Hopetown 4; Harrowgate Hill 3 Barnard Castle Glaxo 1; Darlington Riley's 3 Shildon Elm Road 1; Old Shildon 0 Bishop Auckland Cricket Club 4; Bishop Auckland Gents A 3 Darlington Snooker Club C 1; Darlington Snooker Club B 4 Bishop Auckland Gents B 0.