Ferryhill win worth wait

Ferryhill had to wait until the sixth match of the season before recording their first victory but when it came in was convincing as the visiting Witton Gilbert only managed to take one point. The home winners were Glyn Toas, Neil Spender, Ian Fawcett and Steve Wray, whilst Malcolm Peart took the only frame for Witton Gilbert.

Fishburn A retained the top spot in the First Division after they only dropped one point on their visit to Spennymoor A. John Griffin put the visitors ahead with Paul Biddle replying. However from that point Fishburn took over with wins from Wayne Oliver, Charlie Hirst and John Carter.

Newton Aycliffe, who are without a win this season looked to be on their way to a win when they visited second placed, Old Shildon but the home side came from behind to win in the decider. Bill Barrigan put the visitors ahead but Andrew Aisbitt levelled. Marc Howe put in a 56 break to restore the Aycliffe lead only to see Billy Goggins equalise. In the decider Steven Bennett put in a 41 break to beat Michael Hewitt and send Old Shildon to victory. This result leaves Old Shildon two points behind Fishburn A.

Wheatley Hill A stayed three points behind Old Shildon after they were never headed in their home match against Brandon. Alan Hall put the Hill ahead with Kevin Sample levelling. Dave Walker restored the home lead but Graham Jackson equalised. In the decider the Hill's Dave Bryden beat Brian Graham on the black.

Willington were never headed when they visited Shotton Palms and went to victory when Arthur Goldsborough beat Dave Swindle in the decider. Bob Lee put Willington ahead with a win on his debut but Paul Hickman equalised. Jeremy Martin moved Willington back in front but Barry Hall then set up the decider.

Newhouse moved to the top of the Second Division after they only dropped one point to the visiting Meadowfield. John Maddox gave the home side a good start with a 32 break and was followed with wins from Jimmy Hassen, Ian Dinsdale and Steve Mountain. John Jackson saved the whitewash by taking the final round for Meadowfield.

Langley Park stayed one point behind Newhouse after they took the first four points at home to Spennymoor B. The Park's winners were Paul Morgan, Ray Coates, Stephen Renwick and Kevin Keers whilst Alan Rowell took the final frame for Meadowfield.

Crook Belle Vue slipped a point behind Langley Park after they went down by the odd point to the visiting Durham City. Ken Rider and John Warriner took the points for Crook whilst Barry Stoddart, Eric Wright and Gary Ward won for the visitors.

Only Jock Frost managed to take a point for Wheatley Hill B on their visit to Fishburn B. The home side had wins from Alan Wilson, Winston Hodgson, Alan Buist and Dave Wilson.

Stanley Central were twice ahead at Sherburn Village but went down in the decider. Walter Cornell put the Central ahead but John Bower levelled. John Atkinson moved Stanley back into the lead only to see Adrian Twist equalise. In the decider Sherburn's Scott Mallaburn beat Ivan Pye.

Wingate bounced back after last week's surprise defeat at Sacriston when they whitewashed the visiting Leeholme B. The Wingate winners were John Bourne, Geoff Howe, Dave Hammond, John Mason and Steve Allen. This win leaves Wingate at the top of the Third Division.

Crowtrees maintained the pace set by Wingate and their unbeaten record after they whitewashed the visiting Tow Law. Phil Whitfield, Peter Laverick, Sean Johnston, Keith McLauchlan and Sonny Hann took the points for Crowtrees, who are three points behind Wingate but have a match in hand.

New Durham took the first and last points on their visit to Hunwick with wins from Thomas Cairns and Terry Patterson. The home side went to victory with wins from Trevor Lomax, Norman Kirkley and Neville Blenkinsopp.

In the remaining match in the Third Division Coundon beat the visiting Sacriston by the odd point but failed to send in the scorecard.

Results: Wingate 5 Leeholme B 0; Crook Belle Vue 2 Durham City 3; Shotton Palms 2 Willington 3; Hunwick 3 New Durham 2; Newhouse 4 Meadowfield 1; Spennymoor A 1 Fishburn A 4; Crowtrees 5 Tow Law 0; Langley Park 4 Spennymoor B 1; Wheatley Hill A 3 Brandon 2; Sherburn Village 3 Stanley Central 2; Fishburn B 4 Wheatley Hill B 1; Old Shildon 3 Newton Aycliffe 2; Ferryhill 4 Witton Gilbert 1; Coundon 3 Sacriston 2.

South West Durham Association

Darlington Snooker Club A opened out a four point lead at the top of the First Division after they whitewashed the visiting Darlington Cricket Club. However the teams sharing second place both have games in hand. Darlington Railway Institute were held to a home draw by Barnard Castle Glaxo but have two matches in hand, whilst Hopetown, beaten at home by Northgate, have one match in hand on the leaders.

Old Shildon only managed one point on their visit to Darlington Snooker Club C, who moved four points clear at the top of the Second Division.

Shildon Elm Road failed to take a point out of the visiting Darlington Snooker Club B and this brought them level with each other and Old Shildon one point adrift of the joint second placed Bishop Auckland Cricket Club and Darlington Riley's.

Results: Hopetown 1 Northgate 3; Darlington Railway Institute 2 Barnard Castle Glaxo 2; Darlington Snooker A 4 Darlington Cricket Club 0; Tindale Crescent v Harrowgate Hill - no result, home team fined. Shildon Elm Road 0 Darlington Snooker Club B 4; Bishop Auckland Cricket Club 3 Darlington Riley's 1; Darlington Snooker Club C 3 Old Shildon 1; Bishop Auckland Gents A 4 Bishop Auckland Gents B 0.

Division One

P W D L Pts

Darlington SCA 9 5 2 2 23

Darlington Railway Inst 7 4 2 1 19

Hopetown 8 4 2 2 19

Harrowgate Hill 7 5 0 2 16

B. Castle Glaxo 7 3 3 1 16

Northgate 8 2 0 6 12

Darlington CC 9 1 3 5 12

Tindale Crescent 7 0 2 5 7

Division Two

P W D L Pts

Darlington SCC 9 6 2 1 24

Bp. Auckland CC 9 5 2 2 20

Darlington Rileys 9 3 3 3 20

Old Shildon 9 3 4 2 19

Shildon Elm Road 9 3 2 4 19

Darlington SCB 9 3 2 4 19

Bp. Auckland Gents A 9 3 2 4 17

Bp. Auckland Gents B 9 1 1 7 6

Matches missing from these tables are: Tindale v Glaxo; Railway v Northgate; Glaxo v Railway, Harrowgate Hill v Hopetown and Tindale v Harrowgate Hill