Bishop Auckland and District League

Crook Coach and Horses in their first season in the league lifted themselves into top spot for the first time with an odd point victory at Bishop Auckland King's Head. The singles points were shared when Andrew Tuesday and Warren Stamp took two and Malcolm Parry one for the King's, whilst the Coach replied with two points from les Scott and Michael Burke with Lee Scott adding one. The coach edged into the lead when they took the doubles through Aaron Cowan and Neil Campbell only to see David Jacomb square the match by taking the first captain's point against Les Scott. However, the Coach landlord took his revenge by taking the deciding captain's game.

Bishop Auckland Snooker Club A notched their first double figure victory since joining the league when they beat the visiting Witton Park Rose and Crown for the loss of only three points. The Snooker Club took the first ten points when Craig Douthwaite, Mark Plews, John Peacock, Kevin Douthwaite and Michael Hopper all took two singles points each. The Rose and crown took the remaining points when Paul McConnell and Stuart Barker won the doubles and Paul Frame beat Michael Hopper in both captain's games.

The Coach and Horses are five points ahead of Crook Olde Horse Shoe, who have a match in hand, whilst Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B, Spennymoor Ashtree and Bishop Auckland King's Head, who are all seven points adrift of the Olde Horse Shoe, share third place.

Results: Bishop Auckland RAFA Club 5 Bishop Auckland Snooker B 8; Spennymoor Ashtree 12 Ferryhill Greyhound 1; Bishop Auckland Snooker Club A 10 Witton Park Rose and Crown 3; Spennymoor Weardale 11 Bishop Auckland Derby 2; Henknowle Manor House 8 Toft Hill Three Tuns 5; Bishop Auckland Football Club 8 Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms 5; Bishop Auckland King's Head 6 Crook Coach and Horses 7. Crook Olde Horse Shoe v Tow Law Station postponed.

Spennymoor League

Spennymoor Hillingdon were held to a draw by the visiting Spennymoor Penny Gill but they needed a last frame win by their captain to assure them of a share of the points. The home side had singles wins from P. Fox and B. Geldart whilst the Penny Gill went ahead with wins from Peter Carr, Gried Wyper and Baz Fulton. The Hillingdon levelled by taking the first doubles through Fox and Geldart but the visitors restored their lead when Fulton and Wyper won the second doubles. C. Simpson, the Hillingdon captain forced the draw when he beat Peter Carr.

Spennymoor Black Horse increased their lead at the top of the table to five points after whitewashing the visiting Coxhoe Red Lion. However the second placed Spennymoor Quinns Inn have a match in hand and are seven points ahead of Spennymoor Victoria.

Results: Spennymoor Voltigeur 4 Spennymoor Salvin Arms 4; Spennymoor Hillingdon 4 Spennymoor Penny Gill 4; Spennymoor Quinns Inn 7 Spennymoor FCB 1; Spennymoor Half Moon 4 Spennymoor Pit Laddie 4; Spennymoor Black Horse 8 Coxhoe Red Lion 0; Spennymoor Ash Tree 2 Spennymoor Victoria 6; Spennymoor FCA 4 Spennymoor Railway 4.

Bishop Auckland

Area League

With the teams on a week's break, the leading player in the race for the Player of the Year title is Derek Cooper of the Aclet with 16 wins from 21 games. In second place with 14 wins from 17 games is Steve Jones of the Hillingdon, whilst Steve Lowther of the Derby with 14 wins from 18 games.

Four players share fourth place with 13 wins from 19 games. They are Dave Jacomb of the Hillingdon, David Graham of the Voltigeur and Gary Brown of the Wheatsheaf.

P S A B C Bon Pts

King's Head 95 67 16 10 8 33 134

Derby 95 61 14 11 10 28 109

Wheatsheaf 100 59 15 6 7 22 109

Aclet 105 49 9 14 15 21 108

Victoria 90 49 8 11 10 25 103

Voltigeur 95 54 5 10 8 17 94

Manor 100 49 12 4 10 18 93

Hillingdon 100 43 10 7 10 15 85

Penny Gill 85 34 7 13 9 16 79

Grand 95 33 7 10 14 15 79

Bay Horse 100 44 3 10 9 12 78

Green Tree 100 38 10 10 6 10 74

Tow Law League

Tow Law North Point moved up to second place in the table after they only dropped two points to the visiting Tow Law New Market A. The Point took the first five singles games through Alan Henderson, Dave Morton, Gary Watson, Howard Spoors and Colin Armstrong before the visitors opened their account with a win from David Corrigan. The Market then took the first doubles through Phil Spencer and Terry Taylor but the Point completed their victory by taking the final two doubles.

Graeme Thompson won the first singles for Lanchester King's Head against the visiting Tow Law Dan's Castle A but that was their last success in the singles as Lee Stockdale, Lee Furber, Lee Wilkinson, Jamie Dowson and Anthony Hird won for the Castle. The visitors completed a fine victory when they took two of the three doubles points.

Tow Law Rose and Crown lead the table by two points, with Tow Law North Point in second place, one point ahead of Tow Law Dan's Castle A. Esh Football Club made a massive jump up the table following their whitewash success at Hamilton Row and are now in fourth place, just a point adrift of Dan's Castle A.

Results: Hamilton Row Black Horse 0 Esh Football Club 9; Tow Law Dan's Castle B 3 Tow Law Rose and Crown 6; Tow Law New Market B 5 Tow Law Cattle Mart 4; Tow Law North Point 7 Tow Law New Market A 2; Lanchester King's Head 2 Tow Law Dan's Castle A 7.