Worthington CIU Winter League

Sherburn Village took the Second Division Championship after they won a play-off against Meadowfield by taking the decider after never leading in the match at Tow Law. However. Meadowfield will still be promoted with Sherburn Village.

The first frame between Sherburn's Michael Crisp and John Jackson was very slow to start with some tight safety play preventing movement on the scoreboard. Eventually Crisp edged into a narrow lead but then Jackson found his best forma and ran in a twenty-six break to push Meadowfield one ahead.

In the second frame Alan Greener of Sherburn started exceptionally well and raced away to a thirty-five points lead whilst Ian Hodgson struggled from the positions he was left in. However he benefited from a slack safety shot from Greener to gain some confidence and clawed his way back into the frame. Greener went off the boil and the frame reached the spot where both players needed the final black to win. A series of safety shots followed until Jackson slipped up and the black went invitingly close to the green pocket, where Greener despatched it to level the match.

Stephen Hughes of Meadowfield raced away from John Bower with some inspired potting and looked to have the point safely sewn up. However Bower made a late bid to get into the frame and managed to close the gap to where he needed a snooker on the pink. He succeeded in dropping the cue ball close behind the black but Hughes pulled off a three cushions escape and went on to win the frame.

After the break for supper, Peter McGowan of Sherburn got into the lead in the fourth frame against Malcolm Hughes. However Hughes fought back to take the frame to a black ball fight. Both players missed chances until McGowan pulled off a very good long pot to take the match to a decider.

Norman Smith of Meadowfield faced Scott Mallaburn and never really got into the game. Mallaburn steadily extended his lead until he held a fifty points advantage with two reds left when Smith retired.

In the other play-off Newton Aycliffe met Willington at Durham City to decide which team would be relegated from the First Division. In the first frame Willington's Jeremy Martin ran in a comfortable win over Bill Barrigan. Simon Tweddle looked to have squared the match for Newton Aycliffe when he led Derek Parkin but the Willington player came back to pot the final black for a two points win. In the thid frame Gordon Park of Willington plunged Newton Aycliffe into the Second Division when he beat Marc Howe.

Worthington CIU Team Plate Final

Belmont for the Second Division faced Old Shildon, the First Division champions with seventy-two points start for the final at Crook Belle Vue. The underdogs got away to a great start when Steven Armstrong beat Jossie Aldworth by nine points.

The second frame produced a big shock when Mick Short of Belmont hit his best ever form and completely outplayed Charlie Blake to extend the Belmont lead to one hundred and thirty-one points. Steven Bennett brought Old Shildon to within ninety-six points of Belmont when he beat Chris Morley.

The entire match was turned round when Old Shildon's Michael Pratt potted everything in sight and never left Eric Clough the slightest chance to get into the frame. Pratt turned the game in favour of Old Shildon when he pushed them into a twenty points lead going into the final frame.

In the final frame Billy McGrath put up a sound performance for Belmont, but Billy Goggins had the necessary confidence from the start to go on to take the frame and the trophy for Old Shildon by fifty-four points.

Worthington CIU Singles Championship Final

Dave Walker of Wheatley Hill met Michael Pratt of Old Shildon in the best of five frames final staged at Crowtrees. The first frame was a nervous affair with both players relying on a long spell of tight safety play before opening out to take the opportunities offered. Neither player managed to open out a decisive lead, although Pratt held a twelve points lead with just the pink and black remaining. Pratt had a huge slice of luck when he put the pink down with a fluke.

In the second frame the black and pink were quickly tied up on the top cushion, but Walker got in with a chance and knocked in a few blues to make a decisive thirty break. The third frame was again very tight with Pratt moving back ahead when he won on the black following a twenty-three break.

The fourth frame followed the pattern of the third but reached the end stages with Pratt just requiring pink or black to take the title. Both players missed chances on the pink but then Pratt looked to have clinched the match only to be thwarted when the pink wobbled and moved over the middle pocket. A grateful Walker potted it and levelled the match by sinking the black. In the deciding frame Walker won to take the Championship.

South West Durham Association

Darlington Railway Institute played their first match after replacing Barnard Castle Folly's and showed their strength when they only dropped one point to title challengers, Darlington Snooker Club A. the First Division leaders are Harrowgate Hilll with Hopetown and Darlington Snooker Club A sharing second place, two points adrift.

In the Second Division fourteen years old Gavin Robinson put in a 39 break to help Bishop Auckland Cricket Club draw at Bishop Auckland Gents A. Shildon Elm Road and Darlington Snooker Club C share the top spot in the Second Division with a two points advantage over Old Shildon and Darlington Snooker Club B, who share second place.

Results: Northgate 4 Tindale Crescent 0; Darlington Railway Institute 3 Darlington Snooker Club A 1; Darlington Cricket Club 1 Harrowgate Hill 3; Hopetown 3 Barnard Castle Glaxo 1; Old Shildon 3 Shildon Elm Road 1; Bishop Auckland Gents A 2 Bishop Auckland Cricket Club 2; Darlington Riley's 2 Darlington Snooker Club B 2; Darlington Snooker Club C 4 Bishop Auckland Gents B 0.