Witton Park Rose and Crown pulled off a very good victory when they visited Spennymoor Weardale.

The home side had two singles wins from Shane Casen with Terry Irvin and Lou Cooper adding one each. The Rose and Crown replied with two points from Dean Hodgson and Neil Salt with Paul McConnell and Stuart Barker. The visitors went on to take the doubles through Graham Maughan and Dean Hodgson and then Paul Frame shared the captain's points with Shane Casen.

Crook Olde Horse Shoe, the leaders, visited second placed Spennymoor Ashtree and edged through to a three point victory. The home side had one point each from Tony Biddle, Alan Jones, Stephen Jones and Paul Biddle. The Shoe replied with two points for Gavin Witton and one each from Gerald Parkin, Stephen Liddle, Cliff Owen and Dave Walker. Cliff Owen and Stephen Liddle took the doubles for the Shoe before Paul Biddle and Gavin Witton shared the captain's points.

The position at the top really tightened after last week's matches for Bishop Auckland King's Head, Crook Olde Horse Shoe and Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B share the top spot with Crook Coach and Horses three points adrift. The Ashtree slipped down to fifth place.

Results: Bishop Auckland King's Head 11 Bishop Auckland Derby 2; Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms 3 Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B 10; Bishop Auckland RAFA 1 Tow Law Station 12; Spennymoor Ashtree 5 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 8; Bishop Auckland Snooker Club A 4 Crook Coach and Horses 9; Spennymoor Weardale 5 Witton Park Rose and Crown 8; Henknowle Manor House 11 Ferryhill Greyhound 2. Bishop Auckland Football Club v Toft Hill Three Tuns postponed.

Crook League

Crook Travellers Rest B, who have been among the trophies for many years, opened the new season with a draw at the Coach and Horses A, who recovered after getting to the point of no return but levelled when they took the last two singles. The Coach had one point each from Adam Martin, Keith Norman, Les Scott and Alan Moses, whilst the Travellers went within a whisker of victory with two points from Jimmy Singlewood and one each from Aaron Cowan, Michael Burke and Peter Coates to add to the two doubles from Jim Ainsley with Jimmy Singlewood and Neil Campbell with Michael Burke. However Dave McCain beat Aaron Cowan and then Phil Tobin beat Jim Ainsley to force a well-earned draw.

Results: Crook Queen's Head A 7 Crook Queen's Head B 7; Croft Social Club 7 Crook Jelly's Bar 7; Crook Golden Fleece 9 Crook Royal Sun B 5; Crook White Swan 6 Willington Market 8; Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 12 Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 2; Crook Royal Sun A 11 Crook RAFA Club 3; Crook Travellers Rest A 10 Crook Surtees 4; Crook Belle Vue 8 Crook Mill House 6; Crook Coach and Horses A 7 Crook Travellers Rest B 7