Bishop Auckland and District League

Spennymoor Weardale made an excellent start in their home match against the strong team from Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B when they took six singles points. Tony Irvin led the way with two points with Gordon Williams, Martin Short, Lou Cooper and Shane Casen adding one each. The visiting Snooker Club had one point each from Chris Peacock, Michael Hoggart, Kevin Stewart and Steve Balanaves.

The visitors closed the gap further when Paul Willey and Chris Peacock won the doubles and then edged through to victory when Michael Hoggart beat Shane Casen in both the captain's games.

Spennymoor Ashtree bounced back from their unexpected defeat at Ferryhill Greyhound last week with an point success in the decider at Crook Coach and Horses. In the singles the Coach had two points from Michael Burke and one each from Neil Harker and Alan Moses, whilst the visitors replied with two points for Paul Biddle and Harry Baillie and one each for Tony Biddle and Stephen Jones.

Michel Burke and Neil Harker took the doubles for the Coach to close the gap and then Les Scott squared the match by taking the first of the captain's games against Paul Biddle. However Paul took his team to victory by winning the second.

Crook Olde Horse Shoe lead the table by five points from Bishop Auckland King's Head, who are two ahead of the Ashtree and the Snooker Club B.

Results: Bishop Auckland Football Club 8 Bishop Auckland Derby 5; Bishop Auckland King's Head 12 Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms 1; Henknowle Manor House 9 Witton Park Rose and Crown 4; Bishop Auckland RAFA 7 Toft Hill Three Tuns 6; Ferryhill Greyhound 3 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 10; Bishop Auckland Snooker Club A 6 Tow Law Station 7; Crook Coach and Horses 6 Spennymoor Ashtree 7; Spennymoor Weardale 6 Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B 7.

Willington League

Howden Australian closed the gap at the top when they only dropped two points to the visiting Willington Brewer's Droop A. The Aussie raced through the first five singles with wins from Ian Williams, John Allott, Steven Burke, Michael Richardson and Jimmy Bainbridge before the Brewer's took their first point with a win from Jimmy Fleming. Alan Lee and Paul Williams took the first doubles for the visitors but the Aussie completed a good win by taking the final two doubles.

Hunwick Club's lead at the top was cut to three points when they went down by five points on their visit to the Prospect Club, who had singles wins from Adrian peacock, Steven Britton, Phil Blyth, Shaun Blyth and Trevor Allchurch with Paul Maddison taking the only singles point for the visitors. This win moved the Prospect five points behind the Australian.

Results: Sunnybrow Brown Trout 7 Hunwick Quarry Burn 2; Willington Black Horse 9 Willington Commercial 0; Howden Australian 7 Willington Brewer's Droop A 2; Willington Brewer's Droop B 2 Willington Market 7; Prospect Club 7 Hunwick Club 2.

Spennymoor League

Spennymoor Hillingdon only managed to take one point on their visit to Spennymoor Quinn's Inn when Colin Simpson won his singles. The Quinns had singles wins from Ken Ellis, Keith Jones, Dave Elliott and Geoff Embleton. The home side also took both doubles with wins from Steve Lynn with Geoff Embleton and John Ball with Ken Ellis. Dave Elliott completed a good night for the Quinn's when he beat Colin Simpson in the captain's game.

The Quinns must be seriously regretting their breaches of the rules, which has cost them four points for they are still in second place, two points adrift of the Spennymoor Salvin Arms. Third place is shared between Spennymoor Voltigeur and Spennymoor Victoria, three points behind the Quinn's Inn.

l The next League Meeting will be held in the Quinn's Inn at 8.00p.m. on Wednesday March 13 when all teams must be represented.

Results: Spennymoor F.C.A. 4 Spennymoor penny Gill 4; Spennymoor Victoria 4 Spennymoor Railway 4; Spennymoor Salvin Arms 5 Coxhoe Red Lion 3; Spennymoor Black Horse 6 Spennymoor Pit Laddie 2; Spennymoor Quinn's Inn 7 Spennymoor Hillingdon 1; Spennymoor Half Moon 5 Spennymoor Ashtree 3; Spennymoor Voltigeur 5 Spennymoor FCB 3.

Bishop Auckland

Area League

The Derby maintained their lead at the top of the table with a win against the Green Tree. Andrew Delve and Michael Richardson started off by winning the first two singles games for the Derby before Melvin Metcalfe pulled one back for the Green Tree. Stuart Milne and Gary Dixon then took the next two games for the Derby to give them a 4-1 lead after the singles. The Derby continued their winning form with the A doubles being won by Stephen Lowther and Michael Richardson and the B doubles by Jeff Dixon and Stuart Milne. Simon Hamilton then scored a consolation point from the Captains for the Tree to leave the Derby four point winners.

The third and fourth placed teams, Manor and Wheatsheaf respectively, clashed this week with the Manor coming out on top. Martin Armstrong for the Manor shared the first two singles games with Andy Mole for the Wheatsheaf before John Collinson and Ron Wright gave the Manor a 3-1 lead. Gary Brown then pulled a point back for the Wheatsheaf. Stephen Horner and Gary Brown then took the A doubles for the Wheatsheaf to level the score. In the B doubles games Chris Henderson and John Collinson for the Manor took the point and the Manor then completed the victory with Ron Wright taking the decisive Captains game to give the Manor a narrow win.

Results: Bishop Auckland Aclet 3 Bishop Auckland Kings Head 5, Bishop Auckland Bay Horse 3 Spennymoor Voltigeur 5; Henknowle Manor 5 St. Helens Wheatsheaf 3; Bishop Auckland Derby 6 Bishop Auckland Green Tree 2.

Tow Law League

The Finals Night will be held at Tow Law Black Horse on Wednesday, March 13 at 7.30pm. The eight players still involved in the Singles Championship are: Lee Cullinan, David Craggs, Lee Mowbray, Raymond Johnson, Steven Turner, Les Hind, Charlie Donaghy and Steven Todd.

The finalists in the Doubles Championshp are: Kevin McCormick and Paul Carroll, Anthony Hird and David Craggs, Steven Maughan and Steven Turner and Robert Hopps and Ray Weir.

Durham and

District League

Bowburn Oak Tree B lost vital points in their quest for the title but they did manage to come through to an odd point victory on their visit to Framwellgate Moor Marquis of Granby. The home side made a good start when Dave Hodgson won the first frame. However the high flying visitors, who only have Durham Snooker Club above them in the table, put in a run of five frames in a row when Paul Moralee, Brian Hann, Pop Maughan, Neil Hunter and Ray Miller won.

However the Marquis were not prepared to go down with a fight and ran in wins in the next four frames through Paul Shutt, Graeme Comerford, who cleared the table from the break, Dave Hodgson and Helen Littlewood. The Oak Tree recovered to square the match through Pop Maughan and then Ray Miller clinched the vital seventh point. The Marquis kept the defeat to the minimum when Dave Hodgson beat Neil Hunter in the captain's game. All the players, officials and supporters connected with the league wish Helen Littlewood the very best of luck in her England Ladies team trials, which start today.

Results: Sacriston Daisy Hill 8 Broom Park Loves 5; Durham Snooker Club 10 Esh McKennas 3; Bowburn Oak Tree A 5 Ushaw Moor Catholic Club 8; Ushaw Moor Flass Inn 3 Chester-le-Street Garden Farm 10; Framwellgate Moor Marquis of Granby 6 Bowburn Oak Tree B 7.

There were no results from Gilesgate D.L.I. v Durham Wood man or Coxhoe Club v Meadowfield Club. Bowburn Cooperage did not travel to the Three Horse Shoes.

Durham County

Super League

Shildon went to the top of the table with the best win of the week when they beat the visiting Aycliffe B 12-2.Shildon had two wins from Paul Armstrong, Martin Taylor, Andrew Tennant, Rance Richardson, Michael Hoggart and Steve Phillips. Aycliffe B had wins from Ross Killip and Graeme Dawes. League Champions Crook B went down to their third defeat in a row on their visit to Ferryhill and lost 9-5. Winners for Ferryhill with two wins were Simon Corbridge and Martin Short, one win for Steve Wray, Terry Wray, Joe Wray, Steve Webster and Chris Murray. Crook B had wins from Cliffy Owens, JohnWarriner, Gerald Parkin, Steve Hunter and David Stephenson. Crook A had their first win of the season when they beat the unbeaten Aycliffe A 8-6. Crook A had two wins from Steven Liddle, Jim Ainsley and Aaron Cowens, and one win for Neil Campbell and Michael Burke. Aycliffe A had wins from Steve Bainbridge, Andrew Tuesday, Craig Poskett, Dave Bromley, Johnny Mason and Christopher Mason.

Durham B had their third 9-5 win on their visit to BishopAuckland.

Durham B had two wins from Chris Bowron, Andy Seal and Dave Hodgson,and one win from Paul Brockway, Gary Carr and Ian Dinsdale. Bishop replied with wins from Mal Parry, Kevin Watson, David Baird, Peter Mernor and Ron Wright.

Durham A entertained Consett and went down 9-5. Consett had two wins from Dave Harrop, Seamus Nolan and Alan Dixon, one win each for Allison Watson, Colin Armstrong and Adrian Kavanagh. Durham had wins from Helen Littlewood, Lee Holdsworth, Dave Neill, Paul Shutt and Chris Greenwell.

Crook League

The new season will begin on Wednesday, March 13 when there will be two divisions of ten teams each.

The fixtures for the first week are - Division One: Crook Royal Sun A v Crook Spitfire Club; Crook Coach and Horses A v Crook Travellers Rest B; Crook Olde Horse Shoe A v Crook Olde Horse Shoe B; Crook Travellers Rest A v Crook Surtees; Crook Belle Vue Club v Crook Mill House.

Division Two: Willington Market v Crook White Swan; Croft Social Club v Crook Jelly's Bar B; Crook Queen's Head A v Crook Queen's Head B; Crook Jelly's Bar A v Crook Coach and Horses B; Crook Golden Fleece v Crook Royal Sun B