Newhouse over-aken

Tow Law Rose and Crown moved Newhouse Club from the top of the table for the first time in weeks when they won by the odd point away from home and allowed Esh Stag's Head to go two points clear with just one match remaining.

The singles were shared at Newhouse Club with John Gilchrist, Jimmy Craine and Stan Conway winning for the home side, whilst Dorothy Mowbray, Sandra Snowdon and Tony English replied. The visitors then went to victory by taking two of the three doubles points.

Esh Stag's Head took five singles points when only Colin Boughey won for the visiting Tow Law Cattle Mart. The home singles points came from Bob March, John Hodgson, Tom March, Ray Brown and Mattie Walker. The Mart recovered to take two of the doubles points.

These results pushed the Stag's Head two points clear of Newhouse Club and five ahead of Tow Law Station with just one game left for each team.

Results: Esh Football Club 5 Tow Law New Market A 4; Tow Law New Market B 5 Sunniside Moss Inn 4; Hamilton Row Black Horse 3 Tow Law Station 6; Newhouse Club 4 Tow Law Rose and Crown 5; Esh Stag's Head 6 Tow Law Cattle Mart 3.

Willington and

District League

Sunnybrow Brown Trout threw the title chase wide open when they visited the league leaders, Hunwick Club and whitewashed their hosts. This moved Hunwick down to third place, whilst lifting the Trout to fourth just a point behind their hosts but with a match in hand. The winners for the Trout were Dave Brazier, Harry Sewell, Steve Richardson, Ian Stoker and Tommy Liddle.

The top spot is now shared by the Black Horse Tavern and the Prospect Club. The Prospect had wins from Phil Blyth, Steven Britton, Ces Atkinson and Shaun Blyth and Trevor Allchurch to whitewash their hosts at the Brewer's Droop A. The Black Horse Tavern were stretched at the Quarry Burn but came through with an odd point success thanks to points from Mark Davis, Dale Wilson and Donald Young, whilst Dave Edmundson and Brian Johnson scored for the home side.

Results: Hunwick Quarry Burn 2 Willington Black Horse Tavern 3; Willington Market 0 Howden Australian 5; Willington Commercial 4 Willington Brewer's Droop B 1; Willington Brewer's Droop A 0 Prospect Club 5; Hunwick Club 0 Sunnybrow Brown Trout 5.

Crook League

The second qualifying stage of the League's Singles and Doubles Championships were held at Crook Coach and Horse with two winners from each going forward to Finals Night. In the semi-finals stage of the singles Peter Coates lost to Steven Todd and Dave Willey beat Roy Hoggarth, whilst in the other side of the draw, Stephen Murphy beat Alan Thompson and Gerald Parkin beat Paul Lauder.

In the two deciders, Todd beat Willey and Parkin beat Murphy.

In the Doubles semi-finals Neil Campbell and Doug Bowey beat Paul Ford and Ronnie Heslop whilst Tony Storey and Alan Thompson beat Paul Briddick and Gary Trow. In the other half of the draw Gerald Parkin and Les Scott lost to Derek Varley and Stephen Murphy whilst Ian Parrish and Paul Lauder beat John Howarth and Neil Harker.

In the top half of the draw, Campbell and Bowey beat Storey and Thompson with Varley and Murphy beating Parrish and Lauder in the bottom half.

Willington Area League

Willington Brewer's Droop took the first four points against the visiting Willington Lion and Unicorn with wins from Jimmy Fleming, Billy Wragg, Mark Watkin and Freddy Williamsom. However the visitors began their fight back when Joe Bolam took the last singles. The visitors then took both doubles through Phil Allison with Joe Bolam and Denise Walker with Sharon Troy. The Lion and Unicorn then gained a draw when Phil Allison beat Jimmy Fleming in the captain's game.

P W D L Pts

Willington Club 22 12 6 4 98

Prospect Club 22 9 9 4 97

Black Horse Tav 21 11 4 6 92

Wil'ton Cottles 21 9 9 3 92

Brown Trout 21 10 3 8 91

Quarry Burn 21 5 11 5 86

Brewer's Droop 20 9 7 4 85

Victoria Club 20 7 9 4 85

Joiners Arms 21 6 5 10 80

Black Horse Inn 21 6 6 9 79

Lion & Unicorn 21 4 8 9 77

Commercial 22 3 7 12 71

Willington Burn 21 3 2 16 63