Tow Law and District League

Tow Law Cattle Mart threw the championship wide open when they beat the visiting leaders, Newhouse Club by three points. This allowed Esh Stag's Head, who won by five points at Esh McKennas, to move up and share the top spot with Newhouse Club. These two lead Tow Law Station by five points with just two matches left.

The Cattle Mart were never headed after landlady, Alison Boughey took the first point. John Gilchrist levelled only to see Colin Boughey restore the home lead. Dave Thornton again equalised but Stephen Boughey and Mally Henry took the last two singles to establish a lead. The Mart completed their victory when they took two of the three doubles.

The finish to the Captain's table is going to be very close for with only two matches left the positions and points are first equal Stag's Head, New Market B and Hamilton Row 14 each; fourth equal Royal Oak, Moss Inn and Newhouse 12 each; seventh equal Rose and Crown, Cattle Mart and Comedian 11 each; 10th equal McKennas and Esh Football Club 9 each; 12th New Market A 8; 13th Station 6.

Results: Tow Law Rose and Crown 4 Sunniside Moss Inn 5; Esh McKennas 2 Esh Stag's Head 7; Tow Law New Market A 3 Hamilton Row Black Horse 6; Tow Law Station 3 Cornsay Royal Oak 6; Tow Law Cattle Mart 6 Newhouse Club 3; Sunniside Comedian 6 Tow Law New Market B 5.

Crook League

The League's Singles Championship qualifier was held at the Queen's Head with two singles players and two pairs moving through to the Finals Night. In the first section of the singles John Warriner beat Stephen Heyes; Harry Tait beat Ron Bannister. In the play-off Harry Tait beat Warriner. In the second section of the singles Norman Slack beat Andrew Finch; Carl Maddison beat Rob Grayson. In the play-off Slack beat Maddison.

In the first doubles section S and M Gibson beat P Clement and D Leighton; E. Phillipson and B. Raine beat W. Fairhurst and D. Haygarth. In the play-off Phillipson and Raine beat S. &. M. Gibson.

In the second doubles section J. Winning and I. Bibby beat J. Walker and R. Hoggarth; D. Stewart and C. Pounder beat R. Banister and A. Saville. In the play-off Winning and Bibby beat Stewart and Pounder.

Willington Area League

Leaders, Willington Club received a shock when they visited Sunnybrow Brown Trout and were beaten by four points. The Trout had singles wins from Carol Hawkins, Derek Brazier, Colin Brown and Leslie Welch whilst Wilf Coney was the only scorer for the visitors. The Trout took the first doubles through John Latcham and Leslie Welch whilst the Club took the second through Alan Walker and Colin Walker. However the Trout completed a good win when Ronnie Bowes beat Scott Liddle in the captain's game.

Willington Club were able to hang on to the top spot but now they only lead the Prospect Club by one point. Five points adrift of the Prospect, the Black Horse Tavern and Cottles share third place, both with a match in hand.

Results: Hunwick Joiners Arms 8 Willington Commercial 0; Sunnybrow Brown Trout 6 Willington Club 2; Willington Cottles 4 Willington Lion and Unicorn 4; Prospect Club 4 Hunwick Quarry Burn 4; Willington Black Horse Inn 3 Willington Black Horse Tavern 5.

Willington and

District League

The top of the table clash turned out to be a very one-sided affair as second placed, Willington Black Horse whitewashed the visiting leaders, Hunwick Club to close the gap at the top and move up to share the leadership. The winners for the Horse were Dale Wilson, Mark Davis, Donald Young, Andrew Irwin and David Hawkins.

The Brown Trout closed the gap on the third placed Prospect Club, who are two points adrift of the joint leaders, when they only dropped one point to the visiting Willington Brewer's Droop A. The Trout made a great start with wins from Colin Brown, Dave Blackburn, Harry Sewell and Ian Stoker but were denied the maximum when Andrew Hutchinson took the last point for the visitors.

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

Crook Mill Dominoes

Crook Mill House will stage one of the biggest dominoes tournaments to be held in the area on Sunday, March 3.

The matches will be the best of 11 legs with the winner receiving two return flights to Amsterdam, London or Dublin, as well as all the entry fees paid out in prizes.

The event will start at 12.30p.m. on the Sunday afternoon with an entry fee of £10 per person. This entry fee must be paid at least 24 hours before the start of the tournament. Anyone interested in obtaining further details of the format or the entry arrangements should telephone organiser Ian Bibby on (01388) 766873.

Tow Law Area League

The final stages of the League's Pairs Championship will take place at Tow Law Football Club with the following players in action.

Malcolm Boughey & Alan Ogilvie (Cattle Mart), Michael Bell & Tom Hauxwell (Station), Marc Williams & Luke Johnson (Cattle Mart), Graeme Thompson & Rob Day (King's Head), Wayne Tennant & David Raine (Cattle Mart), Barry Sims & Colin Metcalfe (Hamilton Row), Jeff Ridley & Lee Cullinan (Comedian), Bill Goodall & Goff Bramfitt (New Market), Harold Eddlestone & Lenny Simmonds (Comedian), Phil Spencer & Shaun McGrath (New Market), Angela Armstrong & Alison Hopps (Black Horse), Les Hind & Terry Ginty (Football Club), Robert Hopps & Ray Weir (New Market), Arthur Henderson & Charlie Donaghy (Football Club), Gary Watson & Gary Turnbull (New Market), Isacc Slack & Keith Muse (Football Club) and Alan Henderson & Colin Armstrong (New Market).

CIU Singles Championship

Second round draw: A. Beckwith (Stanley Empire) v J. Hancock (Belmont); D. Birchall (Fishburn) v J. Bell (Belmont); M. Robinson (Fishburn) v C. Stainsby (Darlington); D. Houghton (Fishburn) v A. Buist (Fishburn); W. Willis (Fishburn) v W. Carter (Darlington East End); G. Smith (Fishburn) v C. Simpson (Cockfield); S. Killen (Stanley Empire) v J. P. Dodsworth (Fishburn); T. Jones (Old Shildon) v D. Patterson (Belmont). Results to be into the Branch Office by March 9