Snooker News

Darlington Snooker Club A are in second place following their two points win at Bishop Auckland Cricket Club, whilst Darlington Cricket Club are a further three points adrift in third place.

The position in the Second Division is much tighter with Northgate leading Ferryhill by a single point and Shildon Elm Road a further point adrift. However the final week's fixtures bring Northgate to Ferryhill, whilst Elm Road travel to fourth placed, Barnard Castle Glaxo with any two from four able to clinch promotion.

Results: Old Shildon 2 Albert Hill 2; Darlington Cricket Club 2 Hopetown 2; Harrowgate Hill 1 Barnard Castle Folly's 3; Bishop Auckland Cricket Club 1 Darlington Snooker Club A 3; Darlington Snooker Club B 2 Barnard Castle Glaxo 2; Northgate 4 Bishop Auckland Gents A 0; Bishop Auckland Gents B 0 Ferryhill 4.

Worthington CIU

Summer League

Wheatley Hill A stretched their lead at the top of the First Division to four points after they whitewashed the visiting Witton Gilbert. Jack Wright, Alan Hall, Dennis Clish and Ronnie Peacock won for the Hill with Dave Walker completing the maximum win with a 51 break.

Second placed, Old Shildon failed to hold pace with Wheatley Hill when they dropped a point at Shotton Palms, where Barry Hall took the final frame. Earlier Shildon had points from Billy Goggins, Michael Pratt, Charlie Blake and Frank Nicholson.

Newton Aycliffe share the third place in the First Division after dropping only one point to the visiting Spennymoor A, who took the first point through Paul Biddle. Aycliffe took over from there with wins from Chris Welch, Alan Clarke, Jim Wilson and Ronnie Bateman.

Fishburn A share the third place with Newton Aycliffe after they whitewashed their hosts at Willington. The winning visitors were John Griffin, Brian Quest, Charlie Hirst, Tommy Carter and John Carter.

In the tightest match of the week in the First Division, Stanley Central recovered from a two points deficit at home to Wheatley Hill B to win in the decider. Tony Ellison and Ken Johnson put the visitors ahead but then Frank Foster and Michael Vicary levelled. Jim Dufton clinched a Central win by beating Jock Frost.

Langley Park edged ahead at the top of a very close Second Division after they beat the visiting Meadowfield by the odd point. The Park had wins from Stephen Coates, Robert Roche and Kevin Keers with John Jackson and Stephen Hughes replying. This moves Langley Park one point ahead of Ferryhill, Meadowfield and Sherburn Village, with Ferryhill having a game in hand.

Ferryhill managed an odd point home win over Newhouse B when they had wins from Les Lewis, Mark Wilson and Bernie Jones. The visitors had points from David Jackson and John O'Driscoll.

Sherburn Village moved up to share the second spot in the Second Division after they only dropped one point at Newhouse A, who took the first point through Steve Mountain. Sherburn then took over with wins from Michael Bower, Scott Mallaburn, John Bower and Alan Greener.

Brandon kept themselves in the Second Division race after dropping only one point to the visiting Crook Belle Vue, who had John Warriner as their only winner. The Brandon points came from Kevin Sample, Graham Jackson, John Hall and Brian Graham.

In the re-arranged Second Division Newhouse derby match the A team were never ahead until they won the decider. The B team went ahead through John O'Driscoll with Kevin Allison levelling. Alan McCluskey restored the B team's lead with a 31 break only to see John Maddox square the match. In the decider Steve Mountain took the A team to victory by beating Glen Morton.

Spennymoor B are dominating the Third Division and moved five points clear following their maximum win over the visiting Tow Law. The Moors winners were Alan Rowell, Micky Anderson, Phil Wilson, Wayne Parry and Kurt McCormack.

Barry Shaw took the first point for Leeholme A against the visiting West Auckland, who were able to move into second place when they took the remaining points through David Geraty, Andrew Sugden, Kelvin Fletcher and Andrew Dent.

Fishburn B moved up to third place, two points adrift of West Auckland, after they only dropped one point against the visiting Sacriston, who took the first frame through Kevin Laing. The Fishburn team then took points through Wayne Oliver, Michael Bell, George Whitelock and Alan Wilson.

Crowtrees began their move to restore themselves to a high position with a whitewash win over the visiting Leeholme B when Sonny Hann, Peter Laverick, Sean Johnston, Keith McLaughlan and Martin Wolf.

Results: Leeholme A 1 West Auckland 4; Langley Park 3 Meadowfield 2; Wheatley Hill A 5 Witton Gilbert 0; Fishburn B 4 Sacriston 1; Brandon 4 Crook Belle Vue 1; Ferryhill 3 Newhouse B 2; Shotton Palms 1 Old Shildon 4; Crowtrees 5 Leeholme B 0; Spennymoor B 5 Tow Law 0; Stanley Central 3 Wheatley Hill B 2; Newton Aycliffe 4 Spennymoor A 1; Newhouse A 3 Newhouse B 2; Willington 0 Fishburn A 5; Newhouse A 1 Sherburn Village 4.

Richardson and Westgarth Pro-Am Invitation

Mike Dunn cold not cope with David Lilley in the first semi-final of the tournament, going down 5-2.

After a scrappy first frame, Lilley settled down into his usual smooth style, very reminiscent of Steve Davis.

Proceeding to put top North-East professional, Dunn, under ever-increasing pressure with his clinical potting, Lilley chalked-up breaks of 32, 38, 57, 77 and a superb 100 which was his third century of the tournament.

He soon built up an unassailable lead, although Dunn did reply with breaks of 36 and 63, but Lilley marched on relentlessly to the final.

In the other semi-final, Malcolm Billclough set up a mouthwatering final clash by beating David Craggs 5-1.

In front of a capacity audience, assisted by breaks of 33, 36, 48, 50, 53 and 76, Billclough played to the high standard of snooker that he has played every match

It would be a brave pundit who would forecast the winner of the final which carries a first prize of £500.