Hillingdon's home win

The Hilly had two singles points from John Bulmer and Ronnie McAloon with Shaun Bulmer and Ian Smith adding one each. In reply there were two singles points for the footballers from Lee Taylor and one each from Danny Parker and Carl Nelson. John Bulmer and David Storey took the doubles for the home side but Lee Taylor made the final score respectable by beating Ian Smith in both the captain's games.

Crook Olde Horse Shoe hold a 26 points lead at the top from Bishop Auckland Derby, who are three points ahead of Spennymoor Ashtree. The only other team who look likely challengers are Bishop Auckland King's Head, who are ten points adrift of the Ashtree.

Results: Bishop Auckland King's Head 9, Henknowle Manor House 4; Spennymoor Weardale 4, Crook Olde Horse Shoe 9; Bishop Auckland Derby 10, Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms 3; Witton Park Rose and Crown 4, Spennymoor Ashtree 9; Spennymoor Hillingdon 7, Bishop Auckland Football Club 6.

Crook League

The top two teams in both divisions hold commanding leads over those below them so it seems unlikely that any other team will be able to force their way among the trophies. In the First Division Crook Olde Horse Shoe A hold a nine point lead over Crook Travellers Rest B. The third placed Crook Belle Vue Club are 32 points adrift of the Travellers.

Things are a little closer in the Second Division, where Crook Surtees lead Crook Spitfire Club by three points, but the third placed Crook Golden Fleece and Crook White Swan are a further 19 points behind. However the Fleece and the Swan have a match in hand of the two leaders.

Results: Crook Coach and Horses A 2, Crook Belle Vue 5; Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 3, Crook Travellers Rest B 4; Crook Royal Sun 6, Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 1; Crook Travellers Rest A 5, Crook Queen's Head A 2; Crook Jelly's Bar A 3, Crook Mill House 4; Crook Surtees 3, Croft Social Club 4; Crook Crown 5, Crook Coach and Horses B 2; Crook White Swan 3, Crook Jelly's Bar B 4; Crook Queen's Head B 6, Crook Spitfire Club 1.

Spennymoor League

Ia vital top of the table clash Spennymoor Quinns Inn were able to strengthen their top spot with a two points home success over the visiting third placed, Chilton Wheatsheaf. The Quinns trailed after the singles when they only took two against the three scored by the visitors. However the home side came back to take both the doubles points and clinched the victory by winning the captain's game.

Spennymoor Victoria improved their league position when they only dropped one point on their visit to Coxhoe Red Lion, who only managed one singles win. The Victoria took four singles, both doubles and the caoptain's game.

Results: Spennymoor Penny Gill 3, Spennymoor Black Horse 5; Spennymoor Half Moon 7, Spennymoor Hillingdon 1; Spennymoor Quinn's Inn 5, Chilton Wheatsheaf 3; Spennymoor Railway 3, Spennymoor Voltigeur 5; Coxhoe Red Lion 1, Spennymoor Victoria 7.

Positions and points: 1 Quinns P 23, 133 points; 2 Pit Laddie 22, 122; 3 Chilton Wheatsheaf 23, 120; 4 Voltigeur 23, 114; 5 Black Horse 24, 114; 6 Half Moon 25, 99; 7 Victoria 22, 95; 8 Football Club 21, 92; 9 Spennymoor Wheatsheaf 23, 92; 10 Hillingdon 24, 87; 11 North Eastern 24, 78; 12 Ash Tree 21, 76; 13 Railway 23, 70; 14 Salvins 21, 68; 15 Red Lion 21, 67; 16 Penny Gill 22, 65; 17 Crown 24, 53.

Willington League

Howden Australian B needed a big win as they completed their programme at Willington Football Club in order to put pressure on Oakenshaw Club in their final match. However the footballers proved a hard nut to crack and only went down by the odd point. Steven Young, Michael Burke and Paul Davidson took singles points for the Aussie but Barry Lauder, Christopher Heslop and Carol Hawkins levelled. The visitors went to victory by taking two of the three doubles points. However this odd point win only leaves the Aussie B level with Oakenshaw Club, who have a match left to play.

An odd point away win at Howden Australian A made Oakenshaw Club almost certain champions again as they only need one point from their final match. John Allott, Ray Newton and Jimmy Bainbridge scored singles for the home side with Jason Walton, Dave Bennett and Tony Leighton squaring the match before the visitors took two of the doubles points for victory.

Results: Hunwick Quarry Burn 2, Willington Brewers Droop A 7; Willington Commercial 5, Prospect Club 4; Willington Black Horse Tavern 6, Willington Market 3; Howden Australian A 4, Oakenshaw Club 5; Willington Football Club 4, Howden Australian B 5. No result from Willington Brewer's Droop B v Sunnybrow Brown Trout.

Durham Ranking Tournament

The seventh ranking event will be held at Durham Snooker Club on Sunday, July 22 when players will be playing for cash prizes presented on the day and for Ranking and Merit points to qualify for the end of year competition.

The entry fee is £6 per player with entry being made on the day by 12 noon or by telephone to (0191) 3869339 if public transport is not going to get there in time. There has been this ease in the starting time because now five tables are in constant use.

New players are welcome to join at any stage of the 12 tournaments and, with the scoring system being generous, it is possible for a new player to shoot up the tables in just one successful event.

Current positions: 1 Michael Rhodes 33 ranking points, 79 merit points; 2 Andy Seal 26, 46; 3 Alan McCluskey 24, 44; 4 Chris Bowran 22, 45; 5 Colin Hutchinson 22, 39; 6 Darren Grainger 21, 34; 7 Gavin West 20, 34; 8 David Jackson 20, 27; 9 Dave Harrop 19, 38; 10 Wayne Watson 19, 25; 11 Paul Brockway 17, 30; 12 Andrew Morley 16, 26; 13 Ian Bertram 15, 18; 14 Gavin Hudspith 15, 15; 15 Helen Littlewood 15, 14; 16 Gee Cheng 14, 25; 17 John Mavin 14, 14; 18 Terry Barker 13, 18; 19 Dave Wilkinson 12, 22; 20 Shahin Hussian 12, 6; 21 Dave Lowery 12, 4; 22 Jim Bainbridge 11, 16; 23 equal Adrian Kavanagh and Leigh Mavin 11, 13; 25 Dave Harrison 10, 15; 26 Peter Jackson 9, 8; 27 Leigh Patterson 9, 3; 28 Johnny Roland 9, 2; 29 Jason Johnson 8, 10; 30 Frasier Powell 8, 8; 31 Kevin Allison 8, 2; 32 Alice Rhodes 7, 1; 33 Michael Burke 6, 11; 34 equal Eddie Rhodes and Sue Seal 6, 7; 36 equal Aaron Cowan and Brian Dunn 5, 3; 38 equal Matt Hillier and Kevin Wilkinson 4, 2; 40 Claire Tritton 4, 0; 41 Paul Dalziel 3, 5; 42 Dave Baines 3, 3; 43 equal Steven Armstrong, Steven Dawson and Ankur Nangpal 2, 2; 46 J. P. Clarke, Martin Mann and B. Smith 2, 1; 49 equal D. Anderson, A. Grant, Adam Grantham, Gary Henderson, Ian King, Dave Laws, J. Owens, Nichole Pate and T. Snowden 2, 0; 58 Neil Campbell 1, 1; and 59 equal Gary Emerson and Derek Perry 1, 0.

Tow Law League

Ithe top of the table clash Tow Law Station opened up a gap of seven points after they beat the visiting second placed Lanchester King's Head by three points. Steven Maughan put the home side ahead but then the King's had wins from Graeme Thompson and Harry Wales. The Station took the remaining singles through Malcolm Umpelby, Stephen Turner and Phillip Slater and followed up by taking two of the three doubles.

Tow Law Rose and Crown put up a great performance before going down in the deciding doubles at third placed, Tow Law New Market B. The home side had singles wins from Colin Armstrong, Alan Henderson and Ian Turner with the visitors replying through Chris Bowes, Neil Stevens and Lee Mowbray. After the first two doubles were shared Robert Hopps and Gary Turnbull beat Lee Mowbray and Neil Stevens in the decider.

Results: Hamilton Row Black Horse 6, Esh Football Club 3; Tow Law Station 6, Lanchester King's Head 3; Tow Law Football Club 3, Tow Law Cattle Mart 6; Tow Law Black Horse A 5, Tow Law New Market A 4; Billy Row Royal George 5, Tow Law Black Horse B 4; Tow Law New Market B 5, Tow Law Rose and Crown 4.

P W L Pts

Tow Law Station 7 7 0 46

Lanchester King's Head 7 4 3 39

Tow Law New Market B 7 6 1 37

Tow Law Cattle Mart 6 4 2 31

Tow Law Football Club 6 3 3 31

Tow Law Black Horse A 6 4 2 30

Esh Football Club 6 4 2 29

Sunniside Comedian 6 4 2 28

Tow Law Rose & Crown 7 2 5 26

Ham. Row Black Horse 6 3 3 25

Tow Law New Market A 6 0 6 20

Tow Law Black Horse B 7 0 7 19

Billy Row Royal George 7 1 6 1