Shelly takes cup

The first frame saw Shelley benefiting from his opponent's mistakes when he took an early 46-9 points lead. This was aided by Shelley compiling an excellent 38 break.

Beckett fought his way back into the frame and retook the lead by 56-46 thanks to a superb 26 break. Shelley managed to clinch the game when doubling in the pink to win 66-56.

The second frame was a scrappy affair with the highest break being only a 17 by young Beckett.

Beckett led this frame right up to the colours until Shelley struck at the last potting blue, pink and black to win 50-45.

Shelley was also on target to win the third frame when leading by 29 points to 16 but poor safety play combined with a spate of bad luck saw Beckett keeping his hopes alive when he won this game by 59-29.

In the fourth frame Shelley was trailing 29-2 until he compiled an outstanding 32 break to snatch the lead 34-29. Beckett then rallied to a 47-40 lead before Shelley potted the pink and black to take the frame by 53-47. Shelley was the worthy winner on the night by a scoreline of three frames to one.

Worthington CIU

Summer League

Paul Biddle of Spennymoor A knocked in a break of 101 in five minutes thirty seconds to put himself at the top of the leading breaks in the First Division and to take the only points for the Moors in their home game against Willington. The visitors took over after Biddle's brilliance with wins from Gordon Parkin, Arthur Goldsborough, Tom Parkin and Colin Lomax.

Second Divison leaders, Sherburn Village went down to their second defeat of the season when they lost the decider on their visit to Crook Belle Vue. The home side made a great start with wins from John Warriner and Derek Potts. However John Bower and Scott Mallaburn with a 36 break levelled the match. In the decider Harold Lomax beat Sherburn's Adrian Twist.

Ferryhill closed the gap on Sherburn Village to just two points when they only dropped one point to the visiting Newhouse A. Only Steve Mountain managed a point for Newhouse, while Les Lewis, Glyn Toas, Mark Wilson and Ian Roddam with a 42 break took the points for Ferryhill, who have a match in hand over Sherburn Village.

Wheatley Hill A maintained their four points lead at the top of the First Division after the visiting Stanley Central could only take one point. The Hill looked to be on their way to a whitewash win after Dave Walker hit a 40 break in the first frame and was followed with wins from Alan Hall, Jack Wright and Ronnie Peacock. However Harold Grimes saved the blank sheet for the central when he took the final frame.

Old Shildon remain four points adrift of Wheatley Hill A following their win for the loss of only one point at Witton Gilbert. Ian Renwick took the only point for the home side with a 32 break, while the visitors went to victory with wins from Michael Pratt, Charlie Blake, Billy Goggins with a 40 break and Stephen Bennett.

Fishburn A slipped another point behind Old Shildon in third place after they could only edge out the visiting Wheatley Hill B by the odd point. The Fishburn winners were Brian Quest, John Griffin and John Carter, while Dave Blyth and Tony Ellison won for the visitors. Fishburn are now three points behind Old Shildon.

Only John Armstrong managed a win for Shotton Palms when they visited Newton Aycliffe, who gave themselves a good league position boost with this win. The home points scorers were Stuart Neil, Michael Hewitt, Steve Nelson and John Briddick.

Despite losing in the decider at home to Langley Park, Brandon are still in third place in the Second Division, just a point behind Ferryhill, who have a match in hand. The Park started with wins from the Coates brothers, Stephen and Raymond. However the home side bounced back to level with wins from Brian Graham and Graeme Jackson. In the decider Langley Park's Paul Nord beat Kevin Sample. Durham City landed themselves in early relegation trouble in the Second Division after they were whitewashed on their visit to Newhouse B. The home side had wins from Brian Eltringham, John O'Driscoll, David Jackson, Alan Guy and Glen Morton.

In the Third Division, second placed Crowtrees failed to take advantage of the fact that the leaders, Spennymoor B had a bye when they went down by the odd point at Leeholme A. The visitors went ahead through Sonny Hann but then Leeholme took three in a row through Ray Gill, Carl Brown and Lawrence Jones. Keith McLauchlan took the final point or Crowtrees.

West Auckland moved up to equal third place with Hunwick, just two points adrift of Crowtrees, after they crushed the visiting Tow Law, who are still looking for their first win of the season. Doug Watson took the only point for the Lawyers while Andrew Sugden, Chris Kitch, Kelvin Fletcher and David Geraty won for West Auckland.

Hunwick joined West Auckland in third place in the Third Division after they beat the visiting Fishburn B in the decider. Alan Wilson put Fishburn ahead with Des Mason levelling. Michael Bell restored the visitors' lead only to see Arnold Fleming square the match again. In the decider Hunwick's Tom Ward beat Winston Hodgson on the black.

Sacriston were surprised to find themselves two down at home to Leeholme B, who had points from Gary Golightly and Stephen Bainbridge. However Gavin Richardson and Gary Barton managed to square the match. In the decider Sacriston's Mark Brown beat Glen Douthwaite.

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

Richardson and Westgarth Pro-Am Invitation

Fifteen-year-old England Youth International, Gary Wilson, got the tournament off to a great start, winning 5-4 after a terrific comeback.

From 4-1 down in a very exciting match, with breaks of 88, 53, 36 and 32, it was a remarkable performance for one so young.

Tony Short from Hartlepool, current Teesside Friendly League champion, looked home and dry, until young Wilson produced a tremendous finish. Local hope Mark Windsor had an excellent victory over Chris Shutt of Teesside, current World Open Billiards Champion by five frames to one, and keeps the local hopes alive.

Hartlepool Town Champion, Michael Rudd got the local fans excited with a tremendous victory over Redcar's Les Burnett to confirm that he is Hartlepool's finest prospect with breaks of 75, 47, 39, 36 and 22.

He won five frames to three to move into the first round proper against Carlisle professional Mike Nixon on Monday.

The last match of the first week, between Steve Burnett, last year's champion and M Strathern went to the final frame, and in an excellent match with breaks of 60, 46, 47, 44 and 38, both players playing very well, Burnett edged through 5-4.

CIU Worthington Team

Knock-out Cup

Second round draw, to be played on Tuesday, July 31: Leeholme B v Spennymoor A; Langley Park v Leeholme A; Fishburn A v Shotton Palms; Spennymoor B v Wheatley Hill B; Old Shildon v Sacriston; Willington v Newhouse B; Witton Gilbert v Hunwick; Wheatley Hill A v Sherburn Village.

Worthington CIU

Summer Singles

Second round results: Dennis Dodd (Spennymoor) lost to Sonny Hann (Crowtrees); Peter McGowan (Sherburn Village) lost to Paul Hickman (Shotton Palms); Kelvin Fletcher (West Auckland) beat Tom Parkin (Willington); Alan Greener (Sherburn Village) beat Graeme Jackson (Brandon); Stephen Coates (Langley Park) beat Michael Pratt (Durham City); Lawrence Jones (Leeholme) lost to Jimmy Evans (Shotton Palms); John Hall (Brandon) lost to Adrian Twist (Sherburn Village); David Jackson (Newhouse) beat Billy Goggins (Old Shildon); David Watson (Witton Gilbert) lost to Dave Walker (Wheatley Hill A); Kevin Sample (Brandon) lost to Frank Nicholson (Old Shildon); Alan Buist (Fishburn A) beat Sean Johnston (Crowtrees); Andrew Dent (West Auckland) beat John Hall (Crowtrees); Brian Graham (Brandon) lost to Stephen Hughes (Meadowfield); Michael Pratt (Old Shildon) beat Michael Bower (Sherburn Village); Andrew Sugden (West Auckland) beat Barry Shaw (Leeholme).

Worthington CIU Team Plate

First round draw, to be played on Tuesday, July 31: Crook Belle Vue v West Auckland; Ferryhill - bye; Meadowfield v Fishburn B; Tow Law - bye; Stanley Central v Crowtrees; Newhouse A v Newton Aycliffe; Durham City - bye; Brandon - bye.

South West Durham Association

Hopetown's home win over the Bishop Auckland Cricket Club pushed them six points clear at the top of the First Division. The only unbeaten team in the Association, Barnard Castle Glaxo were held to a draw at home by Ferryhill but still lead by two points.

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

Division One

P W D L Pts

Hopetown 9 6 2 1 26

Albert Hill 9 4 1 4 20

Darlington SCA 9 6 1 2 20

Darlington CC 8 4 2 2 18

B. Castle Follys 9 3 3 3 17

Bp. Auckland CC 9 2 2 5 14

Harrowgate Hill 9 2 3 4 16

Old Shildon 8 0 2 6 9

Division Two

P W D L Pts

B. Castle Glaxo 9 6 3 0 25

Shildon Elm Road 9 5 3 1 23

Northgate 9 4 3 2 23

Ferryhill 8 4 3 1 20

D'ton East End 7 3 2 2 14

Bp. Auck. Gents A 9 1 3 5 14

Darlington S.C.B. 9 2 0 7 10

Bp. Auck. Gents B 8 0 1 7