Bishop Auckland League

Spennymoor Ashtree came out on top in the local derby when the visiting Hillingdon went down by three points. The home side had two singles points from Stephen Jones and Paul Biddle, while Harry Baillie and Chris Bowran added one each.

The Hillingdon replied with two points from Baz Walton and one each from Mark Frizzell and Ronnie McAloon.

The Hillingdon closed the gap when Kevin Waterhouse and Mark Frizzell won the doubles but Paul Biddle completed a good win for the Ashtree by taking both the captains points against Baz Walton.

Despite this win the Ashtree lost their place at the top of the table, when Crook Olde Horse Shoe took over. Bishop Auckland Football Club took a weakened team to the Shoe and only managed to collect two points, one in the singles for Craig Lumley and one in the captain's game for Lee Taylor against Gavin Witton. The Shoe had two points for Stephen Liddle, John Mason, Gavin Witton and Richard Walker, with John Mason and Stephen Liddle adding the doubles.

The Olde Horse Shoe lead by one point from the Ashtree with Bishop Auckland Derby two points adrift.

Results: Bishop Auckland Cumberland 3, St. Helens Wheatsheaf 10; Spennymoor Ashtree 8, Spennymoor Hillingdon 5; Bishop Auckland Derby 8, Spennymoor Weardale 5; Witton park Rose and Crown 4, Bishop Auckland King's Head 9; Crook Olde Horse Shoe 11, Bishop Auckland FC 2.

Durham County

The Durham County team's trip to Great Yarmouth for the Finals of the English Championships, coupled with England trials, was disappointing. In the team Championship the Durham side lost to both Cambridgeshire and Leicestershire to go out at the round robin stage.

In the England trials, Durham were well represented by John Bourne of Chester-le-Street, Andy Seal of Sherburn Hill, Paul Armstrong of Shildon, Dave Hodgson of Durham and Sonny Hann of Bowburn. All turned in some useful performances with John Bourne just missing out on a place in the England squad by a single frame.

The one success came when Michael Rhodes of Durham won one of the cash competitions held before the main events.

Willington League

Willington Black Horse were stretched at home before they came through by the odd point against. The Horse had a great chance of closing the gap on the leading Oakenshaw Club but the Burn shocked them by moving ahead with wins from Geoff Foster and Steve Wayman. Craig Eales and Andrew Featherstone levelled the match with Alan Franks taking the next singles for the visitors while Mark Davis equalised in the final singles. The Horse won the vital fifth point when Neville Ridley and Tommy Parkin won their doubles.

Oakenshaw Club lead the table by five points from the Black Horse, but they have been joined in joint second place by Howden Australian B, who only dropped one point at Willington Market, who took the first point through Barry Greensmith. Hunwick Club only dropped two doubles points at the neighbouring Quarry Burn to move into fourth place but trail by 11 points.

Results: Willington Brewer's Droop B 3 Prospect Club 6; Willington FC 7 Sunnybrow Brown Trout 2; Willington Black Horse Tavern 5 Willington Burn 4; Willington Market 1 Howden Australian B 8; Hunwick Quarry Burn 2 Hunwick Club 7; Willington Commercial 3 Oakemnshaw Club 6.

Spennymoor League

Coxhoe Kicking Cuddy fought back at Spennymoor Hillingdon to force a very creditable draw. The home side had singles wins from K Smith, C Simpson and P Fox with replies coming from Nigel Gemmil and John Cockburn. The doubles were then shared leaving the Kicking Cuddy captain, John Cockburn to force the draw by beating G. Smith, the Hillingdon captain.

Spennymoor Pit Laddie lead the table by one point from Spennymoor Black Horse, who hold a similar advantage over Chilton Wheatsheaf. However the unbeaten Spennymoor Quinns Inn are just one point adrift of the Chilton team but have a match in hand.

Results: Coxhoe Red Lion 5 Spennymoor Voltigeur 3; Spennymoor Quinns Inn 5 Spennymoor Wheatsheaf 3; Spennymoor Pit Laddie 5 Spennymoor Black Horse 3; Spennymoor Penny Gill 4 Spennymoor Salvin Arms 4; Coxhoe Kicking Cuddy 2 Spennymoor Hillingdon 6; Spennymoor Half Moon 6 Spennymoor Ashtree 2; Spennymoor Hillingdon 4 Spennymoor Kicking Cuddy 4; Spennymoor Crown 0 Spennymoor North Eastern 8; Spennymoor Black Horse 5 Spennymoor Pit Laddie 3; Chilton Wheatsheaf 4 Spennymoor Railway 4.

Region One Inter-Counties

The two men's teams from Durham County maintained their unbeaten record for the new season with two big home wins over North Yorkshire, while the ladies team pulled off a 2-2 draw.

The men's A team won 31-13 with three players winning all four of their games. They were Steve Wray of Ferryhill, John Bourne of Durham and Paul Armstrong of Shildon. There were three wins from four games for Andy Seal of Sherburn Hill, Andrew Morley from Durham and Gavin West of Coxhoe.

The men's B team recorded an even bigger win when they triumphed by 40 frames to four. There were four wins from four games for Paul Shutt of Durham, Chris Bowran of Bishop Auckland, Ian Staines of Durham, Barry Patterson of Thornley, Paul Dudding of Durham, Richard Walker of crook and Eddie Mackay of Newton Aycliffe.

In the next round of inter-counties matches, Durham are away on Sunday, April 22 to South Yorkshire.