Snooker

President's Cup Final

The final was played between Carlin How A and eventual winners Guisborough Cons. A at the Saltburn Conservative Club. The scratch competition comprises four singles and two doubles frames.

Andrew Shelley, of Carlin How, made early breaks of 23 and 28 against Arthur Smith. With the aid of some outstanding potting Shelley went on to win 98-30. Guisborough, at this stage now one frame behind and 68 points in arrears for the long game, needed to steady the ship. Colin Buckton managed to do just this when with tenacious safety and steady potting he beat Gary Moon 57-42. The team's were now locked at one frame each with Carlin still retaining a slight advantage in the 53 points aggregate score for the long game. Next up, Guisborough's Steve Rutter, played a very patient safety game but when given the chances potted very clinically. He eventually overcame Brian Magor 100-33. This game had now turned the tables with Guisborough ahead 2-1 and more importantly, reversing the long game to 14 points aggregate in their favour. Mark Earl, of Carlin How, could not take advantage of the scant opportunities given to him by Mike King. King went on to win 64-26, therefore increasing the frame score in Guisborough's favour to 3-1 but more importantly also extending their points advantage in the long game to 52. The next match was between Guisborough Cons. duo Smith and Buckton who played Shelley and Moon. The Guisborough pair completely contained their opponents beating them 49-4. Guisborough Cons. were worthy winners on the night by 4-1.

League

With Redcar WMC having been crowned champions of Division One Carlin How's A team did their push for the runners-up spot no harm when beating visitors Redcar Lakes A 4-2. Mark Earl kicked off the match sharing the spoils with Graham Marshall, the frame scores ended 49-58 and 62-22. Gary Moon faired no better, sharing the next two frames with Ray Pearson 48-36 and 30-58. Anchor man Andrew Shelley made no mistake, taking the final two frames from Neil Grey with scores of 58-30 and 55-48. Redcar WMC were in no mood to step off the gas when whitewashing their guests New Marske 6-0. In this match Dave Beckett compiled a 62 break, Richard Beckham a 57 and Gary Beckett a 59.

Redcar Cons., on their travels, played Redcar Lakes's B team and came away with a respectable 3-3 draw. Grinkle Park made their intentions for survival crystal clear after notching up yet another victory when beating Redcar WMC B 4-2. This leaves Grinkle five points clear of the drop zone. Third placed team Marske WMC also notched up a 4-2 victory against Lune Street but this result still leaves them trailing the runners-up spot by three points. Guisborough Cons. continued their good run of form after whitewashing Ennis Square 6-0. This result has dropped Ennis Square into second from bottom and with three matches remaining they are now staring relegation in the face.

In the second division Carlin How's B team, on their travels to New Marske, had an absolute nightmare. Before this match Carlin were one point from an automatic promotion spot. New Marske ended as comprehensive winners on the night 5-1. Second placed Lakes C extended their lead between themselves and Carlin How to five clear points after convincingly beating Redcar Unionists A 5-1. During this match an on-form Steve Quain compiled an excellent 52 break. Redcar Cons. carried on their good form when beating Saltburn Cons. B 5-1. Marske WMC had an excellent away result when beating Guisborough TA 4-2. Redcar Unionist's B also won by the same scoreline at the displeasure of Guisborough Cons.

Division One

P W D Pts

Redcar WMC A 19 17 1 96

Carlin How WMC A 19 10 8 70

Marske WMC A 19 10 4 67

Lune Street SC A 19 8 7 62

Guisborough Cons. A 19 7 6 60

New Marske IC A 19 6 6 55

Redcar Cons. A 19 5 9 55

Lakes SC A 19 5 5 52

Grinkle Park Hotel A 19 4 6 49

Lakes SC B 19 3 9 48

Ennis Square SC A 19 2 8 44

Redcar WMC B 19 0 5 26

Division Two

Saltburn Cons. A 17 16 0 81

Lakes SC C 17 10 5 67

Carlin How WMC B 17 10 4 62

New Marske IC B 17 7 4 58

Guisborough TA A 17 10 3 57

Redacr Unionists A 18 3 10 52

Redcar Cons. B 17 4 8 48

Marske WMC B 17 5 5 47

Redcar Unionists B 18 3 4 40

Guisborough Cons. B 17 2 3 34

Saltburn Cons. B 17 0 3 21

Peter Craig Pairs - Handicap Semi Final

David Leadbitter and Steve Buckton of Ennis Square played Geoff Unthank and Ted Walker of Marske WMC at Carlin How WMC and the match was decided over five frames. In the first game Walker and Unthank had the frame sewn up by the colours with Leadbitter and Buckton conceding on the green. The frame score ended 66-32. The match was then tied at 1-1 when Leadbitter and Buckton won 52-22. The third game can only be described as a dour struggle with both teams trying to gain control of the match. The Marske pair managed to come out on top winning 57-28. The following frame was again nip and tuck but the Marske duo again won by 46-29. Ted Walker and Geoff Unthank were worthy victors on the night beating their opponents 3-1 and now go through to the final.

Worthington CIU Winter

Sacriston look to have neared the end of their comeback season by putting themselves in a strong position to land the Third Division after they took over from the former leaders Spennymoor B, who were their visitors. The Moors made a good start when Wayne Parry put them ahead but then the home side took over. Willy Nixon inspired them by taking the second frame with a 33 clearance and wins by Steven Bradley, Kevin Laing and Ronnie Bradley moved them one point clear at the top with a match in hand.

Newhouse B were in a with a good chance of shaking the Third Division top two but they went down by the odd point at Fishburn B. The home side opened with wins by Barry Underwood and George Whitelock but Alan McCluskey reduced the arrears in the third frame. Wayne Oliver clinched the Fishburn win with a 33 break but David Jackson won the final point for Newhouse with a 31 break. This leaves Newhouse just four points behind Spennymoor B with a match in hand.

The clash of the top teams in the Second Division produced a big win for the leading Willington team over the visiting second placed, Ferryhill. The visitors went ahead when Ian Roddam took the first point. However then took over and moved 15 points clear at the top with wins from Tommy Parkin, Colin Lomax, Jeremy Martin and Paul Atkinson.

Newhouse A moved just four points behind Ferryhill after they came through in the decider against the visiting Crowtrees. John Maddox put the home side ahead but then Sonny Hann and Keith McLauchlan won for Crowtrees. Ian Dinsdale squared the match and then Kevin Allison took Newhouse to victory by beating Martin Wolf in the decider.

Belmont moved up to share the third place in the Second Division with Newhouse A after they only dropped one point on their visit to Hunwick, who had Alan Lawson as their only winner. Steven Armstrong, Eric Clough, Chris Morley and Billy McGrath took the points for Belmont.

Old Shildon strengthened their grip on the First Division when they only dropped one point on their visit to Shotton Palms. Billy Goggins, Michael Pratt, Frank Nicholson and Stephen Bennett won for the Shildon team with Barry Hall taking the lone Shotton point.

Cockton Hill slipped eight points behind Old Shildon after losing by the odd point at home to Newton Aycliffe. The Hill went two up with wins from Kevin Mordica with a 48 break and Andrew Aisbitt. However Marc Howe put in a 30 break and Stuart Neil won to level the match. In the decider Aycliffe's John Briddick beat Harold Lomax.

Despite an odd point win at Spennymoor A, Wheatley Hill B are doomed to relegation for the First Division. Ken Johnson, Tony Ellison and Steve Cave took points for the Hill with Eddie Rhodes and Paul Biddle with a 44 break replying for the Moors. Stanley Central, whose game at Wheatley Hill A fell victim to the weather, are next to bottom but Witton Gilbert and Shotton Palms are just two points above.

At the bottom of the Second Division Hunwick A are two points below Durham City, who lost a vital relegation struggle at home to Meadowfield. Norman Smith put Meadowfield ahead but then John Davies and Barry Stoddart won for the home side.

Malcolm Hughes levelled the match and in the decider Meadowfield's Stephen Hughes beat Brian Dunn by sinking the final black. This pushed Meadowfield three points clear with two matches in hand.

Fishburn A made a good away win over Brandon, who were weakened by the absence of captain, Brian Graham. Brian Quest, Peter Davison and John Carter won for Fishburn with John Hall and Kevin Sample replying.

Sherburn Village won the first and last frames in their home match against Langley Park. Peter McGowan and Scott Mallaburn were the home winner with Kevin Keers, Stephen Coates and Ray Coates winning for the Park.

Hunwick B were twice ahead on their trip to West Auckland but eventually lost in the decider. Barry Fleming put Hunwick ahead with Andrew Dent levelling. Neville Blenkinsop restored the visitor's lead only to see Kelvin Fletcher again equalise. In the decider West's David Geraty beat Norman Kirkley.

Things went badly wrong for the wooden spoonists from Leeholme B when they failed to score a point on their visit to Billy Row, who had wins from Gordon Sample, Alan Hodgson, Alan Smith, Ken Rider and Ronnie Ayre.

Results: West Auckland 3 Hunwick B 2; Shotton Palms 1 Old Shildon 4; Willington 4 Ferryhill 1; Billy Row 5 Leeholme B 0; Brandon 2 Fishburn A 3; Spennymoor A 2 Wheatley Hill B 3; Fishburn B 3 Newhouse B 2; Sherburn Village 2 Langley Park 3; Cockton Hill 2 Newton Aycliffe 3; Hunwick A 1 Belmont 4; Sacriston 4 Spennymoor B 1; Durham City 2 Meadowfield 3; Newhouse A 3 Crowtrees 2. Wheatley Hill A v Stanley Central and Leeholme A v Tow Law A - postponed.

Worthington CIU Singles Championship

The draw for the semi-finals disappointed all four players for they found they were drawn against one of their teammates. The Willington pair through to the semis were Paul Atkinson and Tom Parkin and they are drawn to play each other at Hunwick.

The two Old Shildon players, Charlie Blake and Michael Pratt are paired together to play at Leeholme. The Final is at Newton Aycliffe on Monday March 26.

Worthington CIU Individual Handicap Singles

The draw for the semi-finals is Brian Graham of Brandon against Sonny Hann of Crowtrees to be played at Hunwick on Wednesday April 11, and Steven Armstrong of Belmont versus Paul Atkinson of Willington to be played at Fishburn on Wednesday, April 11. The Final will be held at Durham City on Wednesday, April 25.

CIU Pairs Championship

The draw for the semi-finals is Charlie Blake and Stephen Bennett of Old Shildon versus Alan Hall and Dave Walker of Wheatley Hill to be played at Spennymoor on Monday, March 12 and John Armstrong and Paul Hickman of Shotton Palms versus Dave Blyth and Tony Ellison of Wheatley Hill to be played at Tow Law on Saturday, March 18.

The Final will be played at Billy Row on Wednesday, March 28.

Crook League

Division One

P W L Pts

Olde Horse Shoe A 16 12 4 82

Travellers Rest B 16 15 1 80

Belle Vue Club 16 9 7 65

Coach & Horses A 16 9 7 59

Royal Sun Inn 16 7 9 53

Spitfire Club 16 6 10 44

Travellers Rest A 16 6 10 43

Queen's Head A 16 5 11 42

Willington Market 16 3 13 36

Division Two

Mill House 16 15 1 86

Olde Horse Shoe B 16 14 2 82

Jelly's Bar 16 10 6 64

Surtees 16 7 9 55

White Swan 16 8 8 49

Golden Fleece 16 8 8 48

Coach & Horses B 16 6 10 48

Crown Hotel 16 2 14 39

Queen's Head B 16 2 14 33