Snooker

Brian Graham, in a fantastic recovery, potted the final black in the Team Knock Out to give Brandon a four point victory at Wingate, who led by 28 at the start of the last frame.

Wingate had a 12 point start and they were able to extend it after Dean Jones beat Kevin Sample by nine points. John Middleton then came with a good frame for Brandon and moved them into a 15 point lead. This was short-lived however, as Pat McCoy of Wingate won by 13 points. The game looked to have been turned completely against Brandon when Geoff Howe won by 30 points for Wingate, thus setting Brian Graham into the final frame with Steve Allen holding a 28 point start. The Brandon man steadily closed the gap until, in front of a packed, hushed Wingate Club, he sank the vital last ball.

Newhouse B from the Third Division beat Second Division visitors, Langley Park by almost 100, despite giving 13 start away. John O'Driscoll got Newhouse away to a good start with 16 points to wipe out the start. Brian Eltringham then put in a 30 break to extend the home lead to 33. Alan McCluskey and Glen Morton then both won for Newhouse to stretch the lead to 47. In the final frame David Jackson put in an early 34 break for Newhouse, causing Kevin Keers to resign.

West Auckland visited Spennymoor A and received 44 start but the home side took the first four frames through Gary Easen, Paul Biddle, Ronnie Bateman and Eddie Rhodes to move into a 69 points lead. Andrew Dent took the final frame for West but could not close the massive deficit.

Sherburn Village received 33 start on their visit to Shotton Palms but John Armstrong reduced this to just four points after the first frame. However the Village recovered when Scott Mallaburn put in a 38 break and moved the visitors 48 points ahead. The see-saw continued with Paul Hickman winning the next frame by 70 points for the Palms. Peter McGowan restored the visitors hopes when he edged the Village three points ahead. In the final frame Trevor Hall easily beat Adrian Twist to take Shotton to the third round.

Durham City entertained Sacriston and moved 34 ahead after Barry Stoddart took the first frame. However Stephen Bradley then won by 16 and Willy Nixon by 18 to level the match. Michael Pratt put Durham ahead by 13 points and Brian Dunn clinched the home victory when he took the final frame by 60 points.

Spennymoor B, the Third Division leaders, visited Willington, who are the runaway leaders of the Second Division. The Moors received 64 points start but, after wins from Tommy Parkin and Paul Atkinson it was Willington who held a two point lead. Andy Mole took a very tight frame by two points to level the match and then Karl McCormack took the penultimate frame to move the Moors six points ahead. In the final frame Willington's Jeremy Martin was at his best and won by 43 points.

Hunwick B took a 36 point start when they visited Belmont and were bale to extend this to 51 after Neville Blenkinsop had taken the first frame. However from that point the home side took over and had wins from Eric Clough, Joe Coxon, Steven Armstrong and Wily McGrath to go comfortably through to the next round.

Newhouse A travelled to Wheatley Hill A and suffered a very heavy defeat as Dean Bryden, Ronnie Peacock, Jack Wright, Dave Walker and Alan Hall all won comfortably for the home side.

Results: Newhouse B 281 Langley Park 182; Durham City 298 Sacriston 225; Spennymoor A 302 West Auckland 264; Wheatley Hill A 362 Newhouse A 149; Belmont 328 Hunwick B 156; Wingate 356 Brandon 360; Shotton Palms 292 Sherburn Village 229; Willington 290 Spennymoor B 253.

Worthington CIU Winter

Top breaks - First Division: Andrew Aisbitt (Cockton Hill) 75; Paul Biddle (Spennymoor) 74; Charlie Blake (Old Shildon) 73; Jim Dufton (Stanley Central) 65 and Paul Weighill (Cockton Hill) 60.

Second Division: Paul Atkinson (Willington) 105; John Maddox (Newhouse A) 69; Steven Armstrong (Belmont) 56; Stephen Turnbull (Langley Park) 51 and Craig Hughes (Meadowfield) 47.

Third Division: David Jackson (Newhouse B) 51; Andrew Dent (West Auckland) 39; Alan McCluskey (Newhouse B) 39; Ray Gill (Leeholme B) 37 and George Whitelock (Fishburn B) 36.

Division One

P W L Pts

Old Shildon 13 11 2 44

Cockton Hill 13 10 3 41

Wheatley Hill A 14 9 5 41

Brandon 13 7 6 35

Fishburn A 13 7 6 34

Witton Gilbert 14 4 10 34

Spennymoor A 14 7 7 33

Shotton Palms 14 6 8 33

Stanley Central 14 6 8 33

Newton Aycliffe 14 7 7 30

Wheatley Hill B 14 1 13 17

Division Two

Willington 13 13 0 50

Ferryhill 13 8 5 39

Newhouse A 13 8 5 36

Wingate 13 8 5 35

Langley Park 14 8 6 35

Sherburn Vill. 14 5 9 35

Belmont 13 8 5 33

Crowtrees 14 5 9 30

Meadowfield 13 4 9 27

Durham City 14 4 10 26

Hunwick A 14 3 11 24

Division Three

Spennymoor B 14 10 4 47

Sacriston 13 9 4 43

Newhouse B 13 9 4 40

Fishburn B 14 10 4 39

Hunwick B 13 8 5 36

West Auckland 13 8 5 36

Tow Law A 14 8 6 35

Billy Row 14 7 7 35

Leeholme A 14 2 12 23

Tow Law B 14 2 12 23

Leeholme B 14 2 12 18

CIU Worthington

Summer League

The new season is planned to start in late April and is open to all CIU affiliated premises. All teams competing last season will be issued with an entry form at the meeting at Meadowfield Club on Thursday, February 22 and these must be returned to the same venue at the meeting to be held on Thursday, March 29.

There are vacancies for new teams in this league which plays five singles for each league match. The league also organises a Singles Championship, Pairs Championship, Handicap Singles and a Team KO Cup. Any new teams interested can obtain further information by telephoning (01388 )730444 and talking to the secretary.

Crook League

Ithe penultimate game of the season, Crook Travellers Rest B needed to beat the visiting Crook Belle Vue Club to draw level with Crook Olde Horse Shoe A at the top of the First Division. However, the Club managed to take two points and now the Travellers, from their final game at Crook Queen's Head A, need to take three points more than the Old Horse Shoe A score against the Coach and Horses A.

In the Second Division third placed, Crook Jelly's Bar entertained league leaders, Crook Mill House. The home side had singles points from Sean Lauder and Stephen Belshaw while the Mill replied through Ian Bibby, Alan Saville, Stephen Heyes and John Winning with Ian Bibby and Alan Saville completing a good win by taking the doubles. This leaves the Mill House five points clear of Crook Olde Horse Shoe B with one match left.

Results: Crook Queen's Head B 0 Crook Crown 7; Crook Coach and Horses A 5 Crook Travellers Rest A 2; Crook Golden Fleece 4 Crook Surtees 3; Willington Market 3 Crook Queen's Head A 4; Crook Royal Sun 1 Crook Spitfire Club 6; Crook Jelly's Bar 2 Crook Mill House 5; Crook Travellers Rest B 5 Crook Belle Vue 2; Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 6 Crook Coach and Horses B 1. Re-arranged game - Crook Belle Vue 6 Willington Market 1.

CIU Team Plate

Ithe only game of the first round Newton Aycliffe received 36 points start for their match at Old Shildon. Stuart Neil made a great start for the visitors when he extended their lead to 52 points. Michael Pratt then hit to form to put in 105 points, which included a 73 break, for Old Shildon and move them into a 26 points lead, which was lifted to 43 after Charlie Blake took the next frame. Michael Hewitt grabbed the black in the next frame to cut the home lead by six points. Jossie Aldworth took the final frame to complete an Old Shildon victory of 321 to 258 points