Cleveland County

LEADERS Cleveland suffered defeat away to Pembrokeshire, in the British Inter-Counties Championship, Division Four, beaten 19-17.

The ladies B played first but didn't get the start they wanted. Jean Atkinson (14.40) lost 3-0 and Barbara Bradley (16.48) lost 3-2 before Cleveland's lady of the match, Julie Sorby (18.79) won 3-1. Molly Pywell (13.98) levelled the match with a 3-1 win and Cleveland took the lead when Claire Stainsby (17.09) won 3-1. Pat A Smith (13.60) lost 3-1, levelling the score at 3-3.

The men's B team got off to a good start with Jim Bannister (20.63) winning 3-2, Neil Young (23.48) won 3-0 and man of the match Brian Boulton (25.05) triumphed 3-0. But then Dave Wilson (21.88) lost a very close match 3-2 as did Carl Smith (23.39) by a similar margin. Andy Huskinson (20.88) won 3-0 to make it 4-2 at the interval after which

Cleveland got off to a good start with Makhan Chahal (19.51) winning 3-1, Charlie Copeland (21.17) 3-0, Rob Grundy (20.04) - on his county debut - won 3-1 and Tony Liddell (21.74) won 3-2, Cleveland moving into an 8-2 lead from two legs down.

Unfortunately, Cleveland lost the last two, Colin Hunton (18.33) beaten 3-0 and Allan Snabel (21.53) 3-2 leaving Cleveland 11-7 ahead overnight.

It was an early start on the Sunday and lady of the match Jean Hagan (16.21) won 3-2 to put Cleveland one up but it was soon level as Pembrokeshire's lady of the match Julie Gore (23.12) beat Babs Evans (18.51) 3-0. The impressive Gore included a 144 checkout in her scoring. Cleveland regained the lead when Jackie Allison (15.99) won 3-2. However, it was level when Rhonda Page (11.71) lost 3-0. Pat J Smith (15.44) won 3-2 to restore their lead and Vee Page (15.99) won 3-0 to make it 4-2 to Cleveland.

Cleveland had to make last-minute changes in the men's A team when some players failed to make the journey and they certainly paid the price. Simon Craven (24.86) lost 3-2 before man of the match Colin Johnson (25.05) won 3-0, but from then on it was all downhill with a string of defeats suffered by Neil Young (18.67) 3-0, Terry Ferguson (24.29) 3-0, Paul Winspear (23.07) 3-1, Mick Whittaker (22.86) 3-1, Gary Stephens (25.55) 3-1 and Joe Nicholson (25.04) 3-0. Cleveland's Brian Boulton (22.43) got his team's second point when with a 3-0 win but Mark Eccles (24.13) lost 3-1, Mark Muckian (25.99) lost 3-1 and Jimmy Dunlop (27.43) lost a very close game 3-2 to Pembrokeshire's man of the match Robert Hughes (33.26) 3-2, making the final score 10-2 to Pembrokeshire.

Other results: Gwynedd 22, Devon 17; Isle of Wight 22, Northamptonshire 17; Montgomery and Radnor 22, Clwyd 17.

l THE match featuring Gloucestershire against Tyne and Wear will be played 17/18 February. Devon will play their outstanding game with Clwyd the week afterwards and the league table will be published after that match.

l Cleveland are hoping to start a youth team next season to play in the Northern Counties Youth League. There is no minimum age and the maximum age is 21. The home venue will be Visions at Billingham Green. During the close season they will be having practice matches there. Anyone interested can phone general secretary Joe Smith on (01642) 887036.

Durham County

The Durham team gained a 22-14 victory over the West Midlands at Peterlee Leisure Centre in the British Inter-Counties Championship, Division Two, the win giving Durham three bonus points.

Mid-table Durham's next match is away to Norfolk in Norwich on March 3 and 4.

And that leaves a trip to Gwent followed by a home meeting with Sussex at Seaham Leisure Centre.

Durham's ladies B started the weekend with a convincing win over their West Midlands opponents. Anita Dawson (16.80) started the ball rolling and was followed by Liz Tait (16.36). Dawn Hamer(16.89) carried on by winning 3-0, and Margaret Stewart (14.58) secured the winning point. Lady of the match was Pauline Kerrigan (16.93) who fought back from 2-0 down to win 3-2, winning her legs in 29, 18 and 28 darts. The match ended 5-1 to Durham.

The men's B team also started well opening a 4-2 lead by the halfway mark. Man of the match Andrew Ford (27.61) began the scoring, winning in 23,14 and 17 darts as well as hitting eight 100 plus scores.

Jeff Sneath (22.13) followed up and Keith Elmore (25.55) had a strong win in 17,14 and 18 before Dale Richardson (20.49) made the score 4-2. Keith Temple (26.25) made the score 5-2 hitting ten 100 plus scores. West Midlands started their fight back and it was Kenneth Atkinson(21.17) who ensured the match ended 6-6.

The ladies A team set out to follow the example of their B team colleagues and lady of the match Nancy Dobinson started the ball rolling with a 19.78 average.

Gail Abbott(17.68), Clare Stewart (16.16) and Dawn Winn (17.63) made the victory secure by a score of 4-2.

The Durham men's A team gained the four points required for an overall victory at the half way point as Durham led 4-2 thanks to wins from Phil Nixon (26.96), who won in 23, 17 and 15 darts, John Comerford (24.49), who hit 11 100 plus scores, Paul Knighton (26.91) and Jimmy Ashett (25.89). Further wins came from Roy Brown(24.34) who hit ten 100 plus scores including one maximum. Gary Storey (24.49) and man of the match Paddy Lenagh (27.95), who secured his win with a 124 outshot winning 3-2 and winning his legs in 15, 16 and 18 darts. Two players who were unlucky to lose were Tony Eccles who lost 3-0 despite a 30.11 average, and Shaun Galloway who had a 31.35 average and hit a 155 out-shot. Durham won 7-5.

Willington League

The Victoria Club virtually wrote their name on the Championship Trophy when they beat their hosts at Willington Cottles to move 19 points clear at the top of the table. Willington Burn are in second spot and are assured of the runners-up trophies as they are 20 points ahead of the five teams vying for third place.

Results: Willington Cottles 3 Victoria Club 9; Prospect Club 7 Willington Black Horse Inn 5; Willington Black Horse Tavern 10 Oakenshaw Club 2; Willington Club 5 Hunwick Joiners Arms 7; Willington Brewers Droop 6 Hunwick Quarry Burn 6; Willington Commercial 5 Willington Lion and Unicorn 7.

Wear Valley Ladies League

The top two teams both had five points victories and were able to extend the gap at the top. Crook Mill House remain in first place with an 11 point lead over Crook Three Blue Bells, who have a match in hand. Crook Golden Fleece, who are 15 points behind the Bells, hold third place.

The leading individual scorers were Carol Haygarth with 140 and 116 for the Royal Sun, Carol Coote 131 and Angela Rudkin 116 for the Coach and Horses, Alsion Archer 123 for the Mill House, Leanne Fairer 121 and a 95 check out for the White Swan and Christine Ward 116 and June Peyrefitte 115 for Bar 56.

Results: Crook Coach and Horses 3 Crook Bar 56 6; Crook Golden Fleece 4 Crook White Swan 5; Crook Royal Sun 2 Crook Three Blue Bells 7; Crook Mill House 7 Crook Crown Hotel 2. Re-arranged game- Bar 56 7 Crook White Swan 2.

Crook League

RAFA beat the Olde Horse Shoe 7-6 in the KO Cup semi-final. The RAFA won the toss for choice of a darts or dominoes decider with the scores tied at six all.

They opted for darts and Eric Johnson beat Kevin Hanson to take RAFA to the final.

The other semi-final proved to be one way with leaders, Willington Market easily beating Crook Royal Sun 7-0.

Tow Law Bass League

Esh Football Club remained in touch with the leading pack after winning by five points on their visit to Tow Law North Point.

The footballers took both trebles games but then had to share the singles when Ivan Blacker, Stan Simmonds and Angela Armstrong won for the Point and Dave Brown, Robert Hird and Alan Brown replied. The visitors finished in style by taking all three doubles points.

Captain's table: 1 Billy Row Club 16; 2 Tow Law New Market A 15; 3 Esh Football Club 14; 4 Sunniside Comedian 12; 5 Esh Stag's Head 11; 6 Tow Law Station 10; 7 Esh McKennas 8; 8= Cornsay Royal Oak and Tow Law North Point 6 each; 10= Tow Law Cattle Mart, Tow Law New Market B and Tow Law Rose and Crown 5 each; 13 Sunniside Moss Inn 4.

Magnet Ladies

Singles

P W D L Pts

Hole In The Wall 17 11 2 4 24

Jack Horner 18 10 4 4 24

Hopetown Club 18 11 1 6 23

Hope Inn 18 9 4 5 22

Sarahs 18 8 6 4 22

Grey Horse 18 8 5 5 21

RA Club 18 8 4 6 20

Victoria Club 18 9 1 8 19

Dalesman 17 6 1 8 19

Railway H 18 7 5 6 18

DSRM 18 2 8 8 11

Three Crowns 16 4 3 8 11

Nestfield 17 3 6 8 11

Baydale Beck 18 4 2 12 10

Caledonian 17 2 4 11 8

Pairs

Hole In The Wall 17 9 7 1 45

Jack Horner 18 8 6 4 42

Hope Inn 18 7 9 2 41

RA Club 18 7 8 3 41

Dalesman 17 6 9 2 39

Victoria Club 18 7 6 5 37

Railway Hotel 18 7 4 7 36

Sarahs 18 6 8 4 36

Nestfield 17 6 6 5 35

Grey Horse 18 4 9 5 34

Hopetown Club 18 4 7 7 33

Baydale Beck 18 0 12 6 33

Three Crowns 16 5 5 6 31

DRSM 18 3 4 11 25

Caledonian 17 1 6 10 24

Weardale Ladies

Results: Blanchland Sports Club 2 Wolsingham Black Lion A 6; Rookhope WMC 5 Stanhope Queen's Head A 3; Stanhope Queen's Head B 6 Eastgate Cross Keys 2; Wolsingham Black Lion B 3 Stanhope Grey Bull 5; St. John's Chapel Blue Bell A 4 St. John's Chapel King's Head 4; Westgate Hare and Hounds 5 Wolsingham Black Bull 3; Wolsingham Mill Race 3 St. John's Chapel Blue Bell B 5.

Top scores: June Barron (Blue Bell B), Annette Goldsmith (Hare and Hare and Hounds) and Pauline Hepple (Sports Club) 121 each; Maureen Hutton (Grey Bull) 125 and Carron Storey (Queen's Head A) 133