Snooker

Winter League

Cockton Hill put pressure on leaders Old Shildon after they only dropped one point to the visiting Shotton Palms and closed the gap at the top to one point.

Kevin Mordica put the Hill ahead but John Armstrong levelled. The home side went on to win the remaining frames through Andrew Aisbittt, with a 32 break, Harold Lomax and Lee Taylor with a 30 break.

Old Shildon were never headed on their visit to Fishburn A but were taken to the decider. In the first frame John Carter put in a 33 break for Fishburn but Charlie Blake clawed his way back and eventually won by one point. John Griffin took the second point for Fishburn with a 49 break. Michael Pratt restored the visitor's lead with a 53 break only to see Charlie Hirst set up the decider, where Shildon's Frank Nicholson beat Tommy Carter.

Wheatley Hill A are in third place in the First Division, two points behind Cockton Hill, following their home win over Spennymoor A, who had Ronnie Bateman as their only winner. The home side's points came from Ronnie Peacock, Dave Walker with a 34 break, Alan Hall and John Worthington.

Only Steve Cave managed to take a point for Wheatley Hill B on their visit to Newton Aycliffe. The home side had wins from Michael Hewitt, Ronnie Hall, Stuart Neil and Ritchie Young.

Stanley Central pushed the visiting Witton Gilbert into serious relegation trouble when they only dropped one point in their home game. The home side winners were Walter Cornell, Jim Dufton, Michael Vicary and Harold Grimes. Witton's only point came from Ian Renwick, leaving the visitors two points adrift of Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor A. Wheatley Hill B at the foot of the table, ten points adrift, seem certain to go down.

Second Division leaders, Willington were without a match and this allowed Newhouse A to close the gap at the top to nine points after they only dropped one point to the visiting Hunwick A. Steve Mountain put Newhouse ahead then Kevin Allison won on the black to increase the lead. Ian Dinsdale furthered the home lead with a 25 break followed by a 25 clearance with Keith Mann making it four when he won on a re-spotted black. Hunwick avoided the whitewash when John Bate took the final frame.

Michael Short put Belmont ahead on their trip to Ferryhill but then the home side took three in a row through Ian Roddam, Dale Hebdon and Adrian Jones with a 35 break. Belmont's Steven Armstrong retained his unbeaten record by taking the final frame. This leaves Ferryhill two points behind Newhouse A.

Wingate's tilt at the Second Division title received a serious setback when they had Dean Jones as their only winner at Langley Park. The home side had wins from Robert Roche, Ray Coates, Stephen Coates and Dixon Turnbull.

Durham City joined Hunwick A in serious relegation problems when they were whitewashed at Sherburn Village. The home side's winners were Scott Mallaburn, Adrian Twist, John Bower, Alan Greener and Alan Bower.

Keith McLauchlan put Crowtrees ahead of the visiting Meadowfield, who then moved ahead with wins from Stephen Hughes and Norman Smith. Sonny Hann pulled Crowtrees level and then Martin Wolf took the home side to victory by beating Alan Ather in the decider.

Spennymoor B and Sacriston share the lead in the Third Division after both whitewashed their opponents. The Moors had Micky Anderson with a 33 break and wins from Kurt McCormack, Wayne Parry, Karl McCormack and Alan Rowell in their home game against Leeholme B. Sacriston won a key encounter against the visiting Fishburn B by five points but failed to send the scorecard on time.

Newhouse B are in third place but slipped four points behind the joint leaders, despite dropping only one point at Hunwick B. The Newhouse winners were John O'Driscoll, David Jackson, Brian Eltringham with a 30 break and Alan McCluskey, whilst Neville Blenkinsop took the final point for the home side.

Billy Row were taken to the decider on their visit to Leeholme A. Alan Smith put the Row ahead but then the home side had wins from Ian North and Lawrence Jones. Gordon Sample squared the match and then Billy Row's captain, Kenny Rider beat his opposite number, Carl Brown in the decider.

In the Tow Law derby the A team only dropped one point when Alex Ogilvie recovered from needing a snooker on the pink to win. The winners for the A team were Arthur Henderson, Bill McCluskey, Doug Watson and Charlie Donaghy.

Results: Tow Law A 4 Tow Law B 1; Crowtrees 3 Meadowfield 2; Ferryhill 3 Belmont 2; Cockton Hill 4 Shotton Palms 1; Sacriston 5 Fishburn B 0; Leeholme A 2 Billy Row 3; Langley Park 4 Wingate 1; Wheatley Hill A 4 Spennymoor A 1; Spennymoor B 5 Leeholme B 0; Stanley Central 4 Witton Gilbert 1; Fishburn A 2 Old Shildon 3; Hunwick B 1 Newhouse B 4; Newhouse A 4 Hunwick A 1; Newton Aycliffe 4 Wheatley Hill B 1.

Crook League

Willington Market pulled off their best win of the season when they forgot their place at the foot of the table and went to Crook Royal Sun, who are in fourth place in the First Division, and won by the odd point after trailing 3-0. The Sun took the first three points through Ronnie Hope, Graham Johnson and Wayne Smith but the Market levelled with wins from Michael Toward, Syd Trow and Tommy Barrass and then clinched their victory when John Blackett joined Michael Toward to take the doubles. Crook Olde Horse Shoe now lead the First Division by five points, but the second placed, Crook Travellers Rest B have a match in hand. In the Second Division, Crook Mill House moved one point ahead of Crook Olde Horse Shoe B with a match in hand.

Results: Crook White Swan 4 Crook Surtees 3; Crook Crown 0 Crook Mill House 7; Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 5 Crook Queen's Head B 2; Crook Queen's Head A 4 Crook Travellers Rest A 3; Crook Royal Sun 3 Willington Market 4; Crook Spitfire Club 2 Crook Coach and Horses A 5; Crook Belle Vue 2 Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 5. Crook Coach and Horses B v Crook Jelly's Bar no result card sent in.

County CIU Singles Championship

Quarter-final draw: I. Renwick (Witton Gilbert) v W. Robson (Murton Victoria); M. Pratt (Chilton and Windlestone) v B. Shaw (Chilton and Windlestone); A. Todd (Stanley Central) v J. Carter (Fishburn); R. Roche (Langley Park) v P. Biddle (Spennymoor). Results of matches have to be into the Branch Office by February 17.