Billiards

In the round robin games played at Crowtrees none of the players came away with maximum points. In the first game Peter Laverick and John Hall, both from the host club, met with Laverick scoring a comprehensive victory in the first frame. However, Hall, who has just started playing competitively, came with his best performances to date to take both the other two frames by narrow margins.

In the second match John Hall met John Bate of Hunwick and maintained his improved form. However, he needed only three points to clinch the first frame but failed to score and Bate edged through to victory. Hall recovered to take the second frame but in the decider Bate managed to make his victory with an eighteen points advantage.

In the third match Bate took the first frame against Laverick fairly easily but then the home player turned the tables by taking the second frame with similar ease. In the decider, Bate again got the early lead and held on to go through by 20 points.

The next round robin at Crowtrees will be on January 29 when Heppell Hodgson of Wolsingham, Arnold Fleming of Crook and Charlie Donaghy of Tow Law meet.

The games between Norman Kirkley of Bishop Auckland, Norman Greener from Thornaby and John Hall of Crowtrees on 15 February have been moved to Hunwick to allow the CIU Individual Championship to be played at Willington.

Wensleydale's remarkable dip in form continued in Division One of the Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire League.

After opening the season with six straight wins they have now lost their last four matches, yet are still in with an outside chance of taking the title.

Wensleydale's latest defeat came when they were beaten 3-0 by Harrogate Squash with the following scorelines: Paul Hotchkiss beat Nick Brown 6-9k 3-9, 9-1, 9-1, 9-4; Mark Harding beat Paul O'Donnell 9-4, 1-9, 9-4, 9-2; Colin Wilding beat Kevin Solly 1-9, 9-4, 2-9, 9-4, 9-4.

Leaders are Harrogate Squash second team with 98 points, second are Harlow on 94 and third are Harrogate Squash first team on 91 points. Wensleydale, with a match in hand on their leading rivals, have 81 points.

In the other other league match Wensleydale IV went down 3-0 at home to Harlow III in Divisioin Three. Alan Holmes, Martyn Hall and Peter Craddock took the victories.

Knaresborough beat Northallerton 5-0 in the preliminary round of the Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire Squash Cup Plate Championship.

In the other preliminary round clash Ripon beat Pateley Bridge 4-1. John Bailey, Tony rennison, Steve Thackray and Neil Jackson took the rubbers for Ripon Andy Winspeare was Pateley's lone success.