Snooker News

There were good wins for two popular players returning to league play after illness. John Griffin of Fishburn A came back after a three months absence through illness to show that he had not lost his touch by helping his team beat the visiting Wheatley Hill A for the loss of only one point, which was won by Dennis Clish. The other Fishburn winners were John Carter, Brian Quest and Charlie Hirst.

West Auckland were delighted to welcome back Kelvin Fletcher after his recovery from a heart-attack. Like Griffin he showed he had not lost the skill and helped his team to win at Leeholme B for the loss of only one point, when Mark Brown won for the home side. The other winners for West were Andrew Sugden, Andrew Dent and David Geraty.

In the top of the table clash in the First Division second placed, Cockton Hill travelled to leaders, Old Shildon and won in the decider. Kevin Mordica put the Hill ahead but then Charlie Blake and Michael Pratt scored for Shildon. George Chapman levelled the match and then Cockton Hill's Andrew Aisbitt beat Jossie Aldworth in the decider. This now puts Cockton Hill three points behind Old Shildon, with Wheatley Hill A and Shotton Palms two behind the second place.

Shotton palms won by the odd point at Witton Gilbert with wins for Tony Hall, John Armstrong and Barry Hall. Willis Joynes and Ian kerr took points for Witton.

Brandon travelled to Wheatley Hill B and whitewashed their hosts with wins from Kevin Sample, John Hall, Wayne Watson, Owen Howarth and Brian Graham.

John Briddick and Michael Hewitt took points for Newton Aycliffe at home to Stanley Central, but wins for Jim Dufton, Walter Cornell and Dennis Payne took the visitors to victory.

Willington underlined their superiority at the top of the Second Division when they only dropped one point at Meadowfield, who had Craig Hughes as their only winner. Paul Atkinson, Tom Parkin, Colin Lomax and Arthur Goldsborough pushed Willington 11 points clear at the top of the table.

Belmont were never headed by the visiting Newhouse A, who were hoping to strengthen their hold on the second place in the Second Division. Chris Morley put in a 32 break to put Belmont ahead with Ian Dinsdale levelling. Eric Clough restored the home lead with Keith Mann levelling. In the decider Belmont's Steven Armstrong put in a 43 break to beat Steve Mountain.

Ferryhill moved up level with Newhouse A after they beat the visiting Sherburn Village in the decider. Bernie Jones and Dale Hebdon put Ferryhill ahead but John Bower and Adrian Twist squared the match. In the decider, Ferryhill's Glynn Toas beat Scott Mallaburn.

Wingate only dropped one point to the visiting Hunwick A to move into equal third place with Crowtrees, just a point behind Ferryhill. Trevor Lomax was the only Hunwick winner, while Geoff Howe with a 34 break, Dean Jones, Pat McCoy and Jim Alcock won for the home side.

Crowtrees went down in the decider at home to Langley Park, who never trailed. Robert Roche put the Park ahead with Sonny Hann levelling. Dave Turnbull restored the visitor's lead with Keith McLauchlan levelling. In the decider the Park's Kevin Keers beat Sean Johnston.

In the Third Division Spennymoor B whitewashed the visiting Tow Law A to move five points clear at the top. The Moors points came from Micky Anderson, Karl McCormack, Alan Shaw, Stu Ball and Wayne Parry.

Fishburn B are in second place in the Third Division after they only dropped one point at Tow Law B, who had Michael Basham as their only winner. The Fishburn points came from Barry Underwood, George Whitelock, Winston Hodgson and Alan Wilson.

Newhouse B are a point behind Fishburn B, but have a match in hand, after they took the first three points at home to Sacriston through Alan McCluskey, Glen Morton and Brian Eltringham. Sacriston came back to take the last two points through Kevin Laing and Willy Nixon.

Only Barry Shaw took a point for Leeholme A on their visit to Hunwick B, who had wins from Neville Blenkinsop, Ian Richardson, Norman Kirkley and Barry Fleming.

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

Darlington Snooker Club Monday Night League

P W L Pts

Dton Snooker A 28 21 7 21

Hopetown 28 21 7 21

H'hill A 28 19 9 19

Dton CC 28 18 10 18

Dton RA 28 15 13 15

Northgate 28 12 16 12

H'hill B 32 9 23 9

Dton Snooker B 28 8 20 8

JUC 28 5 23 5

Results: Dton Snooker B 0, H'hill A 4; Hopetown 3, Dton Snooker A 1; H'hill B 0, Dton CC 4; JUC 1, Dton RA 3.

Dec 4: Dton RA 2, H'hill A 2; Dton Snooker B 1, Hopetown 3; H'hill B 4, JUC 0; Dton CC 3, Northgate 1; Dton Snooker A free week.

l The next league meeting takes place on Wednesday, January 10.

Cleveland League

IDivision One, match of the week has been was awarded to Guisborough Cons. who whitewashed newly promoted Redcar WMC B 6-0 in the Bass Brewers sponsored league.

Colin Buckton started the match for Guisborough, beating Jimmy Thompson in his two frames with scores of 74-43 and 54-40. Arthur Smith then continued the rout beating Jason Robinson 49-11 and 58-40. Steve Rutter went on to finish off the visitors beating Mick Smylie 52-10 and 66-29. This has left the WMC B team pinned to the bottom of the league and staring relegation in the face.

Other results: Redcar Lakes B 3, Grinkle Park 3; Redcar WMC A 4 (R Beckham 57 break), Lakes A 2; Redcar Cons. A 3, New Marske A 3; Carlin How 3, Lune Street 3;

Marske WMC 6, Ennis Square 0.

Division One

P W D Pts

Redcar WMC A 9 8 0 44

Marske WMC A 9 5 2 35

Carlin How WMC A 9 3 6 32

Lune Street SC A 9 4 5 31

Guisborough Cons. A 9 4 2 29

Redcar Cons. A 9 2 5 26

New Marske IC A 9 2 4 25

Lakes SC A 9 1 5 25

Lakes SC B 9 2 4 22

Ennis Square A 9 1 4 22

Grinkle Park A 9 0 4 19

Redcar WMC B 9 0 3 14

Division Two

Saltburn Cons. A 8 7 0 36

Guisborough TA A 8 6 1 29

Carlin How WMC B 8 5 2 29

Lakes SC C 8 4 3 29

Marske WMC B 8 3 3 28

New Marske IC B 8 3 2 26

Redcar Unionist. A 9 1 5 24

Redcar Cons. B 8 1 5 23

Redcar Unionist B 9 1 2 19

Guisborough Cons. B 8 2 0 15

Saltburn Cons. B 8 0 1 12

Curry Cup

Second round results: John Bower (Sherburn Village) beat David Geraty (West Auckland); Arnold Fleming (Hunwick A) lost to Kevin Sample (Brandon); Dean Jones (Wingate) beat Peter Laverick (Crowtrees); Sonny Hann (Crowtrees) lost to Alan Hall (Wheatley Hill A); Jim Dufton (Stanley Central) beat Jim Evans (Shotton Palms); Andrew Aisbitt (Cockton Hill) beat Dennis Dodd (Spennymoor); Arthur Goldsborough (Willington) beat John Armstrong (Shotton Palms); Andrew Sugden (West Auckland) beat John Rooney sen (Witton Gilbert); Robert Roche (Langley Park) lost to Gary Ward (Durham City); Ian Dinsdale (Newhouse A) lost to George Whitelock (Fishburn B); Michael Pratt (Old Shildon) lost to Steven Armstrong (Belmont); Dave Walker (Wheatley Hill A) lost to Charlie Blake (Old Shildon); John Maddox (Newhouse A) beat Brian Quest (Fishburn A); Paul Atkinson (Willington) beat Michael Pratt (Durham City); Keith Mitchell (Newton Aycliffe) lost to Kevin Mordica (Cockton Hill); Brian Graham (Brandon) beat Scott Mallaburn (Sherburn Village).

Worthington CIU Winter Singles Championship

Second round results: Adrian Jones (Ferryhill) beat Peter Laverick (Crowtrees); Kevin Davison (Witton Gilbert) lost to Paul Atkinson (Willington); Arthur Goldsborough (Willington) beat Neville Blenkinsop (Hunwick B); Dean Jones (Wingate) lost to Gary Ward (Durham City); David Blyth (Wheatley Hill B) beat Keith McLaughlan (Crowtrees); Shaun Reynolds (West Auckland) lost to John Rooney sen (Witton Gilbert); John Armstrong (Shotton Palms) lost to Malcolm Hughes (Meadowfield); Alan Hall (Wheatley Hill A) beat John Hall (Brandon); John Maddox (Newhouse A) beat Ian Kerr (Witton Gilbert); Paul Hickman (Shotton Palms) beat Adrian Twist (Sherburn Village); Ray Coatman (Witton Gilbert) lost to Jim Dufton (Stanley Central); Alan Sugden (West Auckland) beat Chris Morley (Belmont); Andrew Dent (West Auckland) lost to Andrew Aisbitt (Cockton Hill); John Bower (Sherburn Village) beat Jack Wright (Wheatley Hill A); Ian Dinsdale (Newhouse A) lost to Tom Parkin (Willington); Brian Graham (Brandon) beat Willis Joynes (Witton Gilbert); Michael Ellison (Cockton Hill) lost to Stephen Hughes (Meadowfield); Sean Johnston (Crowtrees) lost to Michael Short (Belmont); Ian Renwick (Witton Gilbert) beat Kevin Mordica (Cockton Hill); Arnold Fleming (Hunwick A) beat Dennis Dodd (Spennymoor); Billy Goggins (Old Shildon) beat David Robson (Ferryhill); Graeme Jackson (Brandon) lost to Jim Evans (Shotton Palms); Michael Pratt (Old Shildon) beat Keith Mitchell (Newton Aycliffe); Sonny Hann (Crowtrees) beat Peter McGowan (Sherburn Village); Michael Pratt (Durham City) lost to Charlie Blake (Old Shildon); Kevin Sample (Brandon) beat John R.Rooney (Witton Gilbert); Dave Walker (Wheatley Hill A) beat Barry Hall (Shotton Palms); Craig Hughes (Meadowfield) beat Paul Nord (Belmont); Steven Armstrong (Belmont) beat Robert Roche (Langley Park); David Watson (Witton Gilbert) lost to Scott Mallaburn (Sherburn Village); Winston Hodgson (Fishburn B) beat David Geraty (West Auckland); Stephen Bennett (Old Shildon) beat Barry Coston (Wheatley Hill B).

Bass CIU Winter

Handicap Singles

Second round results: John Rooney sen 10 (Witton Gilbert) beat Michael Short 21 (Belmont); Stephen Mountain 16 (Newhouse A) beat Jim Evans 7 (Shotton Palms); Ian Dinsdale 24 (Newhouse A) beat David Watson 21 (Witton Gilbert); Keith McLauchlan 18 (Crowtrees) lost to Stephen Bennett 10 (Old Shildon); Shaun Reynolds 24 (West Auckland) beat Trevor Bowden 21 (Ferryhill); Gary Ward 14 (Durham City) beat Sean Johnston 21 (Crowtrees); Willis Joynes 10 (Witton Gilbert) lost to Brian Graham 10 (Brandon); Alan Sugden 14 (West Auckland) beat Michael Ellison 21 (Cockton Hill); Alan Greener 20 (Sherburn Village) beat Barry Coston 18 (Wheatley Hill B); Jim Alcock 35 (Wingate) lost to Paul Atkinson Sc (Willington); David Blyth 14 (Wheatley Hill B) beat Paul Hickman 7 (Shotton Palms); Carl Brown 50 (Leeholme A) lost to Colin Jobes 20 (Shotton Palms); Arthur Goldsborough 16 (Willington) beat Dennis Dodd 24 (Spennymoor); Barry Fleming 28 (Hunwick B) lost to Ray Coates 18 (Langley Park); Steven Armstrong 10 (Belmont) beat Neville Blenkinsop 28 (Hunwick B); Ken Robinson 30 (Tow Law) lost to Glyn Toas 24 (Ferryhill); Kevin Davison 24 (Witton Gilbert) lost to Kevin Allison 40 (Newhouse A); Graeme Jackson 18 (Brandon) lost to John R.Rooney 21 (Witton Gilbert); Pat McCoy 18 (Wingate) beat Tony Clish 40 (Leeholme A); Joe Coxon 21 (Belmont) lost to Sonny Hann 18 (Crowtrees); Billy Goggins 14 (Old Shildon) beat Jack Wright 14 (Wheatley Hill A); Adrian Prest 45 (Leeholme B) lost to John Bower 18 (Sherburn Village); Robert Roche 10 (Langley Park) beat Paul Nord 14 (Belmont); Trevor Lomax 28 (Hunwick A) beat John Davies 32 (Durham City); Barry Hall 14 (Shotton Palms) beat Craig Hughes 18 (Meadowfield); Barry Stoddart 28 (Durham City) lost to Jim Dufton 10 (Stanley Central); Stephen Hughes 20 (Meadowfield) lost to Keith Mitchell 28 (Newton Aycliffe); Ray Coatman 18 (Witton Gilbert) beat Malcolm Umpelby 32 (Tow Law); Lawrence Jones 24 (Leeholme A) lost to Michael Pratt Sc (Old Shildon); Kevin Sample 18 (Brandon) beat Ian Renwick 7 (Witton Gilbert).