Snooker News

Alan Todd of Stanley played Michael Pratt of Chilton in the last quarter final at Tow Law Club. The first frame provided one of the most entertaining of this season's competition as Pratt knocked in an early 28 break with the black tied up in three reds on the cushion. Todd replied with 16 and was unlucky twice as the brown covered the red he badly needed to close the gap. After Todd had made a brilliant escape from a snooker he pulled back to needing one successful snooker to take the frame. He laid three snookers, which Pratt escaped from After pulling right back into the frame Todd failed on a very thin cut on the pink, which Pratt took to go one up.

In the second frame Todd forced an opening with some good safety play and knocked in 16 and looked capable of a big break. However he slipped up on a red along the cushion and left it over the pocket for Pratt, who capitalised with a 42 break, never letting Todd get back into the frame.

The third frame was tight throughout with Todd trailing by nine points on the final red. He potted this with a brown and took the yellow and green, before putting too much pace in his attempt on the brown. Pratt took the brown and blue and then potted a great pink to take the match.

Semi-final draw: Paul Atkinson of Willington v John Armstrong of Shotton (yesterday), Andrew Aisbitt of Bishop Auckland v Michael Pratt of Chilton (November 2).

l The final will be held on Saturday, November 4 at 7.30pm. All matches take place in Tow Law Club.

Crook League

After Crook Belle Vue had shared the singles at home to the Crook Travellers Rest A they went to victory when John Warriner and Ian Hodkinson won the doubles. There had been singles points for Paul Morgan, John Warriner and Ian Hodkinson for the Club with John Carroll, John Howe and Scott Weston taking points for the Travellers.

Crook Travellers Rest B lead the First Division table by six points from The Royal Sun and the Olde Horse Shoe A, who share second place. Crook Olde Horse Shoe B are at the top of the Second Division with a two point advantage over the Mill House, with Jelly's Bar and the Coach and Horses B a further three points adrift.

There was good news for the teams in the Second Division when Crook Crown Hotel applied for the place left vacant when Crook Mill House B resigned.

Results: Crook Belle Vue 4, Crook Travellers Rest A 3; Crook Travellers Rest B 6, Willington Market 1; Crook Royal Sun 3, Crook Coach and Horses A 4; Crook Spitfire Club 2, Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 5; Crook White Swan 0, Crook Mill House 7; Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 5, Crook Jelly's Bar 2; Crook Coach and Horses B 3, Crook Surtees 4.

Curry Cup

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

l Games to be played on or before Monday, November 27.

Worthington CIU

Winter League

Wheatley Hill A moved four points clear at the top of the table after they whitewashed the visiting Shotton Palms. However after Ronnie Peacock took the first point easily, the remainder of the frames were close but the Hill came out on top in each with wins for Jack Wright, Alan Hall, Dennis Clish and Dean Bryden.

Spennymoor A share the second place with Old Shildon and Witton Gilbert following their win at Stanley Central.

The Moors took the first three points through Dennis Dodd, Eddie Rhodes and Paul Biddle, but the home side replied with wins from Jim Dufton and Harold Grimes.

Witton Gilbert could have had the second spot to themselves but they went down by the odd point at Newton Aycliffe, who were never behind in the match. Bill Barrigan put the home side ahead with Willis Joynes levelling.

Stuart Neil with a 49 break restored the Aycliffe lead only to see John Rooney, senior, level. In the decider, Aycliffe's Richie Young beat Ray Coatman on the black.

Second Division leaders, Willington had a maximum win at Newhouse A with comfortable wins from Paul Atkinson, Colin Lomax, Arthur Goldsborough and Jeremy Martin, while John Maddox took Tom Parkin to the deciding black before the Willington man won.

Meadowfield pulled off an odd point win at Ferryhill thanks to the Hughes brothers. Craig Hughes put Meadowfield ahead with brother, Malcolm adding a second.

Adrian Jones and Lee Lewis then levelled the match for Ferryhill but in the decider Stephen Hughes beat Ian Roddam to keep Meadowfield equal on points with Willington.

Crowtrees took over the third spot in the Second Division after they only dropped one point to the visiting Wingate, who had Geoff Howe as their only winner. Keith McLauchlan, Jimmy Phillipson, Sean Johnston and Dave Taylor won for the home side.

Spennymoor B took over the leadership of the Third Division after beating the visiting Tow Law B, who had Hepple Hodgson as their lone winner. The Moors had wins from Alan Shaw, Micky Anderson, Wayne Parry and Stuart Ball.

Billy Row moved into second place, two points behind Spennymoor B, after they won a very long match at Tow Law A by three points. The Row took points through Alan Smith, Ernie McEleavey, Ken Rider and Alan Hodgson with Charlie Donaghy grabbing the last one for the Lawyers.

Fishburn B moved into third place in the Third Division following their maximum victory at Leeholme A. The visitors had wins from Winston Hodgson, Barry Underwood, Wilf Oliver, Alan Wilson and Keith Binks.

Cockton Hill only dropped one to the visiting Brandon, for whom Graeme Jackson scored their only point. Harold Lomax, Lee Taylor, Peter Race and Andrew Aisbitt with a 33 break won for the Hill.

Charle Hirst put Fishburn A ahead when they entertained Wheatley Hill B, who then moved ahead with wins from Dave Blyth and Terry Ellison. However Peter Davison levelled and John Carter completed the Fishburn victory by beating Ken Johnson in the decider.

Arnold Fleming put Hunwick A ahead at Sherburn Village but then the home side went ahead with wins from Alan Bower and Alan Greener. Trevor Cook then levelled the match and Dave Penman clinched victory for Hunwick by beating Scott Mallaburn.

West Auckland made a good away win over Sacriston with wins from David Geraty, Andrew Dent and Shaun Reynolds, while Alan Richardson and Steven Bradley replied for the home side.

Ray Gill of Leeholme B set the highest break mark in the Third Division with 37 in the final frame at Hunwick B, but he was the only winner for the visitors.

Hunwick B had wins from Des Mason, Neville Blenkinsop, Ian Richardson and Barry Fleming.

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