Norman Fowler Memorial

Spectators anticipated a high quality, high scoring quarter final when the former top break holder, Steven Bennett of Newton Aycliffe met the current high break holder, Andrew Aisbitt of Bishop Auckland over a best of five matches in Tow Law Club. The first frame proved to be the best of the night when Aisbitt won it with a 36 break.

In the second frame Aisbitt steadily increased his lead until he hit a decisive 20 to go two up. The run of the balls, which had been against Bennett, changed in the third frame as Aisbitt seemed to lose concentration and conceded on the brown. The fourth frame still never brought the best out of either player but Aisbitt again just edged into the lead and reached the semi-final with a late 26 break.

The second quarter final between Jimmy Evans of Birtley and Paul Atkinson of Willington was characterised by a series of breaks in the high teens but then ended by a loss of position or by an unexpected missed pot. In the first two frames it was Atkinson who built up a lead from the early stages and went through to take both despite repeated snookers by Evans, who made determined efforts to close the gaps.

The third frame proved the best of the night with Evans closing the early gap after Atkinson had knocked in a 21 break. The frame was down to the last three colours with Evans needing all three. He took the blue and set up a long exchange on the pink before his safety shot went wrong and Atkinson potted it to complete a 3-0 victory.

Tomorrow John Armstrong of Shotton meets the winner of the outstanding Third Round match between Sean Johnston of Coxhoe and Dean Jones of Thornley, with the quarter finals completed on Thursday, October 19 when Michael Pratt of Chilton plays Alan Todd of Stanley.

Crook League

Crook Olde Horse Shoe A slipped to their second defeat when they entertained the neighbouring Royal Sun and went down by the odd point. The Shoe's singles points came from Gerald Parkin and Richard Walker with Dave Walker and Les Scott adding the doubles point. The Royal Sun edged to their odd point success with wins from Mark Humes, Ronnie Hope, Graham Johnson and Simon Bowey.

Crook Travellers Rest B lead the First Division by three points from the Royal Sun, who are two ahead of the Olde Horse Shoe A. In the Second Division the Olde Horse Shoe B are one point ahead of the Golden Fleece, who are one ahead of Jelly's Bar.

Results: Crook Coach and Horses A 1, Crook Travellers Rest B 6; Crook Queen's Head A 3, Crook Belle Vue 4; Crook Golden Fleece 4, Crook Queen's Head B 3; Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 3, Crook Royal Sun 4; Crook Surtees 0, Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 7; Crook Travellers Rest A 4, Crook Spitfire Club 3; Crook Mill House 4, Crook Coach and Horses B 3.

Worthington CIU

Winter League

Paul Atkinson of Willington opened out the new season with a bang when he took just two visits to the table to complete the quickest frame when he beat Trevor Cook of the visiting Hunwick A. Trevor broke and Paul knocked in 29 before breaking down. Trevor then shot again but allowed Paul in to complete the frame with a clearance of 105.

Tom Ward then levelled for Hunwick but Willington went on to victory with further points from Tom Parkin, Arthur Goldsborough and Jeremy Martin.

Paul Biddle of Spennymoor A knocked in a 74 break at Cockton Hill to help his side to an odd point victory in a match, which went to the decider. Kevin Mordica put the Hill ahead with Paul Biddle levelling. Andrew Aisbitt restored the home lead but Gary Eason put in a 34 break to again level. In the decider the Moors Ronnie Bateman beat Harold Lomax.

There was a shock in the Third Division when the Summer League champions, Newhouse B travelled to Spennymoor B and were only saved from a whitewash when David Jackson beat Alan Shaw by a single point in the final frame. Earlier Wayne Parry, Stuart Ball, Micky Anderson and Karl McCormack won for the Moors.

Relegated Sherburn Village did not make a good home start in the Second Division when they went down by the odd point to Wingate. Geoff Howe, Jim Alcock and Pat McCoy won for the visitors with Scott Mallaburn and John Bower putting points on the board for Sherburn.

Crowtrees entertained Belmont after both had been promoted to the Second Division. Steven Armstrong put the visitors ahead with Sean Johnston levelling. Billy McGrath restored Belmont's lead but Jim Phillipson, returning to league snooker after a long lay-off, showed he had lost none of his skill in squaring the match. In the decider Crowtrees Keith McLauchlan beat Micky Short.

Only Steve Cave managed a point for Wheatley Hill B, who had won promotion to the First Division and were playing at Stanley Central. The home side had wins from Dennis Payne, Walter Cornell, Harold Grimes and Jim Dufton.

Reigning champions, Old Shildon were taken to the final black twice on their visit to Newton Aycliffe but made an excellent start to recovering their crown when they whitewashed the home side with wins from Michael Pratt, Billy Goggins, Charlie Blake, Jossie Aldworth and Steven Bennett.

Shotton Palms took the first three points at Brandon with wins from John Armstrong, Paul Hickman and Dave Swindle. However the home side recovered with wins from Owen Howarth and John Middleton.

Only Ian Renwick managed to score a point for Witton Gilbert on their visit to Wheatley Hill A, who had wins from Jack Wright, Alan Hall, Ronnie Peacock and Dave Walker.

Stephen Hughes took the first point for Meadowfield at Langley Park but then the home side hit three in a row through Robert Roche, Stephen Coates and Kevin Keers. Craig Hughes took the final frame for Meadowfield.

Newhouse A made a good start to the season when they only dropped one point to the visiting Durham City, who had Michael Pratt as their only winner. The home side had wins from Keith Mann, Steve Mountain, Ian Dinsdale and Kevin Allison, who won by a single point after completing a 32 clearance.

There were mixed fortunes for the new teams in the Third Division with Tow Law B, Sacriston and West Auckland winning, while Leeholme B lost on the final black. Tow Law B visited Leeholme A and every frame went to the wire. Alfie Edwards put the Lawyers ahead with Tony Clish levelling. The rest of the frames went to the visitors through John Wilson, Ian Stockdale and Paul Chollerton.

Sacriston took the first three points at home to Billy Row through Jim Weldon, Dale Evans and Stephen Bradley. The Row replied with wins from Alan Hodgson and Kenny Rider.

West Auckland entertained Fishburn B, who had Wayne Oliver as their only winner. West's points came from Kelvin Fletcher, Trevor Woods, Andrew Dent and Chris Kitch.

Leeholme B's debut match at Tow Law produced a nail-biting last frame where Bill McCluskey gave the home side victory by beating mark brown on the black after both had played eight shots at it. Ray Gill had put Leeholme ahead but Tommy Williams and Charlie Donaghy moved the Lawyers ahead. John Taylor won to set up the decider.

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