Snooker News

Third Division Tow Law's giant-killing bubble finally burst in the semi-final when they went down to First Division, Sherburn Village at Spennymoor. The Lawyers had already beaten two First Division and one Second Division team on their road to this match.

Tow Law went into the match with 56 points start and this was extended to 77 when Charlie Donaghy beat Peter McGowan in the first frame. Sherburn then pulled back 18 points in the next frame when Adrian Twist beat Stephen Laing. A further 23 points were knocked off the deficit when Alan Greener beat Malcolm Umpelby, leaving the Lawyers 34 ahead.

The crunch came in the fourth frame when Sherburn's Scott Mallaburn beat Bill McCluskey by 59 to set teammate, John Bower into the final frame against Ken Robinson with 25 points start. Ken resigned on the colours when he trailed by 54 points.

In the other semi-final Second Division, Wingate played First Division, Fishburn A at Willington but were immediately weakened by the absence of Dave Hammond. Wingate received 53 points start but this was immediately reduced by 39 when John Griffin of Fishburn beat Geoff Howe after taking the blue, pink and black.

In the second frame Pat McCoy of Wingate had built up a good lead against Charlie Hirst with only one red left. However, Hirst recovered to take this red with a black and the colours to win by eight points. Brian Quest then took Fishburn's third frame with a six point success over Dean Jones with Peter Davison following up to beat reserve, Norman Greener by twenty points.

This left Wingate's Jim Alcock giving John Carter 25 start into the final frame. Jim did well to close the gap to eight points but John then had a good run to take Fishburn A into the final, which will be played at Billy Row.

Bass CIU Team Plate

The first final of this new competition will be between Stanley Central and Newhouse B at Willington after both came through the semi-finals with victories in the final frames.

Stanley central gave away 44 points start to Spennymoor B in the match played at Tow Law. In the first frame Stanley's Jim Dufton reduced the arrears by 27 after beating Micky Anderson. Walter Cornell then edged Stanley into the lead after he beat Alan Shaw by 23 points. Harold Grimes maintained Stanley's winning sequence when he beat Kurt McCormack by four points and was followed by a six point win for Alan Todd of Stanley over Wayne Parry. This gave Frank Foster 16 points start over Spennymoor's Alan Rowell in the final frame. Alan was left searching for a snooker on the final pink when Frank potted it to clinch a final place.

Leeholme met Newhouse B in the other semi-final at Billy Row with 127 start. Fifty-six of this start went in the first frame when Alan McCluskey beat Anthony Forster. However, Ray Gill came back for Leeholme with a 15 point win over Jimmy Hassen, but Brian Eltringham followed up with a 31 point victory over Tony Clish to reduce the lead to 55 points. David Jackson then won by 38 points for Newhouse against Adrian Prest leaving Richard Bell with a 17 point deficit into the final frame against Mark Brown. Richard got on top and took Newhouse to the final with a 21 point win.

Darlington Monday

Night League

The league will be re-starting soon and are looking for any new teams to join. If your team would like to play in the league, which could have a new sponsor to replace Sherwoods, contact Peter Everett on (01325) 241388 for more details.

Worthington CIU Summer

The Presentation Evening has been arranged of Saturday, October 28, at Spennymoor Club. Last season's event at the same venue sold out well in advance and all team delegates are asked to collect their tickets at the next meeting in Meadowfield Club at 7.30pm on Thursday, September 28. Tickets can be booked in advance by telephoning Ronnie Bateman on (01388) 817645.

All team and individual trophies should be returned to this meeting and donations of bottles for the Presentation Evening raffle.

Division One

P W L Pts

Old Shildon 16 14 2 52

Fishburn A 16 11 5 51

Wheatley Hill A 16 8 8 42

Witton Gilbert 16 7 9 42

Shotton Palms 16 8 8 41

Newton Aycliffe 16 6 10 38

Spennymoor A 16 8 8 35

Stanley Central 16 6 10 33

Sherburn Vill. 16 4 12 26

Division Two

Willington 16 13 3 55

Wheatley Hill B 16 10 6 44

Wingate 16 11 5 43

Crook Belle Vue 16 10 6 42

Brandon 16 7 9 39

Langley Park 16 5 11 38

Newhouse A 16 7 9 36

Durham City 16 5 11 35

Ferryhill 16 4 12 28

Division Three

Newhouse B 16 13 3 51

Meadowfield 16 10 6 50

Hunwick 16 10 6 47

Spennymoor B 16 10 6 42

Tow Law 16 7 9 41

Crowtrees 16 8 8 39

Fishburn B 16 9 7 38

Billy Row 16 3 13 29

Leeholme 16 2 14 23

Norman Fowler Memorial

Charlie Blake of Middleton-in-Teesdale produced the best break in the five matches played when he put in 43 to beat Bill McCluskey of Tow Law. He looked to be well on course to beat the previous best, 50 from Steven Bennett of Darlington, but failed to cut in a black after slipping out of position. This break clinched the second frame for him after he had struggled through the first, which McCluskey should have won but failed on the green allowing Blake to take the final colours for a twelve points win.

Last year's winner, Michael Pratt of Chilton comfortably whitewashed Charlie Donaghy of Tow Law, who rarely troubled the scorer. Pratt's 27 and 25 breaks ensured both frames. Another impressive player, Paul Atkinson of Willington, beat Tow Law's Arthur Henderson in similar fashion with winning breaks of 24 and 22.

Jimmy Evans of Birtley made steady progress in both frames against Malcolm Umpelby of Tow Law and linked some good safety play with good potting to make progress. Lee Robinson of Tow Law put up a good fight against John Armstrong of Shotton. In the second frame Robinson could well have levelled the match but missed a fairly easy pink after the final red allowing Armstrong to take the colours for victory.

The second round will be completed when Alan Todd of Stanley plays Norman Plews of Tow Law and Dean Jones of Thornley plays Jim Dufton of Stanley. The draw for the third round will be published in next week's Local Heroes with the matches starting on Thursday, September 21.

Jack Jobson Memorial Handicap Singles

Quarter finals: Arthur Goldsborough 16 (Willington) v John Armstrong 10 (Shotton Palms); Jim Evans 7 (Shotton Palms) v Michael Pratt Sc (Old Shildon); Charlie Donaghy 28 (Tow Law) v Arnold Fleming 28 (Hunwick); Frank Nicholson 5 (Old Shildon) v Gary Ward 14 (Durham City)

Worthington CIU

Singles Championship

Semi-final draw: Paul Atkinson (Willington) v Jim Dufton (Stanley Central) to be played at Tow Law on Monday, September 18, and Michael Pratt (Old Shildon) v Adrian Twist (Sherburn Village) to be played at Leeholme on Tuesday, September 19.

Worthington CIU Pairs Championship

Semi-final draw: Michael Pratt & Jossie Aldworth (Old Shildon) v Michael Pratt & Gary Ward (Durham City) to be played at Willington on Wednesday, September 20, and Brian Graham & John Hall (Brandon) v Tommy Parkin & Gordon Parkin (Willington) to be played at Tow Law on Monday, September 25.

Crook League

The new season commences on Wednesday, September 20, with eighteen teams competing in two divisions with the following fixtures for the first week.

Division One: Crook Olde Horse Shoe A v Willington Market; Crook Travellers Rest A v Travellers Rest B; Crook Queen's Head A v Crook Royal Sun; Crook Belle Vue v Spitfire Club. Crook Coach and Horses A have a bye.

Division Two: Crook Jelly's Bar v Crook Golden Fleece; Crook Surtees v Crook Queen's Head B; Crook Mill House A v Mill House B; Crook White Swan v Crook Coach and Horses B. Crook Olde Horse Shoe B have a bye