Griffin puts Fishburn on top

Fishburn A moved to the top of the First Division after they won a black ball decider at home to the strong Shotton Palms team. Charlie Hirst put Fishburn ahead but then Jimmy Evans and Dave Swindle moved Shotton in front only to see Peter Davison level the match. In the decider Fishburn's John Griffin beat John Armstrong on the black. This puts Fishburn one point ahead of Old Shildon, who were without a game.

Newton Aycliffe moved up to share third place when they took the first four points at Sherburn Village through John Briddick, Ronnie Hall, Peter Brown and Michael Hewitt. John Bower saved the whitewash by taking the final frame for the home side.

Stanley Central now share the third place with Newton Aycliffe after they went down by the odd point at home to Wheatley Hill A. Jim Dufton put Stanley ahead with Alan Hall and Dave Walker taking the next two for the Hill. Alan Todd squared the match but then Jack Wright of Wheatley Hill beat Harold Grimes on the black.

Wheatley Hill B managed to move into third place in the Second Division behind Willington, who had no game, and Wingate, who beat the visiting Brandon by the odd point but failed to send in the scorecard, after they beat the visiting Durham City. Ahmed Choudhury put Durham ahead but the Hill replied with wins from Peter Howe and Dave Blyth, who knocked in a 30 break. Michael Pratt equalised but then the home sides, John Frost beat Gary Ward in the decider.

Meadowfield went two points clear at the top of the Third Division when they took the first four points at Leeholme through Craig Hughes, Stephen Hughes, Norman Smith and Malcolm Hughes. Tony Clish broke the Leeholme duck in the final frame.

Tow Law moved up to share second place in the Third Division with Newhouse B when they took the first four points against the visiting Fishburn B with wins from Tommy Williams, Bill McCluskey, Malcolm Umpelby and Ken Robinson. George Whitelock took the final frame for Fishburn B.

Spennymoor B slipped down the Third Division when they went down in the decider at Hunwick, who are now a point behind Tow Law. Tom Ward and Barry Fleming put Hunwick two up but Alan Rowell and Wayne Parry squared the match. In the decider Hunwick's Trevor Lomax beat Alan Shaw.

Spennymoor A were two down at home to Witton Gilbert when they sprang to life and won by the odd point. Ian Renwick and John Rooney senior put Witton in front but Paul Biddle with a 50 break and Dennis Dodd with a 35 clearance levelled. In the decider the Moors, Eddie Rhodes put in a 31 clearance to beat Malcolm Peart.

Crook Belle Vue recovered from a two-nil deficit when they visited Langley Park. Paul Nord and Ray Coates put the home side ahead with Norman Slack and John Warriner levelling. In the decider Harold Lomax beat Robert Roche on the black.

Alan Smith put Billy Row ahead at Crowtrees but then the home side took over and had wins from Keith McLaughlan, John Hall, Sean Johnston and Sonny Hann.

At the next league meeting on Thursday, July 27, at Meadowfield, entry forms will be issued for the new Under 25's singles championship and the Winter League, while entries will be collected for the Norman Fowler Memorial £100 Singles.

Results: Spennymoor A 3, Witton Gilbert 2; Crowtrees 4, Billy Row 1; Tow Law 4, Fishburn B 1; Sherburn Village 1, Newton Aycliffe 4; Hunwick 3, Spennymoor B 2; Leeholme 1, Meadowfield 4; Fishburn A 3, Shotton Palms 2; Langley Park 2, Crook Belle Vue 3; Stanley Central 2, Wheatley Hill A 3; Wheatley Hill B 3, Durham City 2; Wingate 3, Brandon 2.

South West Durham Association

Martin Taylor put in a 40 break to take the only point for the Southerne Club at West Auckland, who are in second place. In the top of the table clash the visiting third placed Albert Hill beat leaders, Hopetown, who now lead West Auckland by two points and Albert Hill by three.

Darlington Cricket Club lead the Second Division by three points from Old Shildon, who are just one ahead of Harrowgate Hill. Barnard Castle Folly's A are ten points ahead of Carpies in the Third Division, with Bishop Auckland Kingsway A and Folly's B a further seven points adrift.

Results: Darlington Snooker Club A 3, Bishop Auckland Cricket Club 1; Hopetown 1, Albert Hill 3; West Auckland 3, Southerne Club 1; Nortgate 1, Old Shildon 3; Darlington Cricket Club 2, Harrowgate Hill 2; Shildon Elm Road 3, Darlington Snooker Club B 1; Bishop Auckland Kingsway A 2, Carpies 2; Tindale Crescent 2, Barnard Castle Folly's A 2; Barnard Castle Folly's B 3, Bishop Auckland Kingsway B 1.

Norman Fowler Memorial

Eto this singles competition, which is for amateur players, closes on Saturday, July 29. The competition winner receives the Memorial Shield and £100, while there are cash prizes for the runner-up and for the highest break. All matches are played at Tow Law Club on Thursdays or Saturdays, as requested by the players. The first rounds are the best of three frames, with later matches the best of five.

The entry fee is £1 per person and can be made at the CIU League meeting on Thursday, July 27, at Meadowfield or at the South West Durham Association meeting at Old Shildon on Wednesday, July 26. Entry can also be made by phoning Tow Law Club on (01388) 730232.

Richardson & Westgarth Invitation Singles.

The Richardson and Westgarth Sports and Social Club's Invitation competition, sponsored by Mr R Stockton, started this week with David Craggs setting the standard for the highest break prize with a 103 clearance in the final frame to beat John Cairns 4-2.

Craggs, of Tow Law, also ran in a 69 break to come back from trailing 2-1 in a match where he had to give 14 points start away each frame.

In the other match the billiards player ranked world number five , Chris Shutt, beat late stand-in Tony Chalk 4-2 after establishing a 3-0 lead.

There are sixteen players in the competition, which will be played on Mondays and Wednesdays until the final on Wednesday, August 16.

The First Round and Quarter-Finals will be the best of seven frames with the semi-finals the best of nine and the final the best of eleven.

On Monday Mike Dunn will be giving 14 points per frame to Paul Spencer and John Birch will be giving 14 points per frame to Paul Bennett. On Wednesday, July 26, Michael Rhodes will give 14 points start to Tony Short and Peter Gilchrist will give 14 points start to Gary Wilson.

The games start at 7.30pm prompt in the Westgarth Sports and Social Club, 189 Winterbottom Avenue, Hartlepool.

The remainder of the First Round draw is Stuart Green v Les Burnett and Terry Singleton v Steve Burnett to be played on Monday, July 31.

CIU League

John Gilmore of Crowtrees put in a 136 checkout to finish a leg in twelve darts. There were darts maximums from Micky Reed of Billy Row, Gary Galloway of Crowtrees and Gary Taylor of Ferryhill.

Crook Belle Vue and Ferryhill share the top spot in the darts section nine points ahead of Cockton Hill. Byers Green lead the dominoes by three points from Middlestone Moor with Willington a further point adrift Ferryhill hold a seven points lead over Oakenshaw in the pool section with the Victoria just a further point behind.

Results: Darts: Cockton Hill 5, Stanhope 3; Middlestone Moor 4, Oakenshaw 4; Crook Belle Vue 6, Chilton 2; Ferryhill 7, Newfield 1; Byers Green 5, Crowtrees 3; Billy Row 6, Victoria 2.

Dominoes: Cockton Hill 2, Stanhope 3; Middlestone Moor 4, Oakenshaw 1; Crook Belle Vue 3, Chilton 2; Ferryhill 1, Newfield 4; Byers Green 3, Crowtrees 2; Billy Row 1, Victoria 2.

Pool: Cockton Hill 3, Stanhope 2; Middlestone Moor 1, Oakenshaw 4; Crook Belle Vue 3, Chilton 2; Ferryhill 5, Newfield 0; Byers Green 2, Crowtrees 3; Billy Row 0, Victoria 5.

Captains: Cockton Hill 1, Stanhope 2; Middlestone Moor 2, Oakenshaw 1; Crook Belle Vue 3, Chilton 0; Ferryhill 2, Newfield 1; Byers Green 2, Crowtrees 1; Billy Row 3, Victoria 0.

Crook 4D's Mixed League

Crook Mill House entertained the Coach and Horses and shared the darts trebles but then the home side took all three doubles. Gillian Thompson took the first singles for the Mill but then Margaret Storey started the comeback with Kath Reynolds, Colin Cranston and Paul Morgan squaring the match. In the decider the Mill's Steve Heyes beat Doug Smailes to take the darts. The Mill commanded the dominoes and won 8-2.

Crook White Swan set themselves up for a home darts win when they took the two trebles and the men's doubles against the visiting Crook Royal Sun. The Sun replied by taking the ladies and mixed doubles and then went ahead with singles wins from Julie Heslop, Carol Haygarth and Tracey Thompson. The Swan went to their odd point victory with singles wins from Trevor Hudspith, Darren Yeoman and Alan Smith. The dominoes section was also close with the Swan winning by the odd point.