Top break for Pratt

Old Shildon maintained their two point lead at the top of the table in a match where Michael Pratt lifted the highest break for the season to 87. Michael gave Old Shildon the best start against the visiting Wheatley Hill A, who then slipped to three behind when Jossie Aldworth and Charlie Blake won for the home side. The Hill then recovered to take the last two points through Dave Walker and Dean Bryden, who made a 31 break.

Fishburn A kept up the pressure on Old Shildon with an odd point home win over Witton Gilbert. John Griffin put in a 34 break to take the first point for Fishburn with Ray Coatman levelling. Charlie Hirst and John Carter put Fishburn into a winning position with John Rooney senior taking the final frame for Witton.

Stanley Central moved up to share the third place in the table after they only dropped one point to the visiting Newton Aycliffe who had Steve Nelson as their only winner. Alan Todd, Jim Dufton, Frank Foster and Harold Grimes won for Central.

Sherburn Village, who are bottom of the First Division, caused the shock of the week when they visited Spennymoor A and only dropped one point. Adrian Twist, Scott Mallaburn, John Bower and Alan Greener won for the visitors with Paul Biddle taking the Moors lone point.

With second placed Crook Belle Vue without a match, Willington moved eight points clear in the Second Division after whitewashing the visiting Durham City. Willington's points came from Colin Lomax, Arthur Goldsborough, Jeremy Martin, Tom Parkin and Paul Atkinson.

Wingate moved up to share the second spot with Crook Belle Vue after they only dropped one point to the visiting Ferryhill, who had Adrian Jones as their point scorer. Geoff Howe, Dave Hammond, Dean Jones and Pat McCoy won for the home side.

Wheatley Hill B kept up the pressure on the Second Division front-runners after they beat the visiting Newhouse A. Steve Cave put the Hill ahead only for Ian Dinsdale to level with the aide of a 34 break. Dave Blyth restored the home lead only to see Keith Mann level. In the decider Tony Ellison took the Hill to victory by beating Harry Dinsdale.

Brandon were twice ahead at Langley Park but eventually lost the decider when Paul Nord beat John Middleton. Graham Jackson put the visitors ahead with Robert Roche levelling. Brian Graham restored Brandon's lead but Ray Coates equalised despite a 30 break from Kevin Sample.

In the top of the table clash in the Third Division Newhouse B opened out a two points lead when they only dropped one point to the visiting Meadowfield, who slipped to third place. Newhouse took the first four points through Alan McCluskey, John O'Driscoll, David Jackson and Brian Eltringham. Norman Smith took the final frame for Meadowfield.

Hunwick were able to move into second place after they only dropped one point to the visiting Fishburn B, who had George Whitelock as their only winner. The home points scorers were John Bate, Barry Fleming, Trevor Lomax and Tom Ward.

Leeholme made their second victory in the league when Ian North beat the visiting Billy Row's Ernie McEleavey on the black in the decider. Derek Wood had put the Row ahead with Wayne North equalising. Alan Hodgson restored the visitor's lead but Adrian Prest won for Leeholme to set up the decider.

Tow Law were never headed by the visiting Crowtrees but the match went to the decider. Ken Robinson put the Lawyers ahead with Sean Johnston levelling. Stephen Laing restored the home lead only for Keith McLaughlan to win for Crowtrees to set up the decider where the Lawyers' Malcolm Umpelby beat Dave Taylor.

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

South West Durham Association

Hopetown extended their lead at the top of the First Division to six points following their draw at West Auckland who now share second place with the beaten Albert Hill.

Darlington Cricket Club stay ahead in the Second Division with Old Shildon moving up, just two points adrift, while Harrowgate Hill are a further two behind.

Barnard Castle Folly's A are ten points ahead of Carpies in the Third Division with Bishop Auckland Kingsway A a further five points behind.

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

Worthington CIU Summer Singles Championship

Results: Round Two Kevin Sample (Brandon) beat Michael Pratt (Durham City); Paul Atkinson (Willington) beat Ian Renwick (Witton Gilbert); Adrian Twist (Sherburn Village) beat Graeme Jackson (Brandon); John Armstrong (Shotton Palms) lost to Paul Nord (Langley Park); Ray Coates (Langley Park) lost to Jim Dufton (Stanley Central); Alan Wilson (Fishburn B) lost to Peter McGowan (Sherburn Village); Dave Walker (Wheatley Hill A) beat Frank Nicholson (Old Shildon); Jim Evans (Shotton Palms) lost to Michael Pratt (Old Shildon); Jack Wright (Wheatley Hill A) beat Alan Greener (Sherburn Village); John Maddox (Newhouse A) lost to Robert Roche (Langley Park); Tom Parkin (Willington) beat Ray Coatman (Witton Gilbert); Peter Laverick (Crowtrees) lost to Ian Dinsdale (Newhouse A); Paul Hickman (Shotton Palms) bye; Gary Ward (Durham City) beat Neil Spender (Ferryhill); John Hall (Brandon) lost to John Rooney sen. (Witton Gilbert).

Worthington CIU Pairs Championship

Results: Round Two B Graham & J Hall (Brandon) beat S Hughes & M Halliday (Meadowfield); K Stanworth & A Wilson (Fishburn B) lost to G Killip & K Mitchell (Newton Aycliffe); P Bell & B Jones (Ferryhill) lost to K Johnson & N Carr (Wheatley Hill B); D Walker & A Hall (Wheatley Hill A) beat J Rooney sen. & R Coatman (Witton Gilbert); I Dinsdale & J Maddox (Newhouse) beat C Hirst & T Carter (Fishburn A); T Parkin & G Parkin (Willington) beat K Davison & D Watson (Witton Gilbert); M Pratt & G Ward (Durham City) beat S Bennett & C Blake (Old Shildon); J Bower & A Twist (Sherburn Village) beat P McCoy & D Jones (Wingate); K Keers & R Coates (Langley Park) lost to JR Rooney & M Peart (Witton Gilbert); T Clish & C Brown (Leeholme) lost to W McCluskey & T Williams (Tow Law); C Hughes & R Goodrick (Meadowfield) lost to P McGowan & S Mallaburn (Sherburn Village); I Renwick & I Kerr (Witton Gilbert) bye; R Roche & P Nord (Langley Park) lost to S Hann & K McLaughlan (Crowtrees); H Coates & J Warriner (Crook Belle Vue) lost to P Hickman & J Armstrong (Shotton Palms); G Howe & K Thirlaway (Wingate) lost to T Ellison & D Blyth (Wheatley Hill B); P Atkinson & A Goldsborough (Willington) lost to M Pratt & M Aldworth (Old Shildon).

Jack Jobson Memorial Handicap

Results: Round Two Ronnie Ayre 30 (Billy Row) lost to Robert Roche 10 (Langley Park); Paul Nord 14 (Langley Park) lost to Paul Hickman 7 (Shotton Palms); Arnold Fleming 28 (Hunwick) beat Mark Laverick 30 (Wheatley Hill B); Alan Greener 20 (Sherburn Village) beat Sonny Hann 14 (Crowtrees); Mark Donoghue 30 (Wheatley Hill B) lost to Ian Dinsdale 24 (Newhouse A); Ray Coates 18 (Langley Park) beat Kevin Davison 24 (Witton Gilbert); Jim Evans 7 (Shotton Palms) beat Keith McLaughlan 18 (Crowtrees); Adrian Twist 24 (Sherburn Village) beat Gordon Sample 28 (Billy Row); Adrian Prest 45 (Leeholme) beat Peter Laverick 28 (Crowtrees); Arthur Goldsborough 16 (Willington) beat Ken Robinson 30 (Witton Gilbert); Jim Alcock 30 (Wingate) lost to John Armstrong 10 (Shotton Palms); Dean Jones 14 (Wingate) beat John Hall 30 (Crowtrees); Barry Hall 14 (Shotton Palms) lost to Ray Coatman 16 (Witton Gilbert); Stephen Hughes 20 (Meadowfield) beat Ian Kerr 10 (Witton Gilbert); Darren Nicholson 30 (Fishburn B) lost to Frank Nicholson 5 (Old Shildon); Peter McGowan 20 (Sherburn Village) beat John Maddox 10 (Newhouse A); Phil Whitfield 28 (Crowtrees) lost to Jack Wright 14 (Wheatley Hill A); Dennis Dodd 24 (Spennymoor) lost to John Bower 18 (Sherburn Village); Craig Hughes 18 (Meadowfield) lost to Michael Pratt Sc (Old Shildon); John Rooney sen 10 (Witton Gilbert) beat Charlie Blake 5 (Old Shildon); Scott Mallaburn 14 (Sherburn Village) lost to Kevin Sample 16 (Brandon); Kenneth Rider 28 (Billy Row) lost to Malcolm Peart 24 (Witton Gilbert); Barry Fleming 30 (Hunwick) lost to Stephen Bennett 10 (Old Shildon); Willis Joynes 10 (Witton Gilbert) beat Malcolm Hughes 20 (Meadowfield); Charlie Donaghy 28 (Tow Law) beat Billy Goggins 14 (Old Shildon); Ray Gill 35 (Leeholme) beat Paul Atkinson Sc (Willington); Jim Dufton 10 (Stanley Central) lost to Ian Renwick 7 (Witton Gilbert); Barry Coston 18 (Wheatley Hill B) beat Brian Quest 14 (Fishburn A); Graeme Jackson 14 (Brandon) lost to John R Rooney 21 (Witton Gilbert); Gary Ward 14 (Durham City) beat David Watson 21 (Witton Gilbert); Dave Wilson 30 (Crowtrees) lost to David Blyth 14 (Wheatley Hill B).

Doreen Johnson

Memorial

Ithe third qualifying round played at the Spitfire Club, Crook Three Blue Bells booked their passage to the Finals Night where they join Crook Coach and Horses and Crook Travellers Rest, who won the first two qualifiers.

The Blue Bells took on Croft Social Club B in a very tight match which went down to the decider, where the Bells' Pat Davis comfortably beat Jonine Oliver.

Darlington Summer League

League One

P Ind D T

DSRM 5 24 10 34

FST A 4 21 7 28

JUC 5 12 8 20

FST B 3 9 4 13

Black Swan 4 4 5 9

Falchion A 3 3 2 5

League Two

Glittering Star 6 27 15 42

St Mary's 6 25 12 37

Turk's Head 6 18 9 27

Hospital SC 6 12 10 22

Slaters 5 11 4 15

Falchion B 5 9 1 10

Gateshead Thunder

The Academy side battled well at Oldham but went down 28-14. Elsewhere the region's new girls team, Gateshead Thunderbirds took their U-14 team to Bradford to play a tag rugby curtain raiser before a Super League match. They scored an excellent 20-12 win over the Bradford Bulls Girls. For more information on the Thunderbirds contact Lisa Jagger on (0191) 478 5824.