Worthington CIU

Summer League

The Third Division Championship race was blown wide-open last week when the joint leaders both lost which dramatically affected the top of the table.

Meadowfield now share the top place with Newhouse B after they only dropped one point at former leaders, Spennymoor B, who slip to third. However the situation is so close that there are only four points between the top eight teams.

Meadowfield made a great start at Spennymoor with Norman Smith, Stephen Hughes and Malcolm Hughes taking the first three points although Wayne Parry did pull one back for the Moors, Craig Hughes scored a point to complete a good night for Meadowfield.

Spennymoor's defeat opened the door for Newhouse B to build up a lead at the top of the table but instead they lost at home to Fishburn B. Barry Underwood, Winston Hodgson and Darren Nicholson won for Fishburn with John O'Driscoll and David Jackson taking points for Newhouse.

Old Shildon remain two points clear at the top of the First Division after only dropping one point to the visiting Witton Gilbert. Billy Goggins made a 42 break for Shildon but was beaten on the black by Ian Renwick for Witton's only point. The leaders' points came from Jossie Aldworth, Michael Pratt with a 52 break, Charlie Blake with a 39 break and Frank Nicholson with a 38 break.

Fishburn A held on to second place after they only dropped one point to the visiting Newton Aycliffe team, who had Michael Hewitt as their lone scorer. The Fishburn winners were John Carter, John Griffin, Peter Davison and Brian Quest with a 34 break.

Shotton Palms lost the first frame to the visiting Wheatley Hill A when Dave Walker won but the Palms hit back with wins from Colin Jobes, Jimmy Evans, Paul Hickman and Dave Swindle which moved them into third place.

Willington went two points clear at the top of the Second Division after they dropped just one point to visiting Brandon who slipped down to third. Jeremy Martin gave the home side a great start with a 42 break and Paul Atkinson then increased the lead. John Hall pulled one back on the black only to see Tommy Parkin take the fourth frame by a similar black to restore the home lead. Arthur Goldsborough clinched Willington's victory with a convincing final frame.

Crook Belle Vue remain in second place in the Second Division after just edging a dour home game against Durham City. Norman Slack put Crook ahead but the visitors equalised when high scoring Hamaed Choudbury became the first player to beat Harold Lomax this season. Derek Potts and John Warriner took the next two frames to clinch the Crook victory with Gary Ward winning the final point for Durham City.

Only John Bower managed a point for Sherburn Village when they visited Stanley Central, who found some of their true form with good wins from Dennis Payne, Alan Todd, Jim Dufton and Walter Cornell.

Hunwick lost a chance of moving up to share top spot in the Third Division when they went down by the odd point at home to Billy Row. Trevor Lomax put Hunwick ahead but then the visitors took three in a row through Kenny Campbell, Alan Smith and Alan Hodgson. Tom Ward took the final point for Hunwick.

Ferryhill look doomed to relegation after they failed to take a point from their visit to Wheatley Hill B, who had wins from Dave Blyth, Steve Cave, Peter Howe, Terry Ellison and Ken Johnson.

Adrian Prest took the only point for Leeholme when they entertained Crowtrees, who had wins from Sonny Hann, Steve Johnson, Phil Whitfield and Keith McLaughlan.

Results: Stanley Central 4 Sherburn Village 1; Old Shildon 4 Witton Gilbert 1; Newhouse B 2 Fishburn B 3; Leeholme 1 Crowtrees 4; Willington 4 Brandon 1; Hunwick 2 Billy Row 3; Fishburn A 4 Newton Aycliffe 1; Crook Belle Vue 3 Durham City 2; Wheatley Hill B 5 Ferryhill 0; Spennymoor B 1 Meadowfield 4; Shotton Palms 4 Wheatley Hill A 1; Langley Park v Newhouse A no result.

South West Durham Association

Hopetown moved four points clear at the top of the First Division after they whitewashed their hosts at Bishop Auckland Cricket Club. Albert Hill are in second place, three points ahead of West Auckland.

Old Shildon slipped to their second consecutive defeat at Shildon Elm Road to drop a point behind Darlington Cricket Club in the Second Division.

Results: Darlington Snooker Club A 2 West Auckland 2; Bishop Auckland Cricket Club 0 Hopetown 4; Albert Hill 2 Southerne Club 2; Shildon Elm Road 3 Old Shildon 1; Northgate 2 Darlington Cricket Club 2; Harrowgate Hill 3 Darlington Snooker Club B 1; Bishop Auckland Kingsway 3 Barnard Castle Folly's B 1; Carpies 3 Tindale Crescent 1; Barnard Castle Folly's A 3 Bishop Auckland Kingsway B 1.