BISHOP AUCKLAND League

 

                Darren Briggs was the Top Hat B hero when he won two points to topple the visiting Snooker Club from the top of the table. Team mate, Baz Walton also won two with Lol Jones and Paul Biddle adding one each. Paul Armstrong won two for the visitors with Phil Cox and Michael Hoggart adding one each. The Hatters won the doubles before Paul Biddle and Phil Cox shared the captains’ games.

                In the basement battle, where both teams were looking for their first win, the Cumberland beat the visiting Queen’s Head in the decider. The singles were shared when Billy Barker and Liam Dennis won two each and Dave Canny added one for the home team, whilst Tony Hepper won two and Pat Rouse, George Clarke and Steve Watson equalised. Clarke was joined by Jason Baird to win the doubles for the Queen’s but Dave Flory snatched victory by beating Mo Rouse in both captains’ games.

                Results: Elm Road 8 Green Tree 5; Top Hat B 8 Snooker Club 5; Durham Ox 9 Derby 4; RAFA 10 Bar None 3; Aclet 3 Top Hat A 10; Manor 4 New Market 9; Miners 9 Cockton Hill 4; Cumberland 7 Crook Queen’s 6.

                Points after 7 games: New Market 67; Top Hat A 66; Snooker Club 64; Top Hat B 59; Miners Arms 58; Elm Road Club 54; Green Tree 50; Durham Ox 48; Manor and Cockton Hill Club 46 each; Aclet 39; Bar None 33; RAFA Club 31; Derby and Queen's Head 23 each; Cumberland 21.

 

Auckland Area League

                (Sponsored by ATAG Cable Solutions & B.S.& P. Bearings)

 

                After a couple of heavy defeats, Coundon Durham Ox A were hoping to get back to winning ways when they entertained Ferryhill Dean & Chapter and, although they had two wins from Mark Dowson and one each from Jake Skipp and Chris Lowe, it was the Chapter who led at the end of the singles games with two points from Dean Johnson and one each from Richie Turner, Shaun Talbot, Nolan Simpson and Jamie Watson. The visitors then stretched their lead when Johnson teamed up with Simpson to win the pairs, before the captains’ games were then shared to leave the Ferryhill team as the three point winners.

                The B team from the Durham Ox, who are enjoying a much better season than their A team, continued their good form when they came away with a three point victory from Bishop Auckland Bay Horse side. Harvey Jayne won two for the Horse, with Andrew Dixon and Anthony Shaw adding one each, whilst the Ox led with two points each from Kelvin Anderson and Anthony Foster and one each from Paul Frame and Matthew Longthorne, who then combined to win the pairs and secure the overall victory. Foster extended the lead when he won the first captains, but Jonny Stuart won the final game of the night for the hosts.

                Results: Bishop Auckland Bar None 6 Coundon Miners B 7; Bishop Auckland Bay Horse 5 Coundon Durham Ox B 8; Bishop Auckland R.A.F.A 2 Spennymoor Top Hat 11; Bishop Auckland Snooker Club 6, Henknowle Manor 7; Bishop Auckland Sports Bar 11 Ferryhill Post Boy 2; Coundon Durham Ox A 5 Ferryhill Dean & Chapter 8; Coundon Miners A 10 Shildon Timothy Hackworth 3; Spennymoor Voltigeur 12 West Auckland Eden Arms 1.

                Points: Miners Arms A 216; Voltigeur 203; Henknowle Manor 196; Durham Ox B and Top Hat 184 each; Snooker Club 159; Eden Arms and Durham Ox A 143 each; Sports Bar 131; Bar None 128; Miners Arms B 122; RAFA 115; Bay Horse and Dean & Chapter 112; Timothy Hackworth 95; Post Boy 45.

 

Teesdale League

                (Sponsored by Colin Watson PVCU Windows)

 

                The finals and presentation night was held at Barnard Castle Rugby Club and was a fitting conclusion to another successful season.

                As anticipated, the Division 1 championship had developed into a three horse race by mid-season between defending champions, the Royal Oak Inn A, last season’s runners up, the Diamond Inn, and last season’s Division 2 champions, the Moorcock Inn A. The three teams were never separated by more than two points throughout the season as top spot changed hands several times with all three leading at some point. It ended up being the closest title race the league has ever seen as all three teams ended on the same points and had to be separated by frame difference. The Diamond claimed the title by virtue of having won three more frames than the Royal Oak Inn A, who in turn had won five more frames than third placed, Moorcock Inn A.

                The Division 2 championship was comfortably won by long time leaders Glaxo Club, with a margin of eight points. The runners up spot went to early league leaders Barnard Castle Club A, who just managed to edge out the Moorcock Inn C, on frame difference.

                The doubles knockout final was an all Royal Oak affair with Martin Walton and Alan Stobart losing the decider to Mark Little and Peter Todd.

                The singles knockout final was between James Teasdale of the Diamond Inn and Mark Little of the Royal Oak. Again it went to the decider with Mark taking his second title.

                The Team Knock Out final saw the top two from the Diamond Inn and the Royal Oak A in action. The Diamond Inn had wins from Scott Parkin, Gary Close, Craig Talbot and Tom Stobart with Scott Parkin and Martin Coll replying.

            Finals Night results (played at Barnard Castle Rugby Club) - Doubles Knockout Final: Mark Little & Peter Todd (Royal Oak A) beat Alan Stobart & Martin Walton (Royal Oak A); Singles Knockout Final: Mark Little (Royal Oak A) beat James Teasdale (Diamond Inn); Team Knockout Final: Diamond Inn 4 Royal Oak A 2.

                Most Sporting Team awards went to Barnard Castle Rugby Club in the First Division and Smallways Inn B in the Second Division.

 

Crook League

 

                Results: Crown A 4 Fir Tree 10; Travellers rest B 13 Crown B 1; White Swan 6 Travellers Rest A 8; King’s Head 6 New Market 8; Crook Queens 10 Surtees 4; Willington Queen’s 1 Mill A 13; Mill B 7 Australian 7.

                Points: Mill A 211; Australian 190; Travellers Rest B 188; Fir Tree Inn 182; Travellers Rest A 150; King's Head 143; New Market 140; Crown A 131; Mill B 130; White Swan 124; Crook Queen's 121; Surtees 101; Crown B 75; Willington Queen's 46.

 

Weardale League

 

                Frosterley Inn were hoping to close the gap on the leading Stanhope Club, who had a bye, when they entertained the Blue Bell. Nick Rees set the hosts on the right track but Tyrone Robson and Mark Peart replied. Neil Coates and Darren Tinkler moved the home team back in front but Grant Scott won the final singles to equalise. The first two pair’s games were shared but Frosterley edged to victory by winning the decider.

                Results: Frosterley Inn 5 Blue Bell 4; Golden Lion 4 Pack Horse 5; Blanchland S.C. 7 Grey Bull 2; Black Lion 6 Bonny Moor Hen 3.

                League Points: Stanhope Club 116; Frosterley Inn 115; Black Lion 102; Blue Bell 88; Blanchland S.C. 76; Grey Bull 75; Bonny Moor Hen 61; Pack Horse 60; Golden Lion 54.

 

Trimdon & District League

 

                The qualifiers for the semi finals of the Singles Championship were Derek Booth (Dovecote A), Peter Spellman (Dovecote A), Ian Coulson (Dovecote B) and Dale Allan (Davey Lamp).

 

Consett League

 

                There was a change in the leadership of the First Division with the Snooker Club, who had the mixed results of losing at the Golden Lion and winning at the Grove A, moving one point clear of the Braes A, despite their nine point victory at the Grove B.

                First Division Results: Duke 5 Demi B 8; Blackhill B 8 Bellamy’s 5; Fountain B 9 Station Club 4; Golden Lion 7 Snooker Club 6; Barn B 11 Leadgate Club 2; Grove B 2 Braes A 11. Postponed; Demi C v Grove A. Late results: Grove A 5 Snooker Club 8; Fountain B 10 Duke 3. Outstanding matches: Golden Lion v Fountain B; Braes B v Duke; Grove B v Blackhill B.

                First Division points: Snooker Club 190; Braes A 189; Demi B 176; Barn B 168; Grove A 166; Blackhill B 163; Fountain B 118; Golden Lion 113; Bellamy’s 106; Station 105; Leadgate 99; Grove B 98; Duke 97; Demi C 71.

                The promotion battle is still close in the Second Division. The two point leaders from the Freemasons A were stretched to win by the odd point at the Demi A allowing Castleside to close the gap to two points after they only lost three points to the visiting Annfield Plain Queen’s Head.

                Second Division Results: Delves Club 8 Cricketers 5; Castleside Club 10 A.P. Queens 3; Braes B 6 Barn A 7; Demi A 6 Freemasons A 7; Miners 5 Blackhill A 8; Freemasons B 4 Fountain A 9. Cronniwell had a bye. Late result: Braes B 9 Miners 4. Outstanding match: Cricketers v Fountain A.

                Second Division points; Freemasons A 152; Castleside 150; Braes B 146; Barn A 145; Delves Club 143; Fountain A 135; Blackhill A 129; Miners and Demi A 116 each; Cronniwell 110; Cricketers 101; Freemasons B 92; A.P. Queen’s 90.

 

 

ENDS>

 

Submitted by Charlie Donaghy