Birtley show their Steels to motor ahead in the Danby Autos League

Birtley lead the Danby Autos Sunderland Snooker League after a 4-1 win at Steels.

Brian Meuse won the first frame against Tommy Ayre 54-43 and Sean Henderson won the second against Ray Charlton Senior 74-41.

Andrew Drinkwater took the third against Ray Charlton Junior 62-36 before Jimmy Gales pulled one back for Steels against Neil Lowdon 70-45.

In the pairs, Roful Hoque and Lowdon beat Vince Flynn and Gales 60-32.

Peter Mills got Biddick B off to a winning start away to The Victory, winning a highscoring first frame against Bobby Smith 75-68.

John Temple beat Ray James 59-52 before John Butler pulled one back for The Victory against Graham Hutton 69-36.

Darren Dowell levelled the match, beating Philip Straughan 59-51.

Mills and Tommy Rutter won Biddick the match beating Butler and Dowell 56-43 for a 3-2 win.

St Gabriels won a close match against Biddick A 3-2, Aaron Duncan taking the first frame for St Gabriels against Stephen Tate 68-44 before Graham Smith levelled against Anthony Longstaff 60-51.

Glen Lane moved St Gabriels back into the lead winning the third frame against Terry Froud 84-42 before Rod Turnbull again levelled, winning the fourth against Ian McDermott 42-36. In the pairs, Duncan and Lane beat David Clennell and David Adamson 82-42.

Boldon CA won 3-2 at Pennywell Comrades, Kevin Harrop beating John Smith 79-45 and Dean Taylor winning against Derek White 63-23.

Craig Barron beat Andrew Doran 59-42 before Kevin Wright levelled the match against Joe Turner 50-38.

Derek White and Smith beat Stuart Taylor and Steve O’Wellen 77-48 in the pairs.

South Hylton B won 4-1 against Mill View, Ian Stewart beating Howard Lax 6361 before Bobby Boyce won the second against Norman Brown 73-34.

John Spruce pulled one back for Mill View against Tony Hazard 64-56 before John Harrison won the fourth against Steve Chandler 56-39. Stewart and Paul Buckley won the pairs, beating Spruce and Chandler 54-26.

Glendale beat Seaham Conservatives 3-2 thanks to frame wins from Thomas Gwyn, John Wiseman and, in the pairs, Wiseman and Paul Atkinson.