Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League: Leadgate, who went close last season, could again be strong candidates for the championship and they maintained their promising early-season form defeating newly-promoted Burnopfield with ease on Saturday.

Their five-man attack, in which Rehan Rafique starred taking three wickets, reduced the visitors to only 104 in 50 overs. Opener Lee Pearson looked in good form but after making 32 he was run out.

The target proved easy for Leadgate who romped home in just 20.1 overs losing four wickets.

Paul Hutchinson struck a six and six boundaries out of 40 and Rafique completed a good day making 41 with one six and seven fours.

Swalwell maintained their impressive start with a nine-wickets win over Benwell and Walbottle at Derwenthaugh.

Five bowlers had the visitors back in the pavilion for just 79 and from then on only the weather threatened the home side.

Former Sunderland player Stuart Pattison wasted no time and his unbeaten half-century swept Swalwell to a nine wickets win.

Champions Tynedale, who have had their fair share of injuries, lost for the third successive time when Newcastle City celebrated their first win of the season.

It appeared that a total of 224 would prove defendable but City attacked from the start and Kumar set the scene making 85 before Masood Mirza carried his bat for a timely 36.

When Tynedale made first use of the wicket Neil Clark top-scored with a well played 72 while for Newcastle, Singh impressed with figures of 7-42.

Ponteland were also presented with a 200-plus target at Lanchester and came out of top by a margin of five wickets.

Malcolm Clarke gave the innings a good send off with 39 but it was the partnership between Taylor (56 not out) and Andy Morgan with 42 which finally secured victory.

Kevin Dixon junior top performed making 77 not out and Bosman added 42 to the Lanchester total of 221-6 which included an unbeaten 41 by Dixon senior.

Annfield Plain were another side among the runs, posting 232 for seven at home to Sacriston who were 82 for the loss of four wickets when the rain arrived.

Andrew Donnelly led the way with 72 and David Newstead added 40 before being run out.

Tony Claughan opened Sacriston's reply with 33 but when man-of-the-match Donnelly picked up three cheap wickets, the momentum was with the Plain.

Shotley Bridge had lost the wickets of David Jackson and Peter Collingwood with only three runs on the board when the weather ruled out any further play at Ashington.

The Colliers also passed the 200 mark as the runs flowed from openers Simon Prudhoe with 69 and Neil Wood (38).

Greg Williams also scored 38 and although Jackson captured four wickets for 58 runs, the Bridge faced a formidable challenge when the weather closed in.