Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League: BLAYDON'S lead at the top is looking tenuous and after losing for only the second time on Saturday, they now have three sides breathing down their necks.

Sunderland did their championship aspirations a great deal of good when they saw off Blaydon by 57 runs. Robin Weston opened with 55, which included six boundaries, and Simon Brown added 33 to the first wicket partnership which set the scene.

Alan Mustard followed up with a couple of sixes and six fours out of 57 and Tom Skillbeck contributed 30 as the five-man Blaydon attack did their best to contain the scoring, but a useful total of 209-5 was achieved.

At the halfway stage, the game was wide open but West Indian Marlon Black became the match-winner. He claimed five for 36 in 12.1 overs and Blaydon slumped to 132 all out.

The Wearsiders are now only nine points adrift of Blaydon, but South Northumberland are just four points off the top following a decisive victory over Durham Academy.

Ben Harmison was only nine runs short of a century but the Durham innings stuttered until last-man Chris Rushworth ended unbeaten with a valuable 32 which enabled a total of 200 to be posted.

South North were given the perfect start to their innings by Adam Heather (74) and James Miller (61). The momentum was maintained by Chris Hewison (34) and despite the Academy using seven bowlers, none greatly troubled the home side who had five wickets to spare.

Chester-le-Street are also very much in contention and they too had half their batsmen still in the pavilion when they overtook the modest Benwell Hill total of 96.

Destroyer-in-chief for the Cestrians was the former Durham County player Ian Hunter who produced magnificent figures of 8-29 in 16.1 overs, bowling seven maidens. John Gill ended unbeaten on 32 with five boundaries, but the Hill batsmen found it extremely difficult.

It was not exactly all one way and, when five wickets fell for 59, the Cestrians were in trouble. It was then that young John Coxon joined the experienced David Wilson and the pair added 38 for the unbroken sixth-wicket partnership.

At the bottom Philadelphia look destined to become wooden spoonists. Their performance at second-from-bottom Gateshead Fell was woeful.

Captain Lee Beaumont went for 111 runs and his spin partner James Lowe, who has hardly bowled for the club, conceded 74 runs as the Fell romped to 335 for the loss of just three wickets.

Ian Pattison was twice dropped by the time he reached 40 before going on to finish unbeaten with 120 and there were half centuries from Stuart Walker, Tom Gilbert and Nicky Phillips who tormented his former club with bat and ball.

Phillips then claimed three for 28 runs and Graeme Cessford 5-31 as Phili capitulated to 123 all out against a side which started the day at the bottom with only one win in 16.

Tynemouth moved up to fifth from the basement with victory over Stockton. Almost all of the visitors' total of 197 came from Guy Darwin (88), Alan Walker (35) and Davin Charleston (31).

Graeme Hallam was the matchwinner for the Seasiders. He went in at No 3 following the early departure of opener Wayne Falla and was still there at the end unbeaten on 73 out of a total of 198-6. Ian Purdy and Chris Armstrong both passed 30 giving their support.

Norton drew with Newcastle. Lindsay Cullen and captain Wayne Ritzema both made half centuries and Gordon Muchall 33 enabling Newcastle to make a useful 219-7.

Despite promising innings from the Symington brothers Marc and Craig, Norton struggled until Jonathan Kean retrieved the situation and went on to take 29 off one over from Cullen, before being caught for 53 as Norton reached 153-8 at close of play.