Benwell Hill will take some stopping for the championship if they continue in the rich vein of form they have shown in recent weeks, culminating in the ten wickets rout of Tynemouth.

The Seasiders battled through 38.4 overs scoring just 72 and were then powerless to prevent the Hill from racing to victory in just nine overs. It was, in every respect, a comprehensive performance. Shahid Nazir is having an excellent second season with the Tynesiders and he increased his impressive haul of wickets by five at a cost of just 29 runs in 14.4 overs.

When Martin Pollard returned 4-21 from 13 overs there was no way back for Tynemouth and in contrast, the Benwell Hill innings was over in quick-fire time.

Simon Birtwisle struck five boundaries in an unbeaten 30 and James Miller, playing against his former club, recorded eight fours in 39.

South Northumberland are not going down without a fight and they are second following their seven wickets success at Norton. A total of 38 overs produced a Norton score of 111, which hardly appeared defendable at the half way stage. Tim MacDonald (34) top performed for the home side.

South African Dewalt Pretorus conceded just 31 runs in 13 overs taking four wickets, Chris Hewison returned 3-25 from nine overs and Craig MacKeller 2-10.

South North emulated Benwell Hill in hurrying to victory. Their reply lasted just 19.4 overs as man-of-the-match Pretorus finished unbeaten on 31 and Imran Shah contributed 32.

Philadelphia made their highest score since joining the league, a hugely impressive 289-6 in 61 overs against Durham Academy at the Racecourse Ground.

Youngster Shaun Smith repaid his captain's confidence when he recorded his biggest score for the club, 91, and Fred Napier did even better contributing 111.

Phil Mustard opened the Academy reply making 68 and Lee Plunkett added 44, but when Gavin Swan turned in his best performance of the season with 6-52 and his fellow Australian colleague Jim Allenby picked up three wickets, the Academy youngsters were all out for 185.

The other three games were drawn. Stockton are still rooted to the bottom of the table when they replied with 148-6 to the Gateshead Fell total of 200-8.

Only two batsmen made double figures and Stockton were grateful to opener Andy Bowman, who carried his bat for 58 and to Alan Walker (51). Marcus North picked up three wickets but it was his batting which took the eye. He led the visitors and had made 111 before becoming one of Richard Waite's five victims.

Michael Roseberry (49) was again in good trim for Sunderland, sharing a fourth wicket stand with Alan Mustard (56) which propelled their side to 222-8 before Simon Old declared.

Chester-le-Street made an uncertain start to their reply before Daniel Shurben with 43 and Ashley Thorpe (45) retrieved the position and at stumps the visitors were 184-7. Franklyn Rose claimed five of the wickets for 70 runs.

The game between Blaydon and Newcastle was eventually called off when rain intervened. The visitors were on 107-4 mainly as a result of Wayne Ritzema's opening innings of 56. Jimmy Adams, who took five wickets on his debut, managed just one and was run out for 33, when Blaydon batted first. Mark Drake's 45 was the biggest individual total in the home side's score of 195-8.