HORDEN'S lead at the top of the Dur-ham Senior League has been reduced to just seven points after they lost by 33 runs to second-placed Philadelphia for whom Andrew Robinson claimed 4-10.

Burnmoor, who had a free day, and Hetton Lyons are back in the championship race.

Lyons gained the maximum seven points at Felling who they dismissed for just 58 when Ashley Day, 7-19, turned in another outstanding performance.

Durham City are still rooted to the bottom of the table after they lost by 24 runs at Eppleton who struggled to 117 when Trevor Hindmarsh captured 7-66 and Gary Hulme returned 3-40.

City's batsmen never really got to grips with the task and stuttered to 93 all out as Glen Froud claimed 5-44 with his spinners and paceman Paul Christie took 3-38.

East Rainton remain favourites to clinch the Roseberry Group North-East Durham League championship and they enhanced their prospects with a two-wickets victory over Hospitals.

Bennett, 30, and Freddie Sherriff, 33, enabled Hospitals to total 153-9 before an opening innings of 53 by Gordon Steel put East Rainton on their way but it still needed a late unbeaten 22 from Ian Kitching to secure victory.

Belford House are second and they overtook the Littletown total of 93 losing just one wicket. Phil O'Ware hit one six and seven fours in 62no and the necessary runs were accumulated in just 16.2 overs as rain threatened. Batting first, Littletown struggled against the bowling of Steve Wright who in 19 overs, took 4-48, while Gary Pickering had 5-39 in his 13-overs spell.

After making a useful 167-9 which included 48 by Ian Steel, Belmont lost by six wickets at home to Simonside for whom Chris Yare hit an unbeaten century.

Bloomfield was three runs short of a century in Coxhoe's total of 200-8 and responding, the home side were restricted to 117-9 as Bloomfield also performed with the ball in taking 5-47.

Washington had reduced North Bitchburn to 78-7 when the rain arrived and the match had to be abandoned.

Ben Travis took 4-2 and both Barrass and Coburn claimed two wickets apiece when Lanchester dismissed Ryton for only 36 runs in the Cameron Junior Shield.

Gary Halliday then carried his bat for 21 in Lanchester's 10-wickets victory.

Stephen Smith was 97no and David Dolan, 38, in Lintz's 148-1. In an exciting finale, Crookhall finished on 142-5 thanks to the efforts of Richardson, 40, Stewart, 43, and Johnson, 30.

Ian Stewart took 2-10 and scored an unbeaten 35 in Consett's nine-wickets success at Greenside who managed only 51-9 when Whiteman, with 3-4, McCance, 2-12, and Cox, 2-12, were also in good form with the ball for the Steelmen.

Craig Lloyd, 36, and Raine, 35, steered Shotley Bridge to a five-wickets success on their visit to Chopwell, who batting first totalled 89.

Gateshead Fell came out on top when they met Boldon in the final of the Durham Senior League's George Peacock Mem-orial Junior Trophy.

Batting first, Boldon reached 84-9 and the two top scorers were the Lamb twins, Alan, who scored 44, and Chris, who made 12. Philip Hudson bowled a good end for Gateshead Fell, taking 3-10 and Philip Taylor, the former Durham City player, had 2-14. Replying, the Fell quickly overcame the loss of opening batsman Philip Taylor without scoring and Nathan Gray who made only five. Graham Onions led his side to victory with a fine innings of 43 and Graeme Arkle was 24no as the Fell won by six wickets. Philip Bell had 3-25