IT WASN’T quite a false dawn but the opening day of the Durham Cricket League season proved to be something of a damp squib as six matches across the new two divisional structure fell foul of the weather.

But the rain couldn’t stop champions Burnmoor as they toppled Mainsforth side by 76 runs to go joint top with Dawdon who overcame Castle Eden.

Philadelphia looked to have one of the toughest tasks of the opening day, a game against Tudhoe who so impressed in the second half of last summer, but they managed to ease over the winning line.

The other top flight match took place at Marsden where the home team struggled to 125 against Easington and, though their bowlers fought back to claim five wickets, contributions throughout the order led by David Tarn’s 34 ensured the visitors season began positively.

Only two games defied the elements in Division Two, and both of those ended in stalemate. In Durham’s match at Murton a target of 208-7 gave Murton too much to do and they closed on 111-8.

Langley Park’s batsmen enjoyed their afternoon, raising the day’s highest score of 261-8, Keith Smith top scoring with 53. Peterlee clung on tenaciously to claim a share of the spoils on 111-8, this despite five wickets for David Jones.