THE TITLE hopes of Hetton Lyons are hanging by a thread after they were unable to overpower the championship favourites, South Northumberland, in their top-ofthe- table confrontation.

Gosforth was the venue for the eagerly awaited clash, but as it ended in stalemate the pundits are now expecting the silverware to go to the club who have won it more times than anyone else.

South North have lifted the title eight times in 14 seasons, and look odds on to make it nine.

The Lyons missed their chance of trimming back the lead of their main rivals and instead ended the day four points further adrift.

The Bulls now have an even more impressive advantage after the drawn finish between the two sides left them 44 points ahead.

The hosts were more cautious than usual as they took first knock, completing their 65 overs on 214-8 with identical individual performances from their top trio, Karl Turner, John Graham and David Edwards.

Each of them scored 49 with Edwards unbeaten after facing just 47 balls in 58 minutes.

He hit seven boundaries, the same as Turner and three more than Graham. Both faced more than 100 balls.

Lyons’ key bowler, Lal Kumar, was in great form sending down 20 overs and finishing with five wickets for 71 runs.

But South North’s David Rutherford was even more successful, taking 5 for 21 from his first 14 overs with six maidens and then returning to finish with 6 for 23 from 17.

The Lyons, who replied with 151-8 from 55 overs, had Allan Worthy (36), John Malkin (27) and Robert Talbot (27 not out) to thank for keeping them in the game.

Hetton are 36 points ahead of Benwell Hill who defeated unpredictable Tynemouth by 54 runs.

Batting first, the Hill totalled 209-7 with Richard Coughtrie making a top score of 72 from 117 balls and Zohaib Khan unbeaten on 46.

But it was Khan the bowler who completely undid the home side with six wickets from 17.3 overs.

They came at a personal cost of 43 runs with his last victim claimed with just nine balls of the game left. Benwell won by 54 runs.

There was no repeat performance by bottom club, Gateshead Fell, who won for the first time last week.

They lost when visiting Blaydon, who are now in fourth place and waiting to take advantage of any slips ahead of them.

Ryan Buckley and Graeme Bridge took three wickets apiece to leave the Fell struggling despite Malik Javed’s 40-run opening.

But Blaydon weren’t altogether at the races and lost seven wickets in scrambling home with Cameron Oliver (3-22) and Adam Whatley (3- 35) difficult to handle.

Sunderland’s poor form gets no better with Whitburn’s Mark Elliott (6-24) celebrating as they were bowled out for 114 in response to the 207 his colleagues posted. Michael Turns contributed 73 of these.

Champions, Stockton, who are already out of the title hunt, were defeated again on their travels, losing by 92 runs at Chester-le-Street after being bowled out for 208.

Former Durham county star, Callum Thorp did the damage with six wickets.

And there was little joy for the Academy youngsters who were beaten by Newcastle after being bowled out for 165.

In Division One Washington moved into second place behind leaders, South Shields, who dropped points in a draw at Felling but are still 34 ahead.

Washington won by four wickets against Brandon whose top batsman, Chris Winn hit a 109-ball century out of 242-9 but still finished on the losing side.