Dukes ECB North-East Regional Premier League

SOUTH SHIELDS are just a win away from swopping places with gloomy Gateshead Fell as the promotion and relegation issues come to a conclusion in the Dukes North East Premier League.

Shields, who dropped down into Division One at the start of this season, are set for an immediate return after topping the lower league for the last three months. Their seventh win on Saturday took them 37 points clear of Washington, now their closest challengers, and with even a moderate return in their final two games they have become the hottest favourites to take the silverware and step back into the top division.

Gateshead, in contrast, look to have no chance of survival after occupying bottom place in the premier division throughout the summer. They lost for the 13th time in another hapless weekend performance and they’ll be relegated for the first time since the league was formed 15 seasons ago unless they produce a Houdini- style escape in their last two matches.

Hetton Lyons, who have been chasing budding champions South Northumberland with great gusto all season, produced another maximum points performance as hosts to the Fell, but remain 33 points behind the leaders who could be crowned champions next weekend if results go their way.

Beaten only once all summer they were challenged by Sunderland in their latest game, but still took more of the points in a high scoring draw. Skipper John Graham gave another immaculate batting display, top scoring with 74 out of 244 for 5 and declaring to give his bowlers more time to take out the Wearsiders.

A half century for Adam Heather and 47 for Karl Turner provided the perfect opening partnership although Imran Shah (3- 28) and Arsalan Rahim (2- 38) shared a challenging attack. Sunderland batted with a new confidence to make 211 for 7, headed by Rahim with an undefeated 93 and, although 33 runs short, came as close as anyone to giving their powerhouse opponents a tight finish.

The Lyons were again inspired by the versatile Lal Kumar who hit a sensational 146 from 126 balls in dismantling Gateshead who could make only 97 between all eleven of them! Kumar hit 17 fours and nine sixes in his massive onslaught on the Fell bowlers and shared in a stand worth 160 with Jarvis Clay (72 from 136 balls).

Elsewhere in the top division, Stockton ended just two runs short of victory after being set to score 240 by Benwell Hill.

A seventh wicket stand of 88 between Josh Bousfield and Peter Howells, who were each unbeaten on 43, deserved to take the Teessiders to what would have been a brilliant win, but needing 11 off the last over they managed just 9.

The likely Division One champions, South Shields, had two centurions to inspire them against South Hetton who they beat by a massive margin of 159 runs. Aussie opener Tim David (108) and county stalwart, Gordon Muchall (110 not out), gave awesome displays before Chris Stewart (5-40) and Sam Taylor-Gell (3-11) skittled out their opponents for just 115.

Brandon’s brief flurry in second place ended when they lost to Sacriston and Washington are back as the main challengers after defeating Willington with two former county players, Ashley Thorpe (63) and Melvyn Betts (46), both unbeaten in a match winning century stand.