NEPL

Although Newcastle stay top after their home defeat by South North, the heat is on, as both in-form Chester-Le-Street and South North who were back to their winning best, closed the gap on the leaders. They batted first at Osborne Avenue and made 218, with opener Simon Birtwisle (47), John Graham (45) and a quick-fire (40no) from David Rutherford, set the target.

Although all the top six batsmen for Newcastle made a start, only opener Oliver McGee with 39 off 114 balls, made any impact. South North were brilliant with the ball and showed true champions class with Stephen Humble (3-24), David Rutherford (3-33) and Lee Crozier (3-35) bowling out the home side for 134.

Chester-Le-Street also won batting first against Gateshead Fell, racking up 283-5 with a brilliant century from George Harrison (101) off 151 balls, including 13 fours and 1 maximum. This laid the platform and with further contributions from Richard Waite (49) and Liam Simpson (44), allowing the declaration after 54 overs.

Graham Onions with two wickets and then hitting a fine 92 for the home side including 15 fours, did his best and Sam Roseby made a useful 35, but Gurman Randhawa with (3-51) and Quentin Hughes (3-20) proved too much for the team in relegation trouble, now 63 points adrift at the bottom.

NTSL

Leaders Ashington had the third highest total in league history when they scored 415-6 at Annfield Plain. Jack Jessop (92), Ben O'Brien (65), Ben Harmison (44), Sean McCafferty (73) and Daniel Grant (32no), smashed the ball to all parts at Enterprise Park. Plain, just above the relegation trapdoor, scored 208-7 in reply, with David Newstead (48) and Graham Carr (45) contributing well, but James Harmison took 4-65, to keep them in check.

Ponteland were the big winners at the bottom, they were the only team to win in the bottom six, as they won a tight match at fellow strugglers Percy Main, by three wickets. Batting first, Main had David Anderson with 55 and M Philips 30, to thank as they were the main contributors with the bat in a total of 166. Iftikhar Fazal (4-27) and Andy Denyer (3-32) kept the score down to a reasonable level. Ben Harris with a half century (51) steered his team to victory, despite David Anderson’s (4-25) efforts with the ball.

DCL

Castle Eden won their vital game at home to Horden to ease their relegation fears. Batting first, they made 177-9, with T Mokwena scoring 40 and Jonathan Brown 32 not out, with Adam Dixon taking 3-42 in his spell. Horden lost early wickets and only Wayne Birks with 42 made any inroads to Eden’s bowling attack.

Seaham Park without a win since the 11th of June, now sit fourth bottom after their shock home defeat by Hylton, which gives them a flicker of hope in their survival quest. Sherwin Campbell’s unbeaten century of 101, was the main reason for their win. Both teams sitting just above the relegation trapdoor both drew their games, with Bill Quay (9 points) holding on at home to Easington and Crook Town (8 points) doing the same at home to Durham City.

Burnopfield must feel they have one hand on the trophy with a 91 run win at Bunker Hill, the home of Philadelphia who are third, and with in-form Easington in second, dropping points at Crook Town, it looks like the 81 point lead they have, may be good enough to clinch the title.