THE championship fight, now narrowed to two clubs, is looking more likely to be won by South Northumberland, but challengers Hetton Lyons continue to chase.

Both enjoyed impressive victories, South North at fourth-placed Blaydon and their rivals against Sunderland.

The Lyons are four points better off but the Bulls still enjoy a 40 point lead.

Hetton made the most of Sunderland’s poor record to grab maximum points, bowling them out for 63 runs after demoralising them with the day’s highest team total, 294 for 4. Opener Gary Scott made mincemeat of the Wearsiders’ attack, helping himself to 143, notably in partnership with Sean Tindale (76). Scott faced 133 balls and smashed 16 fours and five sixes, while the third wicket partnership produced 210 runs as Tindale hit ten boundaries from 111 deliveries.

The Lyons batted for 50 overs but needed only 27.4 to dismiss their opponents.

Scott (2-11) and Tindale (2- 21) were also part of a fourpronged attack that included Martin Pollard (2-16) and Lal Kumar (2-7).

South North showed they are capable of beating the best when they visited Blaydon.

Adam Cragg hit a hardearned century and shared in a 91-run partnership with Jonny Craigs (69) as the Bulls reached 229-8 in 61.5 overs.

Blaydon’s Joe Reynolds (4-49) and Ryan Buckley (3- 63) made the leaders fight for every run but the visitors had the matchwinner in Lee Crozier (5-60) despite a fighting 43 from top scorer Ross Nicholson. South North bowled them out for 168 in 49.2 overs to win by 61 runs.

Time is running out on Gateshead Fell, who slipped closer to the relegation trapdoor when beaten by Durham Academy, their 11th defeat in 17 games which has now left them 32 points from safety with five games remaining.

Luke Henderson hit a half century for the youngsters whose 176 was just enough to record a first win of a season featuring plenty of draws.

The Fell lost by eight runs despite a brilliant 62-ball innings of 92 from young Aussie, Adam Whatley.

There was a run-fest at Jesmond where Stockton lost by eight wickets to Newcastle as 547 were scored with three centuries. Richard Waite hit a brilliant 140 in 160 balls for the Teessiders who made 273-9 in 59.1 overs. He hit 21 boundaries. But Newcastle’s Jacques du Toit (113) and Graham Clark (111) were both unbeaten as they enjoyed a thrilling victory in under 50 overs.

Whitburn enjoyed their best victory since promotion, defeating Benwell Hill by ten wickets, and Chester-le- Street triumphed over Tynemouth by 88 runs.

The top three in Division One all suffered. Despite leaders South Shields expecting to lose ground, they finished with a bigger advantage than when they started.

Seaham Harbour beat Shields by a single wicket as Washington lost at Boldon and Sacriston were held at Eppleton. Shields’ lead is now 35 points.