Chester-le-Street drew a line in the Premier Division sand with a convincing victory at Hetton Lyons, extending their lead at the top from 15 to 19 points and suggesting they are going to be season-long challengers for the title they last won in 2010.

For once their two opening bats failed, but from a precarious 6-2 the Cestrians showed their new found resilience as first Andrew Smith, 52 from 81 balls, and then skipper John Coxon, 52 from 68, rebuilt the innings, and despite four wickets from Lyons’ debutant leg-spinner Darrell Williams the visitors lodged a target of 223-9.

Andrew Bell (4-25) and Mark Turner (4-45) then blew away the home resistance as the hosts slumped to 56-9, the Lyons’ tail wagging as Cameron Grimwood (31) and Martin Pollard (39 not out) restored a modicum of respectability with a defiant last wicket stand of 71. After finishing as runners-up last summer, defeat left Hetton uncomfortably close to the drop zone.

Blaydon moved into second after a battling home display against Stockton earned them a four wicket win after the Teessiders had been bowled out for 182.

Graeme Bridge and Ryan Buckley claimed seven of the wickets to fall as spin dominated, only Rammy Singh, with 79 from 83 balls, resisting.

Stockton were fleetingly back in the game as they reduced their hosts to 129 for 6, but then Geoff Stewart (33 not out) and Buckley (18 not out) settled nerves.

Three centuries adorned the Dean Road meeting between South Shields and champions South North.

Durham’s Gordon Muchall hit 13 boundaries on his way to a 176-ball 123 as Shields posted 250-4 in 63 overs, but the Bulls charged to victory as Jonny Craigs (114 not out from 155) and former Aussie Test star Marcus North (127 not out from 135) combined in a double century match winning partnership that secured an eight-wicket win with more than ten overs to spare.

But even they couldn’t outshine Newcastle skipper Jacques du Toit, the former Leicestershire man blasting a club record 183 for his side at Whitburn.

The blitz included 21 fours and 11 sixes from 128 balls. It propelled the Tynesiders to their highest ever NEPL total of 330-9, some 172 runs too many for the home team who slid to the foot of the table.

In the First Division, Brandon made it five wins from five outings, a sensational start to the season that now sees them 37 points ahead of the chasing pack.

At home to Willington, the visitors bowled them out for 185. John Carmedy (62 from 122 balls) led a recovery from 8-2 as he shared a third wicket rebuilding partnership of 90 with Chris Peareth (41 from 80 balls), and any concerns the total might not be enough were swept away by Sairaj Raghavan who claimed six for 22 runs as Willington slipped from 49-1 to 132 all out.

Washington moved above beaten Boldon into second spot after an Ashley Thorpe (80) and Melvyn Betts (3-23 and 44) inspired victory at Sunderland, while Burnmoor proved too strong for Tudhoe, Stephen Meek’s 92 runs laying the foundations for a 30-point success which moved them up into third place.