THERE was drama in both the Premier and First Divisions in the NEPL on Saturday, but whereas the championship race now looks all but over in the top flight, it has only just begun in the second tier.

The heavy rain of the previous 24 hours left the ground at Roseworth Terrace saturated, causing a delay to the start of the big showdown between South North and Chester-le-Street, and once underway things became even gloomier for the Cestrians as they crumbled to 112 all out, losing their last six wickets for just 32 runs.

But the damp conditions had given bowlers the upper hand and after Jonny Wightman (3-36) and Lee Crozier (4-32) had done the business for the Bulls, it was Chester’s turn to exert pressure, grabbing the first four home wickets with just 22 on the board, and still in the game when the seventh wicket went down on 84. But 17-year-old Rob Peyton hit 23 priceless runs to take his team to within two of victory before being eighth out.

The eventual two wicket success saw South North increase their lead over their defeated opponents to 28 points, and with just three matches remaining the Bulls look destined for their tenth title in 13 years.

At the opposite end of the division Gateshead Fell’s three wicket home defeat at the hands of Tynemouth left them trailing Blaydon, who drew with Newcastle, by nine points and it looks almost certain that the meeting between the two relegation threatened clubs in two weeks time will determine their status next season.

Although neither Stockton or Benwell Hill have anything very much to play for they became embroiled in another low scoring thriller in damp conditions, the Hill coming out on top by a single wicket in a game that was curtailed by a total of 22 overs.

Bowled out for 121 the Teessiders fought their way back into the match, reducing Hill to 31-4 and then 72-6, with Jimmy Ward taking out the first five to fall. Ward went on to record a return of 6-52, but it was the late runs from Peter Halliday (30) and Graeme Race (31no) that were to eventually win the day, Race steering his final colleague through a last wicket winning stand of 12.

Just two points separate the top three in the First Division after Burnmoor’s win at South Hetton and Willington’s home success against Boldon enabled them to make up significant ground on Eppleton who didn’t have time to finish off Tudhoe when their game was reduced by 13 overs.

Burnmoor, seeking a remarkable fourth championship in four years in three different leagues, drew level with the leaders as Ian Conn (4-19) and Sean Tindale (3-25) hustled Hetton out for 99 after Paul Craig (72) had set up a 50-over declaration on 201-8, and Willington made their move after Connor Hodgson included a hat-trick in his scintillating spell of six wickets for 12 runs which bundled Boldon out for a paltry 73.

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