On a day when the weather once more had a say there were only two winners in the NEPL Premier Division, with neighbours Hetton Lyons and Eppleton able to defy the elements and force rapid victories against lowly opponents.

But for Stockton there was frustration as they lost 52 overs of their Grangefield game against Chester-le-Street, and with insufficient time to achieve a result they had to settle for a share of some relatively modest spoils that didn’t do either side any favours.

Lyons’ victory over Durham Academy was fairly straightforward, the youngsters bowled out for 116 in 51 arduous overs at the crease, and Hetton then knocking off the runs inside 25 overs for just two wickets. One of those was Indian pro Faiz Fazal, who was the match’s top scorer with 48 although denied a third consecutive league century.

The win lifted Lyons into third, seven points shy of Tynemouth who retained a slender two-point lead over South North after both teams had to settle for draws. There was nothing too remarkable at Preston Avenue where Newcastle (164-6 in 55 overs) refused to put their unbeaten record at risk against the leaders when set a target of 232-9, but the South North (243-9) versus Benwell Hill (203-9) stalemate featured a century from Bulls skipper John Graham which rescued his side from a shaky 42-4.

Another five wickets for Liam Dixon, who destroyed South Shields the week before, set Eppleton on their victory path as Gateshead Fell were bowled out for 121, although they once again made heavy weather of it, losing six wickets in securing a second consecutive win which lifted them into mid-table alongside Stockton.

The Teessiders had their chances to force a result against the Cestrians despite the drastically reduced game – they had Chester 46-5 after setting a target of 137-8, but Jamie Harrison’s three wicket burst went unrewarded as the visitors sixth wicket pairing of Gurman Randhawa and Liam Simpson dug in to defy their hosts for 92 balls and secure a draw on 84-5.

In the first division, Willington’s five-wicket home win over Blaydon kept them at the head of the table, but they were joined at the summit by Felling who secured a greater points reward from their victory over Seaham Harbour. Will Phillips was once again in outstanding form for Willington, his 5-47 ensuring Blaydon could only post a target of 167 which he then made mincemeat of with an unbeaten 72.

In the Durham Cricket League Burnopfield gave another demonstration of their power, thumping would-be contenders Philadelphia by 96 runs, and with second-placed Easington losing again the leaders extended their advantage over the chasing pack to a huge 54 points.

Defending champions Esh Winning snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Dawdon. Restricted to a modest 99 Esh looked down and out when Dawdon glided to 48-0, but Jibran Khan (5-10) and Jordan Grossert (3-1) precipitated an almighty collapse which saw all ten wickets evaporate for just 18 runs.

In the NTSL, Ashington continued on their way at the head of the table, a routine seven-wicket home victory over Consett keeping their pristine win record intact, and with Lanchester, Shotley Bridge and Swalwell also in emphatic form it’s as you were at the top.

There were two century makers in the day’s programme, the ever-destructive Chris Hewison blasting 121 from 132 balls as Swalwell defeated Tynedale by 72 runs, and Dan Nicotra (102) included six sixes in his 82-ball blitz as Lanchester swamped Percy Main by 128 runs.