PAUL Leonard made an instant mark for Felling in the Dukes North-East ECB Regional Premier League.

Stockton were on the end of a brilliant spell of bowling as Leonard took all ten wickets for just 24 runs.

Leonard only signed up last week and gave the home side a massive boost in their relegation scrap. They are now just two points behind South Shields and have dragged the Teessiders into the mire.

The home side won the toss and decided to bat, but scored just 86 all out. Joe Carroll top scoring with 16 not out, with Brett Roberts taking 4-37 and Hassan Raza returned 3-2.

Raza made 18 not out in reply, batting at nine and Joe Hewison scored 18, in 58 all out, but there was no stopping Leonard with ball, clean bowling six of his victims, three were LBW and the other caught behind.

Eppleton caused an upset, when they defeated runaway leaders South North.

The visitors made 151 thanks to skipper Adam Cragg who made 53, but they were kept in check with some fine bowling from Marcus Brown (3-20) and two wickets each for Joseph Coyne, Alexander Simpson and Jandre Erasmus.

Simpson batted well for his 52 and Coyne with the bat made 41, putting on a crucial partnership of 64 for the third wicket, in 152-4.

Chester-le-Street rattled up 250-4 in 54 overs at home to Hetton Lyons, with Kyle Davis scoring 90, George Harrison 45 (106 opening partnership) and Andrew Smith made 57, off 44 balls. The Lyons batted well scoring 208-7, with Chris Martin making 65 not out to earn the draw.

Durham Cricket Academy drew at Whitburn and remain third.

They made 188, with opener Scott Steel scoring 81. Craig Smith returned 4-36 and Mark Elliott took 3-48. The home side hit 168-8, with Paul Shields and Andrew Turns both making 30, with Faizan Hussain picking up 3-44.

In the first division, Sacriston lost for the first time in nearly two seasons, down at home to near neighbours Burnmoor by four wickets, reducing their lead at the top to 30 points.

Brandon will be disappointed, after they lost ground in the promotion race, when they were surprisingly beaten at home to Sunderland. They set the Ashbrooke team a healthy 209-6, with an impressive 100 from Gordon Muchall.

Ramanpreet Singh struck 102 not out and Usman Arshad made 79, to win the game by seven wickets on 213-3.

Shotley Bridge lost ground in the Go North East Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League title race when they surprisingly went down at Newcastle City by 100 runs.

City piled up 209-9, with Shahid Khan scoring 89 and Phillip Brown returned a respectable 4-22. Shotley never recovered from being 45-4, but Stuart Graham dug in 37 runs. Ihsan Ul-Haq’s devastating spell of 5-20 saw them out for 109.

Lanchester went down at home to leaders Swalwell by five wickets.

The home side took first knock and made a reasonable 171 all out, thanks to 67 from Garth Crooks and 46 from Greg Halliday, with Guy Saxton (3-27) and Nick Phillips (3-41) the pick of the bowling.

Swalwell opener Chris Hewison scored 57 and Neil Corby made 43 not out, to steer his side home, despite 3-35 from Crooks.

Leadgate are in a bit of bother as they lost again at home to Tynedale. They are 39 points from safety after losing by four wickets after scoring 127 all out.

In reply, James Rainford with 46 not out, eased his side home, with Callan McCabe taking 4-33.

In the Readers Durham Cricket League, Tudhoe went top after a winning draw at Whiteleas.

They scored 241-4, thanks to Alex McGrath hitting 83 and Roshan Jayatissa 99. The home side dug deep, with Abdul Ameer making 32 and Arslan Riaz with 38 not out to bat out on 156-6.

Castle Eden won the match at the top, when they defeated Seaham Park who now drop to second. Castle made 182-8, thanks to Jafari Toppin’s 34 and Ryan Ball scoring 35, with Anthony Watson taking 4-44. Seaham collapsed to 67 all out, with Richard Ede taking 3-19 and Toppin with the ball returning 5-8, including a hat-trick.

Durham City kept the pressure on with a victory over Dawdon by 105 runs.

James Atkinson led the way with 65 in 216-6. Rob McDonald ripped open the batting order, taking 4-22 and Ryan Consitt batted well for 64 in 111.