There was only one winner as teams suffered yet another weather beaten weekend which saw three of the six scheduled matches fail to start. It was a similar story in the First Division where there were four complete washouts.

There was a long delay at Stockton, the Grangefield game getting away hours after the scheduled starting time of 11.30am, and the youngsters of the Durham Academy came within a whisker of forcing an outright result.

With 42 overs available to them the Academy made slow but decent progress to an eventual total of 151-8, opener Jack Burnham their leading light on a gloomy day with seven fours and one six in an 87-ball 69. Good support down the order from Dylan Budge (32 from 68) and Brydon Carse (30 for 49) gave the innings further substance in bowler friendly conditions.

Stockton stuttered from the start of the run chase, the loss of a couple of early wickets setting them back, and despite 27 from skipper Kevin Ward it was Adam Hickey (4-41 from 13 overs) and Budge (2-9) who dominated, and it was left to the last two batsmen to prevent defeat as Stockton clung on at 106-9.

The one top-flight victory was a surprise as it came at Benwell Hill where the home side, second at the start of play, were soundly beaten by South Shields who were recording their first victory of the summer.

Tim David was the star batter of Shields’ promotion year, and the young Aussie looks every bit at home at the higher level. He added to his reputation by dominating his side’s 40-over innings of 148-4, hitting seven fours and a six in making an unbeaten 79 runs from 112 balls. David then went on to pick up a wicket in the Hill run chase, but the real bowling glory belonged to Liam Dixon who sent down 10.4 electrifying overs, six of which were maidens, and picked up six wickets for 14 .

With Gordon Muchall chipping in with 3-15 the home team were rolled over for 58 to lose by 90 runs.

Hill slipped to third as the Academy lads moved above them into second, but still well out in front are Chester-le-Street who had to settle for a truncated draw in their home game against Tynemouth but still managed to increase their advantage at the summit from nine points to 15.

An opening stand of 123 between Simon Birtwisle (61 from 68 balls) and George Harrison (54 from 65) set the Cestrians on their way to a total of 180-9 declared in 32.3 overs, Tahir Khan picking up his first five-wicket return for Tynemouth, but a positive run chase never really materialized as the visitors ended on 121-7 in 37 overs.

First Division leaders Brandon handed out a thrashing to promoted Tudhoe, whipping them out for 44 in 22 overs, and then rattling off an eight-wicket win inside 14 overs. Jamie Robinson bagged six for 14 in nine devastating overs, Tudhoe crashing from 28-0 to lose all ten wickets for 16 runs.

Brandon’s lead increased to 20 points, Tudhoe stand just six points above the relegation placing.