WITH rain spoiling the big clash between Chester-le-Street and South North, as well as several other games in the Newcastle region, attention focused on the sunny south and the other end of the Premier table where Hetton Lyons looked like gaining their first win of a difficult season only to be thwarted by a stubborn rearguard action.

Starting the day just 14 points above bottom club Gateshead Fell it was music to Lyons’ ears when news came through in mid-afternoon that Fell had slumped to a 122-run defeat at Tynemouth despite the presence of Graham Onions in their ranks, particularly as Hetton had already put themselves in a strong position in their home game against the Durham Academy.

A Gary Scott century, made from 115 balls, had been the highlight in an innings of 269-9, the opener sharing a third wicket partnership of 114 with Jarvis Clay (61), and it was only a late six wicket burst from Ben Whitehead that managed to reign the score in and leave the youngsters with 66 overs of batting in which to chase the imposing target.

A disastrous start, which left the Academy on 44-5, was partly retrieved by a half century from Adam Hickey, but when he became one of Scott’s four victims the game looked as good as up with the score on 126-9. Cue a great backs-to the-wall effort from Whitehead (45 not out) and Academy manager John Windows, who faced 150 balls between them to stave off defeat on an eventual 174-9. The one consolation for Lyons was that they picked up 11 more points than Fell to move 25 points clear of the relegation slot.

The top-of-the-table Ropery Lane showdown lost 20 overs from the end of the game as rain swept in, but in the playing time available the Cestrians had put their stamp on proceedings, and perhaps even the title race, after pummelling the Bulls bowling attack to the tune of 308-8 in 60 overs, Andrew Smith in glorious touch with 11 fours and 3 sixes in a 130-ball 131. South North (138-4 in 39.2 overs) were heading for the safety of a draw when the premature end came, but they came out of the match a further 7 points behind their hosts, with Chester now 29 points clear.

In the day’s other top flight games weather affected draws at Benwell Hill, where Stockton were playing, and Blaydon, who were entertaining Newcastle, allowed South Shields to climb up to third in the table with a two wicket win over Whitburn, Rob Gibson scoring 80 of the 192 runs needed by the Shieldsmen to claim a fourth win of the season.

In the First Division Brandon lost the head to head with Washington, as well as their unbeaten record, the result ensuring a dramatic tightening up at the top of the table.

Brandon began proceedings with a handsome 29-point lead over their second-placed visitors, and ended it just seven to the good after being on the receiving end of a 159-run drubbing. A fantastic all-round batting effort meant the lowest score in Washington’s top seven was 20, and after posting 261-6 in their 55 overs the visitors then ripped through the home team, bowling them out for 102 in just 31.1 overs, Melvyn Betts destroying them in a 15 over burst of 5-19.

With Brandon beaten wins for Burnmoor and Eppleton left the top four separated by just 15 points with the race for promotion suddenly much more intense. At the opposite end of the spectrum a first win for Sunderland, by four wickets at Sacriston, saw the Wearsiders leapfrog South Hetton to move 16 points clear of the bottom spot they had worryingly occupied for several weeks.