Stockton began their 2016 Premier Division campaign with victory over Hetton Lyons in a low scoring game at Grangefield, and in the second tier Mainsforth opened out with an emphatic win on the occasion of their North-East Premier League debut.

With just 233 runs scored as 20 wickets went down, the Teessiders picked up 21 points for their success, although that left them trailing the early pacesetters South Shields who recorded a maximum in a thumping of Gateshead Fell, as champions South North were playing a familiar tune with a 29-point haul, although they were pushed to the wire at Tynemouth.

In an attritional game at Stockton the ball dominated for most of the afternoon. The hosts elected to bat when winning the toss, but slid to 67-6 in the opening exchanges before a priceless 43 from Jimmy Ward enabled his side to scramble up to a semi-decent 136 despite four late wickets from Lyons new pro Faiz Fazal.

And Fazal was the only visiting batter to threaten, his 32 at the top of the Lyons reply comfortably the major contribution as Jamie Harrison (3-22) and Ryan Buckley (3-34) provided the perfect back up to Mitch Gardner, the Kiwi who impressed in an 11-over burst in which he claimed four for 14. Lyons limped to 97 to lose by 39 runs.

South Shields’ win at Eastwood Gardens could not have been more emphatic, and the scale of the defeat suggests Gateshead Fell are in for another season of struggle.

The Shieldsmen rattled up 285-2 inside 60 overs, the highlight being centuries from Aussie Tim David, who smashed 113 from 119 balls, 94 of those coming in boundaries, and a similar effort from Gordon Muchall, an unbeaten 107 from just 111 deliveries.

Shell-shocked Fell were then turned over for 103 in 28.4 overs, Matty Muchall enjoying a triumphant return to the Shields colours with a seven-wicket burst. Stephen Devenport (55) provided the only resistance as Fell’s middle order was ripped apart in a spell when five wickets went down for just four runs. Five batsmen failed to trouble the scorer.

South North’s 11-run win at Preston Avenue came in a game where three batsmen made centuries.

Simon Birtwisle enjoyed the perfect debut, his unbeaten 121 at the top of the Bulls’ order enabling Marcus North to rub salt into home wounds with 101 not out from 114 balls. Durham’s Stu Poynter replied in kind, cracking 112 from 115 balls, but with Stephen Humble (5-68) blowing away the tail a potential shock was short circuited.

Benwell Hill sprang the major surprise with victory at Ropery Lane, Chester-le-Street unable to defend 196 as Kyle Coetzer (78) enjoyed the perfect start to his tenure, and Eppleton managed to eke out a draw in their top-flight home debut, clinging on at 93-9 from 55 overs after being set 226 by Newcastle.

Only two months ago Mainsforth were preparing for another Durham CL title fight, but on Saturday they began life in the unexpected surroundings of the NEPL by toppling former County League stablemates Tudhoe.

Evergreen Jonny Barnes put Tudhoe on an immediate rack, his three wickets from 15 overs costing just 17 runs – they never recovered from a disastrous 13-4, eventually folding for just 62. A seven-wicket defeat swiftly followed.

In the NTSL there were opening day wins for last year’s top three, Swalwell and Ashington swamping their opponents, and champions Shotley Bridge making light work of a stretching target of 234-4 set by Percy Main. Paul Greenwell timed things to perfection for the title-holders, bringing up his own 97-ball century with the winning hit.