SWALWELL are champions and Consett are safe - that much was decided on the penultimate day season. Percy Main, however, must wait a further week before learning whether the axe will fall on their top-flight status.

Swalwell won the title convincingly, crushing hapless Leadgate by 293 runs in an demonstration of the superiority which has claimed seven consecutive championships.

A first wicket partnership of 201 signalled their intent, Lloyd Anderson making 84 of those runs before falling to the 100th ball he faced. But the torture didn’t end there for the visitors as Chris Hewison powered on, and when Swalwell came to the close of their 50 overs he was on 204 not out, an innings that included 14 fours and 11 sixes from just 150 balls.

Leadgate were then brushed aside for 29 in 17.1 overs, Guy Saxton taking 4-22 and Nicky Phillips claiming six wickets for four runs.

Without a point from the drubbing, Leadgate now face a last day survival fight, although they hold a 14- point lead over Percy Main.

The Main only managed two points from their game at Annfield Plain after being bowled out for 110, despite an undefeated 57 from Michael Phillips. Namesake Adam took four wickets for the home side who cruised to their seven-wicket success inside 24 overs.

It was a case of so near and yet so far for relegated Lintz. They went to Ryton having not won a game all season, but after looking set to gain that elusive first victory, they fell victim to a last wicket stand of 20.

Ashington return to the top flight as champions of A2, their penultimate game at the lower level resulting in a seven-wicket success over Seaton Burn, the visitors suffering a dramatic collapse as Matthew Collins turned in some remarkable figures.

Standing on 35-2 Seaton looked secure, but their final eight wickets went down for 12 more runs, the burnout engineered by Collins’ stint of 4.5 overs in which he took five wickets without conceding a run.

Who goes up with Ashington is less clear. Alnwick remain in the driving seat, but their surprise defeat at the hands of rock bottom Morpeth has given a glimmer of hope to the four teams who can potentially overhaul them.