It was a case of hit and miss in the region's local leagues with the weather decimating programmes across the senior divisions.

In the Northern Rock ECB North East Regional Premier League only one of the six matches started and this was ultimately abandoned. But it gave Durham Academy the opportunity to gain some vital extra points which moved them up to equal fourth alongside Saturday's opponents Chester-le-Street.

The Academy showed their batting power with a declaration on 199-5. Andy Smith hit an unbeaten half century after opener, Paul Muchall (42) gave them a great start and Karl Turner (35) kept the runs flowing.

But Chester found batting difficult against the bowling of in-form Paul Hindmarch (3-7) and at 52-5 when the rain called a halt looked to be heading for defeat.

The weather also left the fixtures in the premier division of the Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League in tatters with only one game surviving and even that became a casualty when the North Sea mist rolled into the Blackhall ground and dashed Normanby Hall's hopes of gaining a first win of the season.

Talab Ramzan top scored for Normanby with 40 and shared in a lively partnership with Abdul Shakoor (39) despite three wickets for Blackhall's Farukh Iqbal on his return from injury. Normanby totalled 159-8.

But the best was still to come with Keith Martin making three quick strikes to have Blackhall rocking and in trouble at 22-4 after just 14 overs. Unhappily his outstanding return of 3-10 proved to be in vain as the mist intervened.

Normanby are now 43 points ahead of Saltburn who are further marooned at the bottom.

In the Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League only two games survived, one in each of the two divisions. In Division A1, Sacriston and Benwell & Walbottle, two of the bottom three sides, were involved in an interesting scrap when the rain intervened. Tony Claughan hit 87 to put Sacriston in a strong position at 194-8 when it was abandoned.

In Division A2 , leaders Ryton enjoyed a ten-wicket victory over bottom club, Seaton Burn.

Some games did escape the worst of the weather with two in the Fosters Durham Senior League and two in the 3D Durham Coast League even able to be played to a conclusion.

In the Senior League the luck with the elements provided a boost for both Boldon and Hetton Lyons, who beat Seaham Harbour and Felling respectively. Boldon moved up to third, closing the gap a fraction on the leaders, Burnmoor and second placed Whitburn.

Bottom club, Seaham, in contrast, fell further behind as they were beaten by seven wickets after being bowled out for just 125 with Phil Shakespeare (4-56) and Stephen Martin (2-3) doing the damage for Boldon. Then their opener, Chris Ellison hit an unbeaten 64 as they found it easy enough to record their fourth victory in nine games.

Hetton Lyons had to work harder to beat Felling by three wickets with a half century from Sean Birbeck making the difference. Felling posted 175 but Paul Riddle (39) got the Lyons off to a good start for Birbeck to provide the perfect follow-up.

In the 3D Durham Coast League, Seaham Park produced a stunning result against fellow promotion runners, Murton to move within five points of the leaders, Castle Eden.

Five wickets for Alan Dick and four for Michael Evans turned the game on its head after the Park's total of 128 had looked vulnerable. James Taylor (52) top scored for them and in the end proved just as much a match winner as Dick (5-50) and Evans (4-36). Murton were beaten by 23 runs in a nail-biting finish.

Bill Quay's game at Washington ended as a draw.

Three games started in the Readers Durham County League on but did not finish. Leaders Kimblesworth got some useful batting practice against Evenwood with Andy Cochrane (63) and Aron Andrich (58) starring in their score of 223-6 before the game was abandoned.

Langley Park must have fancied their chances of beating fellow strugglers, Mainsforth when the game suffered a similar fate.

The Park had bowled out their arch-rivals for just 116 but their reply lasted only one over.