Champions South Northumberland returned as the most dominant force following weeks of frustration due to the weather.

Their visit to Gateshead Fell brought enough points from a draw to take them back to the top of the league table as the previous leaders, Sunderland, were unable to get on the waterlogged pitch at Benwell Hill.

But it wasn't all straightforward for the usually high powered South North team when they took first knock as they lost their first four wickets with only nine on the board.

They stood at 40 for five before Jimmy Miller (51) and Stephen Humble (41 not out) saved the day and they were able to recover to reach 134.

Cliffe Deacon (three for 20) and Anthony Trotter (three for 42) exploited the bowler friendly conditions, but when Fell replied they faced greater problems.

Richard Brook (five for 15) was even more difficult to play and Gateshead found themselves struggling to hold out for the draw in an innings shortened to just 29 overs.

It was then further reduced by another three close to the end when there was a shower. They were left clinging on having lost nine wickets with only 46 scored.

Norton gained a vital win over the Durham Academy which took the pressure off them in the bottom three. The Academy found the conditions difficult and managed only 101 with Jonathan Keane (four for 28) and Anthony Fawcett (three for 24) doing the bulk of the damage before the spin of Peter Armstrong (two for 8) wrapped up the innings.

Norton's reply started badly with two wickets down for just six runs but a stand of 95 between Garry Park (49) and Craig Knox (40 not out) ensured it was only a minor scare.

Norton inflicted only the third defeat of the season on Durham as they got home by an impressive seven wickets.

But Tynemouth mopped up the soggy conditions allowing them to play host to bottom club Stockton - and climb four places to third place with a victory which gave them the best points return of the day.

The Teessiders battled hard enough with Richard Waite (six for 33) and Ikram Abdeen (three for 54) giving the home side plenty to think about before they reached an all-out score of 156.

Mark Cummings (41) impressed in the top order before Barry Stewart (42) capped off the innings.

Waite made a half century in Stockton's reply but there was limited support for the skipper as the all-round ability of Cummings (four for 48) started to show.

Along with Stewart, ( two for 28) and Jamie Coates (two for 3) they had their visitors out for 120 to win by 36 runs.