Durham Coast League: Castle Eden opened up a clear lead at the top of the table when they overtook the considerable task set them by Boldon CA with three wickets remaining.

Their success was all the more noteworthy since they lost openers Gerard Magee and John Malkin for a combined total of just two runs.

The target of 185 seemed difficult at that stage, but Michael Higgin (48) and Allan Unsworth with 30 retrieved the position.

Young John Spellman then produced a match-winning innings ending unbeaten with 70. Three players David Jones, David Towns and Karl Bellerby all passed 30, leading Boldon to 184 despite Unsworth and Tony Banks both claiming three wickets in the home attack.

Bill Quay, who began the day joint leaders, dropped back when they were held to a draw by Dawdon.

Shaun Smith with 78 and Matthew Dench (46) produced a considerable partnership for the fourth wicket and the home side topped 200 before declaring.

Dawdon made a positive response mainly through John Appleby (47) and Ryan Consitt (30), but at stumps they were still 40 runs short of a winning margin with four wickets intact.

Murton, aiming to win the championship for a third successive season, secured a valuable win over Silksworth who could also be in the running.

Once again, Calvin Stephenson was Murton's star man.

He cracked five sixes and four boundaries in 74, which together with an unbeaten 59 from Ian King (three sixes, six fours) propelled Murton to 178 for eight before the declaration was applied following 49 overs.

Stephenson then went to work with the ball capturing 6-41 from 16 overs and when first change Graeme Robson returned 3-24 in six overs, Silksworth were all out for only 107.

Easington comfortably had the better of neighbours Peterlee. David Butler made a fine 46, but the visitors' innings only produced 116 as David Kennedy and Robbie Atherton both took four wickets at little cost.

Kennedy then won the man of the match honours striking an undefeated 65 in a century partnership with Stuart Wilson (34 not out) and Easington were home for the loss of just one wicket.

Graeme Smith gave the Ryhope innings the perfect start when he contributed 71 and 41 from Paul Howe resulted in a total of 182 being achieved at Seaham Park.

Despite conceding their first three batsmen for a combined total of 15 runs, Seaham ended comfortably on 156 for eight, mainly as a result of the efforts of Umar Akhtar (34) and Taylor with an unbeaten 41.

Newcomers Washington have yet to win and despite making a useful 175 they could only share the points at Houghton.

Nick Thompson (49) and Mark Lee (38) formed a productive partnership for the second wicket before Jon Mitchell carried his bat for 36.

The hero of the innings, though, was Houghton captain Stephen Robinson who claimed eight of the nine wickets to fall for just 59 runs.

Replying, the home side made a poor start, but Lee Husband and Shaun Hauxwell kept the innings together and at stumps a total of 120-7 was on the board.