Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League: Blaydon returned to the top when they took full advantage of Chester-le-Street's game being called off. The Tynesiders had more than 100 runs to spare against Philadelphia, whose batting gets no better.

Twenty-plus scores from Fred Napier and Mark Moore was the best they could offer as the innings only just reached three figures. Gary Stewart and Neil McGarrell had identical figures of 4-28 in the Blaydon attack.

Phili's overseas player, West Indian Fernix Thomas produced his best figures of the summer claiming five for 36, but Blaydon still passed the 200 mark.

Skipper Mark Drake and McGarrell both made 31, but Geoff Stewart dominated in contributing 70.

Sunderland came out on top in the Tyne/Wear derby at Jesmond where Newcastle laboured through 44.2 overs scoring 120 all out.

Former Durham County paceman Simon Brown, Marlon Black and Adam Applegarth took most of the wickets before captain Simon Old and Robin Weston put together a first-wicket partnership of 108.

Old became Newcastle's only success after he had hit four boundaries in 48 and Weston finished undefeated with 59, which included 11 fours. Sunderland were at the wicket for just 29.2 overs.

Despite being without five regulars, Benwell Hill defeated Tynemouth with their last pair at the wicket.

Their target was a modest 143 but in difficult conditions they were indebted to Phil Muchall for his top-scoring 38 as John Callaghan and Barry Stewart shared eight wickets.

Pakistani Shahid Nazir took five Tynemouth wickets at a cost of 47 runs when the home side also struggled batting first. No player managed to pass the 30 mark.

South Northumberland and Gateshead Fell suffered a frustrating afternoon at Gosforth. The home side declared their innings on 181-2 from 48 overs, but the Fell received just 17 overs and were 45 for the loss of two wickets when the game had to be abandoned.

James Miller struck eight fours making 73, former captain Adam Heather had four boundaries in 56 and Chris Hewison ended unbeaten with 32 in the South North innings.

No play was possible on Teesside in the games between Norton and Chester-le-Street and Stockton versus Durham Academy.