Foster's ECB North East Regional Premier League: Blaydon are now the only unbeaten side and the new leaders after they saw off the challenge from champions South Northumberland.

But it was a close call and at the end of a low-scoring game Blaydon had just one wicket to spare. Spin bowlers dominated and Neil McGarrell bowled Blaydon into a strong position when he claimed six wickets for just 44 runs.

Despite 35 from former captain Adam Heather, South North were all out for only 130. Blaydon though also struggled at the wicket but McGarrell proved to be the matchwinner.

He made a crucial 43 but even so, it looked all over for Blaydon until Toby Whitmarsh and Gary Stewart managed a 37-run last-wicket partnership. South North's Richard Brook returned 4-25.

Previous leaders Durham Academy suffered an unexpected defeat - their first of the season - at Benwell Hill. Paceman Shahid Nazir troubled the Riverside batsmen ending with super figures of 7-45 as the innings closed on 166.

Mark Stoneman top-performed with 49 and Paul Craig added 39. Skipper Phil Nicholson then took charge of the Benwell Hill reply and victory was within sight when he was sent back after contributing 121 to the total of 167-2.

Stockton faced a formidable challenge at Gateshead Fell but their batsmen rose to the occasion. Required to score 281, they did so losing just four wickets as Richard Waite maintained his excellent form with a century. Liam Plunkett (87no) and Alan Walker (34no) then produced an unbroken fifth wicket partnership.

The runs also flowed for the Fell when they batted first and reached 280-8. Stuart Walker (72), Tom Kelly (53no) top scoring.

Norton were also required to make a big score batting second and they too succeeded. Stephen Riddell ended undefeated on 127 with three sixes and 16 boundaries and Craig Symington had one six and 14 fours in 95no as the pair powered their side to a seven-wickets success at Tynemouth.

The Seasiders also had a century maker in Wayne Falla and his 111 included 12 boundaries. He figured in an opening stand with Ian Purdy (34) which laid the foundations for a total of 257-6 compiled from 58 overs.

Chester-le-Street romped home against Newcastle at Ropery Lane. After Graeme Bridge had cleaned up four wickets for just 19 runs in 11 overs following on from the pace of Ian Hunter and Ian Jones, who both took two wickets, the Cestrians required just 31.5 overs to meet the target of 147.

Daniel Shurben, with eight fours in 44 and captain Allan Worthy put together an opening stand of 93 in 73 minutes. Worthy went on to plunder an unbeaten 82 with five sixes and nine boundaries and Quentin Hughes scored just eight in a 53 runs second wicket stand.

Philadelphia were no match for Sunderland at Bunker Hill. There was no way back after Durham County's James Lowe was out after just three balls of the innings and they crashed to 126 all out - Marlon Black returning 6-48.

Ian Potter ended with four wickets for 18 runs and Fernix Thomas also claimed four but Sunderland's 210-9 which included 70 by Lee Rushworth and 42 from Simon Brown always appeared more than enough against the depleted home batting line-up.