Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League: Sacriston were on the receiving end of a mauling from Ashington's Neil Wood as they slumped to a near 200-runs defeat on the opening day.

Wood's innings only came to an end when he was run out but he crashed six sixes and 18 boundaries in 148.

Adam Cragg, 16, added 157 for the third-wicket contributing 77 with three sixes and seven fours.

Ashington's 333-5 from only 50 overs was by far and away the biggest score of the day and, not surprisingly, Sacriston found the target beyond them.

Harry Hubber contributed a half century and newcomer Ross McLaren 35 but when Paul Rutherford took five wickets for 20 runs in 9.2 overs, the innings ended on 141.

Champions Lanchester had just 14 runs to spare over Benwell and Walbottle. Naheem Feroz celebrated his debut making 42, Faruk Iqbal added 41 and Phil Carlin 37 to the home side's 164.

So long as Reed (68) was at the wicket, the visitors were in with a chance but four wickets for 40 runs by Grey restricted them to 150-9 at stumps.

Richard Darling (4-33) and Henry Twizell (3-31) bowled out Leadgate for just 92 enabling Tynedale to record a 74-run success, while Newcastle City had five wickets to spare over Lintz.

Surjit Singh made an impressive return to the City attack, his spinners rewarded with figures of 4-43 as Lintz posted 164-8. Khan and Imran Shah both made half centuries in Newcastle's winning reply.

Swalwell edged home at Shotley Bridge when all seemed lost. Matchwinner was last man Clarke, who carried his bat for 41 in partnership with Jimmy Smith after Stephen Humble had set the scene with an opening 54.

Shotley realised 172-6 with Phil Brown unbeaten on 50.

Newly-promoted Whickham posted almost 200, but still went down to Annfield Plain.

Former South Shields batsman David Maughan ended undefeated on 59 and David Newstead contributed 73 to the Plain's five-wicket victory.

Zimbabwean Charles Coventry impressed on his debut for Whickham making 73 leading his side to 192-7.