Burnmoor won their third game in succession to give other clubs an indication that they will not easily relinquish the title. They scored steadily in the early stages before their innings at Durham City gained momemtum.

Professional Mark Benfield led the way with 79 but the main acceleration came from later batsmen Gary Brown (37) and Paul Burn (36 not out). The pair added 70 in just 55 minutes to allow a declaration after just 47.1 overs.

City looked well adrift when they reached 94-6 but David Burgess's introduction to the game provided much needed inspiration. Burgess attacked the bowling to good effect and scattered the close fielders. Unbeaten with 62 at the end, his efforts though were in vain as the irrepressible Ian Conn (7-51) again demonstrated his effectiveness as a bowler.

Horden were involved in a dramatic conclusion with Eppleton as both sides finished on the same score. The pace of Andrew Robson (5-35) and spin of Nadeem Khan (3-61) held up Eppleton after Shaun Birbeck, Martin Ferguson and Neil McKinney had given their side a solid beginning.

The leaders also made a promising start but Stuart Lacey (7-51) returned his best figures since joining Eppleton and kept his side in the game.

Marsden retained their unbeaten record but it took a stern rearguard action to deny South Hetton. After being 68 for three wickets, Peter Nord (49) and John Pendlington (46 not out) assisted a recovery. However, they then lost four wickets for as many runs in the middle order as Graeme Fox (6-50) and Lee Auty (3-47) held them up. In the end, 184 was the Marsden target.

Pendlington and Steven Lee Merrington provided immense problems for Marsden and at 72 for six wickets when the final hour began, it seemed Marsden were on their way to their first defeat.

However, Andy Potts and Andrew Barrass proved defiant and rescued the game for their side.

Hetton Lyons were unable to contain a run-surging South Shields, who hit 253, the highest score of the day. All the Shields batsmen played their part but the most productive partnership came from professional Ashok Patel and Phillip Bell (43).

The pair added a straight 100 in their hour together, the time that Patel (68) batted. He hit 13 boundaries and a six and then a late unbeaten 42 from Owen Peterson made the task difficult for Hetton Lyons. They were never really able to apply sufficient acceleration to their innings to seriously challenge the Shields total. Losing skipper Marc Hopkinson (46) just before the final hour meant his side were left chasing only bonus points.

Boldon returned to winning ways in emphatic style. Third-placed Felling were shot out in just 24 overs for a meagre 67. It was professional Gary Gilder who destroyed the Felling batting.

Bowling throughout, the South African returned 5-45 and then the small total presented few problems to the Boldon batsmen.

Whitburn reached 227 from just 42 overs at Seaham Harbour. Their openers Paul Shields (61) and Neil Ayre (65) set the tempo to their scoring. In their 90 minutes together, the pair struck a partnership worth 133. But Harbour bowled well with Elstob producing 5-32 in his first real spell of bowling this summer.