Roseberry Group North East Durham League

Newton Aycliffe are keeping the pressure on leaders East Rainton in the first division and they maintained their challenge with a seven wickets victory at home to Sunderland Hospitals.

The visitors were restricted to 143 for seven from their 45 overs and Fred Sherriff was top scorer with 33. Gary Shaw opened the innings and made 20 but with Glen Williams taking three for 38 from 11 overs and John Williams two for 20 from the 12 overs he bowled, the Hospitals' batsmen were always up against it.

Replying Newton Aycliffe secured victory after 28.1 overs. Stuart Mitchie opened the innings scoring 37 in partnership with Karl Wheeler, who carried his bat for 59.

East Rainton sent Medomsley crashing to just 44 all out and only one player, Dixon, made double figures. Roy Richardson took four wickets for 12 runs, Gary Humphreys had three for seven and John three for 19. Responding East Rainton hurried home scoring the necessary runs without conceding a wicket. Gordon Steel carried his bat for 23 and Neil Matthews finished unbeaten with 13.

Runs were a lot more plentiful when Coxhoe entertained Washington and the visitors realised 251 for four. Thompson was on 68 when he was run out, but his opening partner Lyall went on to make 101. The scoring spree was maintained by Rayner with 31 and responding to the huge target Coxhoe managed only 125 all out. Their top scorer was Atkinson with 27 while Newton made 26. Washington utilised five bowlers in the attack and they all claimed two wickets. Plender, Hebbron, Kitchen, Garrod and Carr all celebrated.

Plawsworth secured a welcome victory when they visited Hunwick. The home side ended on 155 for nine which included 28 apiece by openers Bream and Irwin. Pratt contributed 20 and Budd an unbeaten 23, while for Plawsworth, Jones captured four wickets for 19 runs and Karl Pring two for 16.

When they replied Plawsworth won with six of their wickets in hand. Alderson opened the innings and made 58 before Stephen Peel batting at number three contributed 42.

Littletown made a healthy 186 for eight but still lost on their visit to Coundon. Andy Woollett top scored with 51, Davies made 25 and Newman 21 while the score was enhanced with 45 extras.

Askew was the most productive bowler in the Coundon attack returning three for 32, while Hardy and Tobin each took a couple of wickets.

When they replied Coundon were given a good send-off by openers Timms (33) and Petrie (59). Tate kept up the good work scoring 31 and Coundon won losing seven wickets, three of them to Newman for 44 runs. John Ricketts was also on the wickets with figures of two for 41.

In division two Wearmouth topped the 200 mark before reducing Kibblesworth to 136 all out. David Larkin scored seven boundaries in 52 as Colin Stores with one six and five four carried his bat for 53 as Wearmouth reached 202 for seven in their 45 overs. David Maverick was the most successful bowler in the visiting attack claiming three wickets for 52 runs in 11 overs.

When they replied Kibblesworth lost wickets at a regular interval before David Laverick, batting at number ten, struck two sixes and four boundaries in 54 sharing a last wicket partnership with Dent who contributed 18 to the all out total of 136. Andy Murphy bowled 12 overs, including five maidens, claiming three wickets for 23 runs and Dennis Turnbull had three for 30 from his 11 overs spell in the Wearmouth attack.

Kelloe dismissed Bearpark for 87 and went on to win by seven wickets. The low target was comfortably met when Thirlwell carried his bat for 63 out of a total of 88 for three.

When Bearpark made first use of the wicket they found Pratt in particular in good form with the ball for Kelloe. He returned three for 17 and Bowery, Hughes and Turnbull each picked up a couple of wickets.

Littletown managed only 87 all out when they hosted North Bitchburn. Their bowlers were in command and the highest score in the innings was 26 by Winter, while for North Bitchburn, Dalton took four wickets for 16 runs and Lee three for eight. Davison assisted with two for 16.

When North Bitchburn replied Gordon Dunn batted throughout ending with 52 and Allott contributed 22 to the match winning total of 90 for two.

Whiteleas were another side to find runs difficult to come by but they made Washington fight all the way before losing by three wickets.

Sowdon opened the Whiteleas inning scoring 25 and Baxter made a top scoring 39 out of a total of 92 all out. Thompson took three for 11, Fallon three for 12 and both K Bowes and S Bowes captured two wickets each.

When they went into bat Washington also found the going difficult and they were grateful to Bewick for his score of 30.

Fallon added a valuable 23 and victory was eventually achieved for the loss of seven wickets. Four of them fell to S Baxter for 23 runs and Peterson took two for 17.

Tantobie just edged East Rainton by the narrow margin of eight runs at the end of a high scoring contest. Oliver (35) and Robson (42) gave the Tantobie innings a good start and Down remained unbeaten on 24 out of a total of 169 for seven. Ball was the most productive in the five-man East Rainton attack clinching figures of four for 23 and Ray had two for 30.

When they went into bat East Rainton went close but the innings eventually ended on 161 all out. Bell opened with 22, Ball added 23 and College 25 before Ludlow with an undefeated 20 late down the order, almost snatched victory for East Rainton. Craig had three for 23, Bellamy two for 44, Greenside two for 38 and Brown two for 45 in the Tantobie attack.

Belmont visited Benwell Hill and won by seven wickets. The Hill were dismissed for 114 with John Weatherhead their top scorer with 29. Welsh claimed three wickets for 40 runs, Noble took four for 42 and Steele two for 17 for Belmont, who replied with 117 for three. Emerson opened with 35 and Davidson made 22 while both Steele and Donlan added 18 valuable runs