Foster's ECB North-East Regional League

Sunderland moved into pole position when two players with the same name were prominent.

Much to the consternation and confusion of Blaydon, batsman Simon Brown made a useful score and his namesake dominated the bowling attack.

The former England paceman, the last of the original Durham County squad to leave the Riverside at the end of the 2002 season, ripped through the Blaydon innings, taking six wickets for 28 runs in 17 overs. It was his best performance since moving to Ashbrooke. Despite the efforts of Ian Somerville and Ray Marshall, Blaydon managed only 158 all out from 53.2 overs.

Sunderland's batsmen - including the other Simon Brown - found the going easier, but they had to fight for their runs. Brown maintained his good form with the bat contributing 39 and captain Simon Old struck a six and five boundaries in a top-scoring 50.

West Indian Reon King and Durham's Ian Hunter combined to topple Chester-le-Street from pole position. Hunter in particular, was a commanding force as he claimed six wickets for just 35 runs and the Cestrians managed only 157.

There were early successes for the home side, but 43 from James Miller and an unbeaten 44 by captain John Graham steered South Northumberland to a five-wicket victory.

The runs flowed as Gateshead Fell hosted Durham Academy. Ben Harmison, with an unbeaten 86 and Alex Roberts (77), propelled the Academy to 269-5 before the declaration was applied. No fewer than eight Fell bowlers toiled in the heat but with little success.

When the home side replied, they lost early wickets but Chris Taylor (43) and John Foster (48 not out) set up an interesting finish. At stumps, Fell were 241-8, 29 runs short of victory. The Academy also utilised eight players in their attack.

There was little respite for Philadelphia who, following an impressive first season in the competition, are struggling. Without injured pair captain Andrew Roseberry and Lee Beaumont, they laboured through 63 overs making only 158 all out at Benwell Hill. The bulk of the runs coming from Jim Allenby (51) and Fred Napier with 45.

Benwell Hill's reply was measured and although it took them 48.5 overs to achieve victory, they conceded only three wickets.

Simon Birtwisle struck nine boundaries in 53, his opening partner Marcus Turner added 41 and Lee Crozier carried his bat for 30.

The bottom-of-the-table clash between Norton and Tynemouth ended in a draw with the Seasiders in the ascendancy at stumps. Their impressive total of 253-7 was largely down to the superb effort of Barry Stewart, who finished undefeated on 116 in partnership with Steven Scott, who was 52 not out.

Although the Symington brothers Marc (71) and Craig (30) were prominent, a total of only 142-7 was realised.

There was a close finish between Stockton and Newcastle. Richard Waite (42) and Guy Darwin with a half century enabled Stockton to reach 190 in 61.4 overs before Newcastle responded with 178-9 from 58 overs.

Tim Stonach (47), captain Wayne Ritzema (30) and Danny Law (31) almost snatched victory for the Tynesiders but so too did the five-man attack for Stockton, who needed just one more wicket to claim a win.