East Rainton just about wrapped up the championship of division one when they recorded their 17th win in 19 outings defeating Sunderland Hospitals by ten wickets.

After they reduced the home side to 71 for seven, East Rainton romped home when Neil Matthews carried his bat for 23 and Gordon Steel finished unbeaten on 46.

Batting first the Hospital batsmen found the going difficult against the five-man visiting attack in which Roy Richardson claimed three wickets for 22 runs.

Medomsley posted the formidable total of 180 for nine but still lost by five wickets to Benwell Hill. Ringer top scored with 38, Oxley added 29 and Walls 24 to the Medomsley total while for Benwell Hill Dunsford captured three wickets for 20 runs and Haves two for 67 after Sargenson had picked up two wickets for a mere 14 runs.

Responding Benwell Hill lost an early wicket when Barry Pearson was dismissed, but Hamilton (41) and Dunsford (33) put together a productive partnership for the second wickets. Gardham then added 44 and Benwell Hill won with just two wickets remaining. Richardson claimed three wickets for 29 runs and Dixon three for 89 for Medomsley.

Third top Newton Aycliffe had eight wickets in hand of Littletown who reached 160 all out including 40 by Mark Nelson batting at number three. John Williams had a good day with the ball for Newton Aycliffe, claiming three wickets for 28 runs and Stuart Mitchie, Coleby and Ian Maddison all took a couple of wickets.

When Newton Aycliffe responded Stuart Mitchie gave the innings a good start when he scored 38 and Karl Wheeler contributed 48 before Peter Roberts (43no) and John Williams (17no) swept Aycliffe to victory with an unbroken third wicket partnership.

Coundon visited Coxhoe and dismissed the home side for 32 when Chris Murray returned the magnificent figures of seven wickets for ten runs. Not a single Coxhoe batsman reached double figures.

Batting first Coundon were grateful for no fewer than 47 extras which was the top contribution to their total of 177. Wilson gathered four wickets for just 19 runs and Bloomfield took four for 49 in the Coxhoe attack.

Belford House managed just 54 runs on their visit to Washington for whom Andrew Wilkie took three for 21 in 18 overs, ten of which were maidens and both Will Plender and Alan Kitchen captured two wickets each. Washington batted 20.4 overs reaching the winning score and losing a couple of wickets. John McElvaney top scored for Washington when he hit a couple of boundaries in an unbeaten 18.

Simonside still lead division two following their nine wickets success at home to Burnhope who totalled 120 including 47 with three boundaries by Stephen Laws. Reynoldson, who went in at number ten, added 42 before being run out and for Simonside Paul Haines captured five wickets for 42 runs in 12 overs and Robbie Watson took two for 31 from the six overs he sent down.

When they replied Simonside occupied the wicket for just 21.2 overs scoring 121 for the loss of only one wicket. Mark Thompson struck one six and seven boundaries in 61 before becoming Burnhope's only success and Norman Wold carried his bat for 45 including four fours.

Washington managed only 105 against Wearmouth for whom Colin Stores claimed five wickets for 20 runs and Davison three for 26 but in reply Wearmouth were all out for only 52 leaving Washington winners by a margin of 53 runs. Brown and Todd both captured three wickets for Washington and Bowes returned figures of two for ten.

Kibblesworth were sent back with 40 runs on the board by Kelloe for whom Bowery claimed three for eight and Turnbull three for 24. Kelloe conceded three wickets before securing their tenth win of the season which took them to fourth from top.

Hunwick are third despite losing by eight wickets to second placed East Rainton. Hunwick were dismissed for a meagre 35 as Dave Defty took five wickets for ten runs and Freddie Long three for 13. East Rainton lost a couple of wickets but Alan Maskell stood firm and contributed 20 not out to a total of 38 for two.

Whiteleas managed only 84 which included 34 by Sowden when they visited Tantobie for whom Brown picked up five wickets for 42 runs and Smith captured three wickets for a meagre five runs.

When they batted first Tantobie posted the respectable total of 162 for seven with Smith making a good unbeaten 53 while for Whiteleas their most productive bowler was Fraser with four wickets for 41 runs. Sowden, later to star with the bat, claimed a couple of wickets for 65 runs.

Belmont suffered a seven wickets defeat in their game with Bearpark. Smith with four for 33 and Lishman who returned figures of four for 40, were mainly responsible for Belmont being bowled out for only 80. Smith, who opened the Bearpark reply, was still there at the end undefeated on 52 out of a total of 86 for three.