The three leading sides all won and with just a couple of points separating the trio and only three games to play, the race for the championship looks like going right to the wire.

Murton are out in front and their declaration with a modest 183-3 on the board proved to be a good decision when they had sufficient time to bowl out Boldon CA for 162.

Richard Lowes batted throughout for an unbeaten 50 but once again it was professional Calvin Stephenson who set the Murton innings alight.

He struck a century before the innings was brought to a halt.

Gary Frater (55), Lee Jackson (34) and Karl Bellerby with 36 raised the hopes of Boldon but man-of-the-match Stephenson took six wickets for 59 runs to play the leading role in Murton's crucial 21-run victory.

Peterlee made light of their task at home to Seaham Park, who were without leading players, which showed when they crashed to 51 all out.

The Hewson brothers did all the damage.

Keith claimed six wickets for only 15 runs in 13.3 overs, bowling seven maidens and Neil took 4-25 from his 13-overs spell. Min Mahil then struck a quick unbeaten 33, including seven boundaries and Peterlee celebrated a nine-wicket victory batting only ten overs.

Hylton, who share second position with Peterlee, faced a much stiffer target against Dawdon. Bobby Stephenson, with 89 and Stephen Gale (55) propelled Dawdon to 224 for six with four of the wickets falling to Owen Williamson. Joe Bittlestone gave the Hylton reply the perfect send-off with 84 and although there were other useful contributors, it was Keith Trotter, who finally secured a vital win when he struck a quick 32.

Houghton are still bottom of the table after they went down by seven wickets to Easington. Keith Rewcastle (35) and Gary Snowball (48) produced a good opening partnership but even so, a total of 132-7 was insufficient to trouble the Easington batsmen.

Neesham (40) and Race with 56, set the home side on their way to a comfortable success.

Stephen Wright and Graeme Weeks each claimed five wickets dismissing Bill Quay for only 112. Despite facing a modest target, Silksworth struggled before winning by three wickets with the help of 30 extras after David Tate had opened with 44.

David Brown, with 6-44, almost snatched the game out of the fire for Bill Quay.

Gerard Magee (31) and John Spellman junior, with 55 top-performed in the Castle Eden innings which produced 203 for nine wickets. John Minniss batted throughout Ryhope's reply ending unbeaten on 66 and Gary Braithwaite added 36 but when time was called the home side were well short at 161-5.