Keiron Powar powered Ryton to an unexpected win against Lintz but with nearest challengers Annfield Plain and Lanchester also losing, the leaders lost little ground.

Powar opened the Ryton innings and was still there at the end, unbeaten on 124 out of a total of 237-5. Kevin Penny added a useful 40. Replying, Lintz failed to mount a serious challenge and were all out for just 142 as Keith Morris claimed half the wickets for 40 runs and Paul Carrick took 4-12.

Annfield Plain failed by 20 runs to meet the target set them by Ashington. Adrian Wood (42), Ben Harmison (67 not out) and James Harmison (31 not out) produced most of the runs in the Collierymen's total of 182-5.

Despite another good innings of 50 by Aldo Van den Berg and 41 from Ray Oliver, the Plain were all out for 163 as Paul Rutherford returned 5-45.

There was a close finish at Lanchester where Sacriston won by five runs. Needing to score 184, Lanchester were in with a chance but their hopes suffered a blow when Andrew Donnelly was run out for 49. Kevin Dixon, Karl Halliday and Glen Whitfield all made useful scores but when the overs expired, the home side were just 178-8.

Phil Shield led the Sacriston innings with 49 and Harry Hubber contributed 29 to the total of 183-9. Andrew Biggs claimed 5-58 and Bilal Rana 3-53 in the Lanchester attack.

Swalwell made it four consecutive victories, defeating Burnopfield by eight wickets. Although David Baxter scored 39, the home side were back in the pavilion with just 105 runs on the board. Jimmy Smith and Graeme Hallam both took four wickets before Jason Dumigham (32) and Andrew Hughes, with an unbeaten 38, domianted Swalwell's response.

Ferreira batted throughout the Benwell and Walbottle innings for 139 propelling his side to 229-9 in the home game with Tynedale, for whom Richard Darling captured four wickets for 44 runs and Steve Lishman 3-31.

Lishman opened the Hexham side's reply with 33 and Paul Pickworth contributed 47 but the innings realised just 179 with Naz Rashid taking six of the wickets for 68 runs.

Leadgate are running away in Division A2 and they maintained their 100 per cent record from games actually played when they defeated Morpeth in quick-fire time.

Stuart Graham, Stephen Robinson and Richard Hawthorne all took three wickets sending Morpeth back for 62 before victory was achieved for the loss of just two wickets in 14.2 overs.

At the other end of the table, Greenside celebrated their first win of the season. Lee Innes was just three runs short of a century out of a total of 249-6 and replying, Ponteland were all out for 179 as Ian Reid claimed six wickets for 48 runs.