Hopson inspires Brandon

Despite scoring 97 for the lost of four wickets, Crook Town had two runs to spare visiting Tudhoe for whom Tim Smalley hit one six and six boundaries in 42 and Liam Blyth had one and one four in his unbeaten 30. Prest claimed three for 34 in five overs when Tudhoe ended with 95 for seven.

When Crook batted first they were indebted to Michael Buston who had a couple of sixes and four boundaries in 42 and to Bowey whose undefeated 30 included four fours.

Ryan Moralee returned three for 15 from five overs and Jones had three for six in five when Langley Park restricted Mainsforth to 59 for eight and went on to win, losing three wickets.

Anthony Tait carried his bat for 57 as Bishop Auckland built a match-winning 108 for one against Hunwick at Kingsway. The visitors responded with 51 for the loss of five wickets.

Graham Kine was 33 not out when Sedgefield overtook Darlington RA's total of 59 for eight. Richard Brown captured three wickets for 13 runs in the Sedgefield attack.

Federation Special Durham Senior League

Under-18s

BRYAN Potts hit a six and six fours in an unbeaten 52 leading Durham City to a nine-wickets victory at home to Horden whose 81 for three included 38 by Stephen Brett.

Graham Race (41) and Stephen Merrington (45) produced the bulk of the runs in the Chester-le-Street total of 106 for five against Gateshead Fell at Ropery Lane. Paul Avery bowled well in the Fell attack returning four for 30 before Philip Taylor (52) and Richard Smith scored 21, enabling Fell to win by seven wickets.

Chris Rushworth with 72 not out was Sunderland's match winner at Burnmoor for whom Haywood contributed an unbeaten 38 in his team's total of 138 for two.

Andrew Loscombe (35) was top scorer in the Hetton Lyons total of 81 for six while Boldon's Johnny Lennard and Richard Potter both took a couple of wickets. Boldon won, losing three wickets, thanks to a superb innings of 55 not out by Chris Mackley.

David Maughan was another in top form when he scored an undefeated 81 for South Shields whose 146 for one also included 42 by David Coulson.

Whitburn's reply ended on 97 for four which included an undefeated 54 by Paul Brown and for Shields Chris Lowes took three of the four wickets to fall for 27 runs.

Umer Akhtar was Seaham Harbour's match winner at Philadelphia scoring 74 not out in a total of 102 for four. When Phili batted first John Grant scored 37 and Robert Day 34 out of 96 for six.

Under-15s

ANDREW Porter with 57 not out and Mark Lockey (38) produced a big unbroken third-wicket partnership as Gateshead Fell realised 123 for two in the home game with Horden. The visitors managed 66 for seven in reply as John Hopkins claimed three for four in three overs.

Craig Lambton was another in good form when Philadelphia visited Hetton Lyons and won by 53 runs. He scored 70 of Phili's total of 109 for three and along with Brian Telfer, David Lawrence and Callum Goldsbrough took a couple of cheap wickets helping to bowl out Lyons for 56 runs.

James Anderson was top performer in the Burnmoor win at home to Whitburn who ended on 87 for four. Anderson carried his bat for 23 in a six-wicket victory.

Boddington's Durham

Coast League

Under-18

MARK Ewart took a hat-trick in his figures of four for one in five overs as Castle Eden and Dawdon tied on 96. Batting first, Castle Eden reached 96 for six of which Dan Bell scored an unbeaten 46 with a couple of sixes and three boundaries.

Responding, Dawdon were 96 for three as Andy Stephenson finished undefeated on 38 with four boundaries. Murton romped to a ten wickets victory at home to Peterlee as Christopher Milne had a couple of sixes in 32 not and Aidan Vout struck one six and two boundaries, carrying his bat for 26. When Peterlee batted first they realised 66 for seven which included a top-scoring 25 by Maddison and for Murton, Michael Watson returned two for 21 and Andrew Naylor took 13.

Silksworth were all out for 23 at home to South Hetton from whom Shaun Bradbury took three for 11 and Chris Fawcett three for four. Naylor and Gippert both took a couple of wickets before South Hetton went on to win by seven wickets. Seaham Park totalled 54 at home to Ryhope but still won with 11 runs to spare as Michael McGhinn took a hat-trick in three for four and both Asim Akhtar and David Morton claimed two wickets apiece.

Gary Rushworth with 51 not out was the Hylton match winner in their fixture with Boldon whose 107 for three featured a contribution of 34 by Gary Frater and 26 by Stephen Moor.

Under-15s

JOHN Errington returned six for three in 3.5 overs and Dan Clasper had a hat-trick returning three for three when Ryhope bowled out South Hetton for 38 and went on to win without losing a wicket as Michael Briggs carried his bat for 32.

Carl Bellerby finished unbeaten on 53 and Burridge was 32 not out when Boldon CA totalled 108 for one at Bill Quay who were 75 for five when time ran out.

Ben McLean finished with 46 not out and Shaun Harbottle contributed 41 in the Easington total of 105 for one which proved insufficient as Dawdon won by eight wickets. Stephen Gill had a couple of sixes and four fours in 47 and Jamie Greenwood ended undefeated on 36.

Kevin Mawhinney rattled up an undefeated 66 in the Murton total of 103 for four with visitors Seaham Park finishing on 65 for three including the top scoring 22 by Andrew Ord. James Watson took two of the three wickets to fall for 15 runs. Christopher Robson (21) was a top performer in the Silksworth innings which totalled 63 for nine as King had three for 12 and Beaumont two for five for Houghton who won losing four wickets.

Griffiths, with 54 and Winter (33 no) both displayed form helping Peterlee to 110 for two at home to Castle Eden who responded with 85 for six including 46 by Evans.

Fosters Tyneside Senior League

Under-18

BAILEY with 75 not out and Gary Stewart (64 no) were in super form leading Blaydon to 145 without loss in the home game with Chopwell who replied with 59 for four. Andrew Waters hit an unbeaten 54 leading Consett to a seven-wickets win at home to Greenside for whom Cairns scored 43 in his team's total of 84 for four. Lanchester had five wickets to spare winning at Sacriston who, batting first, totalled 95 for three and Whickham were all out for 49 but still won by two runs at Shotley Bridge. Chris McGinn claimed three without cost and Mark Shaw had three for 22 in the Bridge attack, but in reply Shotley managed 47 for seven which included 35 by David Ringer. Davidson, Ainlie and Cree all took two wickets for Whickham.

Burnopfield defeated Annfield Plain by five wickets after the home side reached 90 for two which included 49 by Aaron Leithley. Davey was top scorer with 21 in the Burnopfield innings and two of the five wickets were taken by Khan at a cost of 12 runs. Earlier he scored 20 for Plain.