Barnard Castle got off to a flyer in division one of the NYSD Premier League when they dismissedYarm for 51. David Stanwix, Andy Toulson and Nick Cavanagh took three wickets each, only one player managed double figures and there were ten extras.

Batting first, Barnard Castle's 50 overs produced 144 for nine. The first three batsmen scored eight runs between them, but the innings was revived by a fourth-wicket stand between Toulson (40) and David Scaife, whose 48 included a six and four fours.

Will Wyatt took six for 60 from 22 overs for Yarm.

After bowling out Billingham Synthonia for 97, Seaton Carew had to work for every run before securing a three-wicket victory. Their hero was Kevin Rowntree, who went in at a crucial stage and ended unbeaten on 35.

Keith Martin, with figures of 20-8-35-4, and Martin Cull, with three for 46 in 19.3 overs, kept the Seaton innings at bay.

Batting first, Synners laboured through 45.2 overs with Keith Hewson contributing 41. Kevin Gibbon had four for 39 from 20 overs, including eight maidens, while John Fitzpatrick's 15 overs yielded three for 32.

A low-scoring game at Wolviston ended in a draw. Batting first, Normanby Hall struggled through 50 overs for 116 for eight, which included a top-scoring unbeaten 33 by Geoff Robinson. Jimmy Jones claimed five for 35 in 17 overs.

The six-man Hall attack soon gained the initiative and but for an undefeated 31 by George Sayers Wolviston could have lost. But they held on at 102 for eight. Ramzan was the most successful Normanby bowler with four for 35 in 19 overs.

Thornaby reached 221 for four against Stokesley with Muldowney making 97.

Stokesley stuttered to 117 for nine, Robinson making 40, and in the Thornaby attack Ian McDonald took four wickets for six runs.

Darlington RA were sent back for 87 by Darlington at Feethams with John Stock capturing three for 18. Danny Morgans then swept Darlington to an eight-wicket victory, contributing 52.

Blackhall amassed 211 for eight then Iqbal ripped through the Guisborough innings, ending with seven for 17 when the visitors were dismissed for 61.

Iqbal also shone with the bat, scoring 58, while Booth added 48 and John Darby 42, despite the efforts of Steve Donlan with four for 33.

* Readers Durham County League champions Esh Winning opened with a blistering performance at Etherley, where they needed only 31.4 overs to achieve a ten-wicket victory after Eddie Watson and Paul Chivers shot out the hosts for 42.

Watson claimed three for 11 in five overs, while Chivers celebrated his debut with a devastating 6.3 overs which earned him the magnificent figures of six for 12.

David Lawlor and John Carmedy knocked off the runs.

There were runs galore at Ushaw Moor, who beat Tudhoe by seven wickets. Ross Hodgson, with seven fours in his 52 and Tim Smalley, whose 81 included a couple of sixes and 14 fours, added 115 in just 22 overs for the third wicket.

Tudhoe's 45 overs produced the formidable total of 219 for six but the target was reached in 37.5 overs. New professional Imran Ullah's century came from 76 deliveries and he hit nine sixes before being caught for 120. His opening partner David Armstrong contributed 37 and Craig Usher 30.

Ryan Moralee and Simon Huscroft bowled Langley Park into a winning position at home to Brandon. Moralee's 11-over stint earned him five wickets for 19 runs and Huscroft returned 3-22 as the visitors were dismissed for 95 from 27 overs.

Openers John Lee (32) and Neil Ellison, with 36, laid the foundations and although three wickets fell cheaply, Langley still won by five wickets after occupying the crease for only 28 overs.

Gary Cummings was the match-winner for Willington at Kimblesworth. Coming on first change, he was quickly among the wickets, taking four for 27 as Kimblesworth were dismissed for 148.

Cummings then dominated the visitors' reply, batting throughout for an unbeaten 79 out of a matchwinning total of 149 for three.

Mainsforth had 68 runs to spare over Hylton after posting 181 for nine mainly as a result of a late-order partnership between Ian Thompson (36) and David Sherrington with 62.

The Hylton innings made an inauspicious start with both openers dismissed without scoring. Although Lee Mustard contributed 41, the home side were never troubled and the visitors ended on only 113. David Thompson was the principal wicket taker with 5-44, while newcomer Imran Jan took two for 32.

Evenwood defeated Shildon by 27 runs. Faced with a target of 204, Shildon were in with a chance when Garbutt (51) and Davis (33) were together but in the end John Maughan, Billy Teesdale and newcomer Indian Yjoty Yhdav shared nine wickets.

So too did Phil Timmens, James Middleton and Balou Krishnan when Evenwood posted 203.

Teesdale was also in form with the bat, hitting the game's top score of 70, while Maughan added 35 and Chris Peareth 48.