HYLTON’S championship hopes took a pounding as they became the last team to lose their unbeaten record, bringing to an end a run of 11 games.

And it was Seaham Park who inflicted the first defeat on them, which provided an ironic twist to the weekend’s drama as their fierce local rivals, Seaham Harbour, grabbed a victory which took them to the top of the table as they overtook Hylton.

The Harbour enjoyed their seventh win of the season when they triumphed at Silksworth by four wickets.

Neville Gustard bowled 12 excellent overs to take five wickets and Anthony Watson grabbed three of the others to bring the home side’s innings to an end on 133.

Gustard conceded just 43 runs and Watson was hit for just 20 as they put the pressure on Phil Middlemiss (50 with ten boundaries) and Paul Smailes (38 with seven fours).

Once these two openers had gone Silksworth suffered a collapse with no other batsman reaching double figures.

The Silks lost all ten wickets for just 48 runs. Harbour’s reply didn’t start too well but Neil McKinney (33) and Watson (20 not out) recovered their domination.

The Park’s defeat of Hylton was sparked by the outstanding bowling combination of Alistair Watson (5-30) and Alex Ludlow (3-30). They bowled out the powerful batting side, who had been leading the title race, for just 120 runs with only Lee Rushworth (35) and Steve Lee-Merrington (27) showing any resistance.

Then they made short work of the visitors attack, losing just one wicket in reaching their winning target. Opener Andrew Docherty set the pace with a quick-fire 64 before Stuart Pattison (26) and Dave Hanson (25) finished the job.

Champions Boldon CA are still playing catch-up after drawing seven of their games.

But they got back to winning ways against Ryhope and they leapfrogged defeated Bill Quay into fourth place. David Tate (4-17 from eight overs) and Ian Male (3-31 from 12 overs with three maidens) on debut hurried out the Wearsiders for a modest 119, before Lee Jackson (41 not out) and Tommy Nixon (31 not out) took them to an impressive seven wicket success.

Bill Quay (144 all out) were beaten by Dawdon for whom Shoaib Akhtar (75 and 3-24) was the match winner, while the battle of the bottom clubs, Murton and Peterlee, ended in stalemate. With Min Mahill hitting a half century to lift Peterlee close to 200, that contest fizzled out as a tame draw with Richard Lowes (33 not out) and Jordan Vout (32) playing safe so Murton’s reply of 129-6 kept them in the game.