Stockton won the crucial relegation Dukes North-East ECB Regional Premier League scrap, beating South Shields who now go bottom after Felling won. The Teessiders hold a 42-point cushion over Shields, with five games to go.

The home side won the toss and asked Shields to bat first and they made 181, with Salman Ahmed making 64 and Christopher Dorothy 34, with Brett Roberts the pick of the bowling, returning 3-50. Christopher Hooker batted well for 81 and Ryan Wallace was 63 not out, putting on 108 together for the second wicket and ensure victory by six wickets.

The Durham Cricket Academy travelled to second-placed Newcastle and had to endure a score of 356-4. Joshua Phillipe scored 139 and Jacques Du Toit an unbeaten 132. The Academy made 97-5 in their reply before the rain came.

Chester-le-Street travelled to leaders South North, who made 268-6 declared.

Openers Simon Birtwisle (87) and Marcus North (122) put on 182 for the first wicket. Chester replied with 169-5, Kyle Davis 71 not out and Andrew Smith 41, with Lee Crozier taking 3-30.

Eppleton lost at Benwell Hill. They made just 139, thanks to Anthony Hunter taking 3-11, with only Joseph Coyne resisting with 47. The Hill lost early wickets as Jandre Erasmus took 3-54, but 36 not out from James Schofield and 32 from Sameet Brar saw the home side to 141-6.

Hetton Lyons also lost after declaring on 225-6 against Felling. Jarvis Clay smashed 89 not out after they slumped to 41-3.

Felling batted very well in reply, scoring 229-6, thanks to Gary Scott who made 99 not out.

In the first divison, Sacriston got back to winning ways, although they had to bat well at Willington, as the home side amassed 254-9.

Steven Alderson with 42 and Reagan Klemt, 136 not out, set the scene for a big score, with Melvyn Betts the pick of the bowling, returning 3-30.

Jonny Bushnell cracked a century, with 117 not out to his name, with good knocks from Graham Hubber (30), Jack Hardy (37) and Reece Carr (34) in a total of 257-4.

Burnopfield are still second after they won at Washington, but Burnmoor third after a five wicket win at home to Sunderland.

Shotley Bridge’s Go North East Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League title ambitions took a big knock when they lost at home to Lanchester.

Shotley took first knock and made 175 all out, with Phillip Burn scoring 59 and 41 from Kieran Milburn, with Callum Barnes taking an excellent 6-19, with the ball. Lanchester lost early wickets, but Sam Crookes hit 58 and Greg Halliday was 38 not out at the end, in a total of 176-8, despite Brown taking 3-15.

Leadgate are relegation trouble and they lost by just 14 runs in a high-scoring affair at Lintz.

The home side racked up 230-8, thanks to 53 from Matthew Wilson and 44 from Jordan Clennell 46 not out from Chris Snowball, alongside Marcus Peart with 42. For the visitors Callan McCabe made 48, David Richardson 32 and Daniel Gowland 30, but Paul Lumley with 3-38 and Snowball taking 3-27 proved too much.

Tudhoe remain top of the Readers Durham Cricket League by 13 points, after scoring 215-9 at home to Dawdon.

Alex McGrath hit 35 with Dean Thexton making 34, alongside Andrew Carrick’s 35, with David Coates taking 3-37, Clayton Malgas 3-39 and Liam Cowell 3-65. Dawdon only made 90, with Ian Grainger taking 4-21 and Roshan Jayatissa 5-14.

Castle Eden are on fire and lie second after they won at Bill Quay by 92 runs after batting first and making 187-9.

Alan Unsworth made 64, with James Topping scoring 49, with Josh Eaton and Alan Mustard, each taking three wickets. Bill Quay could only manage 95 all out against some excellent bowling from Keith Bailey (4-32) and Topping (3-8), with only Eaton resisting with 43.

Durham City are third, two points behind Castle Eden, when they beat Littletown at home.

The visitors scored 191, thanks mainly to 50 from Siddhesh Kinalekar and 41 from Phillip Bennett. Jonny Harding with 5-35 and Danielle Hazell, fresh from the England World Cup squad, 3-34, took the bowling plaudits. Jacob McCann hit 83 and Harding scored 31 and Drew Watson hit 40 not out near the end to ensure victory.

Esh Winning are fourth, leap-frogging their opponents Seaham Park, with an eight-wicket win. Seaham made 157, thanks mainly to Dale Shaw who hit 45. Paul Chivers with 4-36 and Leigh Goodwin 3-35, took the bowling plaudits. In reply, David Lawlor smashed 49 not out, alongside 76 not out from David Watson, in a score of 148-2.