EPPLETON got off to a flyer in the Warmseal Durham Senior League when they took the maximum 30 points as they demolished Seaham Harbour, with new captain, John Leslie, and former Philadelphia opening bat, Graham Hoban, giving them a major lift.

Hoban hit 90 and shared an opening partnership with Kyle Davis (44) which gave them a match winning start.

Paul Coughlin, with an unbeaten 56, took their overall score to 226-5, exactly double the runs Seaham scored in reply.

Paul Davidson, on his debut after moving from South Hetton, took four wickets in a sustained opening spell for Eppleton and with his skipper chipping in with two more victims it was an impressive start all-round.

Champions Burnmoor made a surprisingly poor start , taking just nine points from a draw with Felling.

All the big guns had a disappointing day and it was left to Mike Callaghan batting at No 9 to rescue their innings with a half century out of 149.

Felling’s Chris Goudie (4- 24) and Chris Pleasants (4-35) put the home side on the back foot before Ian Conn (4- 47) restored some of their pride.

The visitors (125-7) needed just 25 more runs for victory but they settled for a share of the spoils after Chris Taylor hit 45.

Whitburn had to settle for a drawn finish with Lindsay Cullen hitting 67 against Boldon but South Hetton, Philadelphia and Durham City all won.

In the Readers Durham County League, champions Kimblesworth, along with Esh Winning and Shildon, who were separated by just three points in the final runin last year, already look worthy of a further battle royal.

They all won on the league’s opening day on which batsmen largely ruled the roost – Kimblesworth getting 300-5 against Langley Park and Shildon hitting 264- 3 at Ushaw Moor.

Australian Travis King with 73 was topped by Paul Craig (82) for Kimblesworth, while Martin Ferguson and Chris Peareth both got into the 70’s for the Railwaymen.

Brandon, who took the wooden spoon last year, lost a high scoring match against Etherley.

Two centuries – Jonathon Thorn for Brandon and Carl McGregor for Etherley – were the features.

Willington’s Sam Wells, their New Zealand professional, hit a brilliant double century at home to Hylton.

Murton and Castle Eden, the usual table toppers in the 3D Sports Durham Coast League set off their season with the expected victories.

But Bill Quay gave Murton a run for their money losing by only five runs after they failed to cope with the bowling of Keith Chapman (6-30).

Earlier, David Brown (7-37) had caused a Murton collapse. Easington, Ryhope and Peterlee were the other winners.

In the Wellstream Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League, the hotly fancied Swalwell side followed their opening day win with a massive victory over Annfield Plain.

Richard Hawthorne hit top form with an unbeaten 115 and Ian Pattison helped himself to 77 out of 275-5.

Swalwell are already the only side with a 100 per cent record.

Tynedale and Leadgate are chasing them with Shotley Bridge close behind.