A RECORD-BREAKING 244-run opening partnership by Jake McCann and Marc Hopkinson will go into the history books of the Warmseal Durham Senior League after the Durham City pair helped themselves to their first centuries of the season.

McCann, whose previous highest had been 31, made a splendid unbeaten 107, while Hopkinson’s equally attractive knock of 118 brought a declaration for City – but it didn’t bring a victory.

Opponents Marsden dug in for a draw, finishing with 98-6 with skipper Chris Mann (36) their top scorer.

Western Australian, Chris Wood, made a winning league debut for Whitburn (127 all out) against Seaham Harbour (117 all out).

Philadelphia dropped to fourth when they lost their first match of the season against Eppleton, one of the other early front runners. But the extra points Boldon took from their more impressive win over Felling leapfrogged them into the top place.

Chris Ellison (92) and Geoff Houmark (72 not out) shared in a second wicket stand which took the new leaders to 207-2 before professional, Jonny Wightman (5-26), and Phil Shakespeare (4-21) put Felling on the rack, dismissed for 96 and beaten by 111 runs.

Jimmy Daley, Burnmoor’s prolific run-maker, hit his second century of the season – 101 against Hetton Lyons, but the match ended in a draw after Sura Malinga hit back with 65.

The Readers Durham County League champions, Kimblesworth, are looking more like their old selves after an impressive win over Ushaw Moor, who had won four of their five games before they met.

Kimbles made 211-8, with a century from Aussie Travis King who then demolished the Moor’s batting by taking five wickets. Ushaw were dismissed for 91, beaten by 120 runs.

Shildon stayed top with an eightwicket win over Tudhoe having been set a target of 176 and finding Chris Peareth (65 not out) and Martin Ferguson (51) up to the task. Crook Town blew away Langley Park who they dismissed for 84, and Esh Winning (195-6) with a century from pro Yasim Murtaza on debut, inflicted the fifth defeat in six games on struggling Hylton (155 all out).

Another debutant, Viraj Perera, made a superb 144 for Mainsforth who beat Brandon.

The first defeat of the season for Ryhope was the shock result in the 3D Sports Durham Coast League, and unbeaten Castle Eden, the leaders, took full advantage.

Easington burst the Ryhope bubble by knocking up 212 for the loss of just two wickets with Mark Cowell (78 not out) and Jason Moses (51) the star performers after Ryhope (210-8) must have thought they had done enough to have won themselves. The Castle (180-8 declared) made sure there were no surprises against Silksworth (115 all out). Peterlee’s improved form continued with a twowicket win over Seaham Park thanks to a superb display by professional Glen Riddle (8-48).