Cestrians chipping away at leaders

IT might have to be a painstaking process but Chester-le-Street are slowly chipping away at the lead of South Northumberland at the head of the North East Premier League.

Despite the disappointment of being held to a draw by struggling Norton, the Cestrians are now six points closer to the leaders than they were a fortnight ago following a helping hand from Benwell Hill.

The Hill left South North with only eight points from a drawn finish, the lowest return of a season in which they have totally dominated the previous six teams they have overcome.

Benwell have now become a team to watch as they moved into fifth place behind Blaydon, South Shields and Chester-le- Street who are now 23 points behind South North.

Chester were in striking form as they posted 209-9 before a declaration and then reducing Norton to 96-7. Simon Birtwistle (56) gave them a splendid start but try as they might his colleagues with the ball could not wear down the visitors’ batsmen. Nevertheless, Liam Simpson (3- 24) and Andrew Bell (2-18) got some reward for their efforts.

Sunderland were never at the races as they were swamped by Blaydon with Martin Pollard (5-19), Graeme Bridge (3-8) and Craig Knox (2-27) sharing in their success by eight wickets. The Wearsiders were bowled out for only 54.

Stockton are still in trouble at the foot of the table after their sixth defeat in seven games left them 21 points adrift of Tynemouth. Gateshead Fell escaped from second bottom place to seventh by beating the Teessiders for their first win of the season.

Karl Turner hit another century, batting through the Stockton innings to reach an undefeated 115 out of a respectable 211-5.

Chris Parr added 40 to put them in with a chance of turning the corner but it all fell apart when Will Gidman scored a masterful 117, carrying his bat as the Fell reached the winning target for the loss of four wickets.

In Benwell Hill’s close finish with South North, openers Ali Maiden (36) and Graeme Race (34) gave them a great start in their reply to the leaders’ innings of 155-9. But Stephen Humble (3-31) and Lee Crozier (2-23) put the brakes on their opponents who finished 26 runs short on 129-8.

South Shields enjoyed a thumping ten-wicket victory against Tynemouth pushing them down three places to second bottom.

Matthew Muchall (4-19 in 18 overs with 11 maidens) and Adam Coyte (3-15 in 13 overs) bowled them out for 84. Shields wasted no time in their reply as Dan Shurben made an unbeaten half century which included five fours and two sixes. Paul Muchall also carried his bat in scoring 32 as the visitors took just 17 overs to reach the winning target.

Newcastle’s trip to play the Durham Academy became a casualty of the waterlogged ground at Maiden Castle.