Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League: Ashington are the new leaders after they defeated challengers Leadgate, and Swalwell, who started the day in pole position, also lost. There was no stopping the Colliers in their top-of-the-table clash with Leadgate.

They dominated from the start and the visitors were back in the pavilion for only 116 as Stephen Boyd and James Harmison shared seven wickets.

After missing the first three games, skipper David Rutherford has been in scintillating form for the Colliers and he added a half century. Stephen Prudhoe opened with 36 and Ashington celebrated a seven-wicket victory which took them to the top for the first time.

Ponteland are in the bottom half of the table yet have proved they can give the best sides a good game as Swalwell found to their cost at Derwenthaugh.

Lloyd Anderson hit a century and Malcolm Clarke 62 propelling the underdogs to 270 for seven. Although Darren Scott contributed 45, Swalwell never threatened and the innings ended on 142.

Annfield Plain produced the highest score of the day, 301 for six with former Durham County player Martin Speight made 149. Andrew Donnolly (42) and David Baxter with 40 gave support before Burnopfield replied with 210 for seven.

Benwell and Walbottle lost all their first nine games before producing the shock of the season, defeating Newcastle City who had won seven on the bounce. Kaushiq Aphale (73) and Stephen Reed with 50 enabled the under-dogs to pass 200 but the target looked within reach of the home side.

Surprisingly, they were all out for just 91 - Graeme Angus and Brown sharing eight wickets.

Phil Shield (50) and Tony Claughan, with an unbeaten 68, laid the foundations for Sacriston's seven-wicket victory at home to Lanchester. Their first-wicket partnership dominated and later Ross McLaren added 46.

Aslam (89) and Robinson (40) also hit form in a first-wicket stand for Lanchester and although Martin Hubber took five for 40, the visitors managed almost 200.

Both Tynedale and Shotley Bridge passed 200 in their game at Hexham and it was the home side who came out on top but only by a margin of six runs.