Castle Eden remain out in front and are still unbeaten after seeing off the challenge from Houghton who posted a useful total which belied their bottom-of-the-table position.

Ian Hauxwell (32) and Robson with 45 top-performed in the home side's innings which reached 166-7.

However, despite claiming early successes when the leaders replied, Houghton could not stem the flow of runs which came from a third-wicket partnership between Gerard Magee (70) and John Spellman junior (46 not out).

Murton faced an almost identical target when Peterlee were all out for 164.

Michael Garrigan, with a half century and captain Gary Unitt (30) were the leading runmakers and for Murton, Calvin Stephenson captured four wickets for 56 runs and David Scorer had 3-32.

Richard Lowes (39) and Jonathan Seed, who made an excellent 84 then put together a match-winning stand for the second wicket and Murton had seven wickets intact when they secured their third win in six attempts.

Newcomers Washington won for the second time defeating Bill Quay by five wickets.

Jeff Tudor (37), professional Shaun Smith with 30 and Matthew Dench who ended unbeaten on 52 led the Quay to 171 before the declaration was applied for the loss of eight wickets.

Mark Lee was in good all-round form for Washington. After taking four of the eight wickets to fall, he contributed 44, which together with 43 from Nick Thompson and an unbeaten 53 by Mark Nelson, propelled Washington to the target.

Silksworth won their local derby with Ryhope by three wickets.

Stephen Wright and Mark Foster both took four wickets as Ryhope managed only 139-9 which included a half century by John Minnis.

The home side were in difficulties despite 31 from Paul Smailes but Wright (23 not out) and Steve Lobbin (16 not out) steered their side to success with an unbroken partnership for the eighth wicket.

Dawdon wasted no time defeating Boldon CA in a near bottom-of-the-table contest.

Karl Scott conceded only 14 runs in seven overs taking four wickets and David Coates had 3-23 from 6.1 overs when Boldon were sent back with just 78 runs on the board.

Their innings lasted 27 overs and Dawdon required just 22.2 and lost only a couple of wickets.

Craig Price struck no fewer than seven boundaries in an unbeaten 39.

Seaham Park are a much better side this year and they gave Easington a good game.

David Hanson has made a big difference and he took 86 off the visitors' attack and Andrew Docherty contributed 54 to the useful total of 210 for five wickets.

Brian Daniel, introduced as third-change, claimed all five wickets for just 37 runs and replying, Easington were in trouble until Robbie Atherton came to the rescue with an undefeated 61 out of a total of 150-8.

Ian White was the second player in the match to take five wickets but his effort narrowly failed to secure victory for the Park.