The Readers Durham County League: Brandon - and Jim Allenby in particular - go marching on and the leaders made it five consecutive wins as Allenby plundered another century.

So too, did Hiran Marambe but Shildon still suffered defeat at the end of a game which produced almost 500 runs.

Allenby has yet to fail during five visits to the crease and on Saturday he rattled an unbeaten 166, including no fewer than nine sixes and 11 boundaries.

Dean Storey carried his bat for 83, hitting 12 fours and the pair propelled Brandon to the massive total of 302 for the loss of just two wickets. Michael Thorpe (35) and Marambe, with an undefeated 108, ensured that Shildon would not be disgraced and the respectable total of 193-5 was achieved.

Esh Winning have also made a good start and they had 45 runs in hand over Hylton. Rizwan Quereshi was again in good form with bat and ball. He contributed 48 which together with 32 from John Carmedy, 53 by Michael Robson and 67 by Graham Hurst saw a total of 245-7 on the board.

David Tate and Gary Frater gave Hylton's reply a sound footing before Gary Hewitt, batting at number three, carried his bat for 101 in a total of 200-9.

Quereshi and Ahmed shared seven wickets in the Esh attack.

Evenwood have yet to produce the form which won them the championship last summer and they suffered their fourth defeat in five attempts when Tudhoe ran out comfortable winners.

Kevin Littlefair and Sewranine Chattagoon took seven wickets between them, reducing Evenwood to only 102 which included 35 from 44 deliveries by John Maughan.

Simon Davies struck a six and six boundaries in an unbeaten 40 leading Tudhoe home for the loss of just three wickets in 23.5 overs. Willington were 19 runs short of a winning margin in their home game with Mainsforth for whom David Fishburn struck 16 fours in an undefeated 101. He opened with Gary Purcell (35) and the pair laid the foundations for a matchwinning total of 185-4.

Keith Stones top-scored with 47 for Willington and there were 20 plus scores from Robert Chismon, Gary Cummings and Darren Brown but even so the home side made just 167 with Sam Hogg and John Cavanagh each taking three wickets for Mainsforth.

Etherley were all out for only 102 which included 43 by opener Colin Barker before losing by six wickets to Ushaw Moor. Michael

Hayton was again among the wickets returning the outstanding analysis of 6-24 and an unbeaten 63 from Craig Usher swept the visitors to victory. Crook Town were winners by 46 runs at Kimblesworth.

Captain Stephen Meek was on song but even so Kimblesworth were back in the pavilion for only 108 as Stephen Ball claimed five wickets for just 28 runs in 12 overs.

Earlier, Ball topscored with 31 as Crook finished with 154 despite Andrew McKay and Meek sharing seven wickets at economical cost.