Durham Coast League: Peterlee, who finished bottom of the table last season, tasted a rare success when they had 63 runs in hand of Houghton.

Early on, however, it looked as if Jon Grant (40) and his opening partner Paul Elliott might lay the foundations for a winning response, but once they were parted the innings went downhill and closed with only 123 runs on the board.

Paul Griffiths, with a half century and Michael Garrigan (44) were the principal contributors to the home side's match-winning total of 186. No fewer than seven of the wickets went to Houghton captain Stephen Robinson at a cost of 46 runs.

Easington made a useful 162 for the loss of eight wickets but still lost to Silksworth. Davison (41) gave the home side's innings a good start but Robbie Atherton (4-29) and Brian Daniels (4-65) put Easington into the ascendancy.

Chris Pringle (45) and Stephen Wright with an unbeaten 36, however, swung the initiative back to Silksworth and victory was in sight before the partnership was broken.

Russell Tarn top-performed with the bat for Easington scoring 57 opening the innings and David Young added 35 while for Silksworth Mark Foster returned the tidy figures of 4-34 and Michael Waterson had 3-60.

Newcomers Washington went down by six wickets to Castle Eden. Tony Banks conceded only 28 runs taking four wickets and Jonathan Malkin had 3-35 as the home side managed only 109 which included 35 by Mark Nelson.

Matthew Thompson captured three wickets for only 18 runs but only one of the other five bowlers was successful as Castle Eden ended comfortable winners with Allan Unsworth ending undefeated on 53.

Seaham Park had 32 runs in hand of Dawdon in the local derby. Umar Akhtar (37) and Andrew Docherty with an unbeaten 54 made a fair proportion of the total of 178-7 before Akhtar, with 4-27, Michael Evans and Ian White bowled out Dawdon for just 146. Ryan Consitt with 45 and Andrew Gale (57) were the principal contributors for the home team.

Murton, aiming to win the championship for a third successive season, declared after 47 overs with the formidable total of 202-3 on the board but were unable to bowl out Ryhope.

Richard Lowes hit a six and six boundaries in an undefeated 74 and Calvin Stephenson had a couple of sixes and five fours out of 56.

Ryhope's reply never got going with two of their first three batsmen run out and the innings petered out to 79 for six wickets from 46 overs. Keith Chapman and Graeme Robson had identical figures of 2-17 sharing 24 wickets in the Murton attack.

Boldon CA managed just 75 losing by seven wickets at Bill Quay for whom newly-appointed professional Shaun Smith and David Brown each took five wickets. The task was then completed by David Hunt and he secured victory carrying his bat for 34.