Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League: The first day of the season proved inauspicious for Norton who suffered a heavy defeat at Blaydon whose captain Mark Drake and Durham County's Graeme Onions dominated the match.

Drake went in at number four after Marc Symington had claimed a couple of early wickets. He firstly retrieved Blaydon's indifferent start and then put his team on the road to a winning total contributing 119.

Marc Symington bowled a good end for Norton taking five wickets for just 41 runs before Onions quickly captured the wickets of Nicky Beall and Marc Symington to set Blaydon on the road to victory.

He ended with match-winning figures of 4-20 and Norton were back in the pavilion with just 85 runs on top leaving Blaydon winners by the healthy margin of 144 runs.

Stockton's batsmen fared a great deal better but they too suffered defeat visiting Newcastle who had 23 runs in hand.

Faced with a target of 217, Stockton were given a good send-off by Durham County's James Lowe (31) and Durham University student Alistair Maiden who impressed on his debut contributing 70.

After the first wicket partnership was broken, however, the innings closed on 193 as Jonathan Bailey claimed five wickets for just 65 runs.

It was the third-wicket stand between Matthew Hynd (79) and Tim Stonach with 61 which propelled Newcastle to 216-7, a total which appeared vulnerable until Bailey became the match-winner.

Philadelphia, who finished a poor bottom last season, impressed holding champions South Northumberland to a draw at Gosforth where newcomers South African Brett Pelser and Durham County's Mark Turner were quickly into their stride.

Pelser, who only just turned 20 last week, hit one six and 14 boundaries in 91 while Turner had nine fours out of 94 as the pair added 176 for the third wicket.

Spinners Lee Crozier and Richard Brook (5-49) proved problematic to the visiting batsmen, however, and from a strong position Phili were all out in 64 overs for 224.

Adam Heather and James Miller gave South North's reply a steady send-off and a half century from captain John Graham which included five boundaries set up an interesting finale.

Phili though were also in with a chance of victory but an unbeaten 35 from Crozier meant that honours were shared. Medium pacer Ian Potter bowled a good end for Phili conceding just 47 runs in 17 overs for three wickets.

Chester-le-Street drew their game at Benwell Hill where three wickets and 61 runs separated the teams at stumps. Debutant Paul Cummins struck 12 boundaries in 102 sharing a second-wicket stand of 131 with Simon Birtwisle as the Hill posted the healthy total of 237-5 despite the Cestrians using eight bowlers in their attack.

Martin Pollard soon claimed the wickets of openers Daniel Shurben and Wayne Ritzema and for a time the visitors were in trouble until Liam Simpson carried his bat for 53 striking no fewer than 10 boundaries.

At close of play Chester-le-Street were comfortable on 176-7 after Pollard wrapped up figures of 4-42 in 16 overs and Callum Thorp returned 3-51 from his 19-overs stint.

Sunderland had three wickets to spare defeating Tynemouth at Ashbrooke. Marlon Black, Simon Brown and Jim Butler each took three wickets restricting the Seasiders to only 150.

There were early successes for the Tynemouth bowlers before Paul Goodwin led Sunderland home with an undefeated 52.

There was a close finish at the Riverside where Durham Academy drew with Gateshead Fell. Mark Stoneman contributed a half century to the Academy total of 166-8 and although James Devenport opened Fell's reply making 42, their innings produced only 140-7.