Foster's Durham Senior League: There were wins for Horden, Marsden and Hetton Lyons on the opening day of the season.

Runs were plentiful at Hetton Lyons where the home side successfully set upon a run-chase challenge. They were quickly in control when Felling were reduced to 22 for four wickets, before Felling skipper Graeme Wright stopped the rot. With Mark Douglas the pair added 85. Wright's final contribution was an unbeaten 136 that included seven sixes and four boundaries.

Undaunted, the Lyons were quickly on the attack. Sean Birbeck (95) and Marc Hopkinson (87 not out) almost took the side to victory, but Birbeck was out with just three runs required.

An unbroken third-wicket partnership between Chris Mann and Andrew Doherty paved the way for Marsden's victory at Durham City.

A half century by Presard Deshmuk (58) was largely responsible for City's end product of 158 but they were unable to deal successfully with David Wills. The paceman ended with five wickets and with useful support from Rob Lawrence (3-24) it left the batsmen with a reasonable target.

After Mann and Simon Curtis added 45 in an opening stand, Marsden took further control. Mann was unbeaten on 84 (seven fours and two sixes) and Doherty 43 not out.

The Burnmoor middle-order found runs virtually non-existent at South Shields and consequently ended with a fairly modest total. After John Tindale (50) and Neil Young (30) had added 83 in their partnership, veteran bowler Alan Stevenson produced an inspiring spell of four wickets for only seven runs.

Stevenson eventually ended with 4-20 and with three wickets apiece from Mattie Muchall and Johnny Wightman, Shields were left to chase 164 for victory.

After a brisk start, they lost their way until Neil Dixon (40) and Wightman (30 not out) gave Shields hope.

However, they ended 13 runs short of their target as Neil Young (5-28) also made an impressive contribution with the ball.

An Ian Blevins half century was the main contribution when Horden ended on 187 against Seaham Harbour. Duncan Lorraine's 15 overs brought the reward of 5-42 but his side had no answer to Andrew Robson. The Horden skipper ended with 7-22 as the Harbour were dismissed for only 78.

Whitburn's Neil Ayre was in a hard-hitting mood in the derby with Boldon. Ayre added 108 with Paul Shields (46) in just 95 minutes giving Whitburn an ideal start. Cracking six straight sixes and 10 boundaries, Ayre completed his century and his side ended on 223.

Boldon showed little interest in a second-half that was of little purpose. Despite using six bowlers, Whitburn were unable to make animpact and the game petered out.

A century by Eppleton's Jim Daley was not enough to see his side to victory against South Hetton. The Eppleton total of 190 looked very distant as Ashok Patel (40) was the main contributor to the South Hetton innings.