Despite a magnificent performance from Henry Twizell, champions Tynedale went down by 18 runs at Annfield Plain, writes Malcolm Pratt.

The Northumberland strike bowler was in scintillating form claiming nine wickets for 56 runs but even so the Plain comfortably passed the 200 mark mainly as a result of Andrew Donnolly (75) and David Maughan with 51.

Scott Kay led Hexham's reply but when he was sent back for 87 the innings ended on 197-9 from the 50 overs.

Sacriston lost by 35 runs at Ashington for whom Adam Cragg struck five boundaries carrying his bat for 66. When the visitors conceded three wickets, they were up against it but the former Durham City batsman Ross McLaren temporarily raised his side's hopes when he struck four sixes and three fours in 57.

Paul Rutherford though not only claimed McLaren's wicket but five others to complete 200 in the league for Ashington.

Newly-promoted Burnopfield found Farook Iqbal dominant at Lanchester. Faced with a target of 206, the visitors fell well short as Iqbal returned the outstanding figures of 6-23 in 15 overs, including six maidens.

Mark Cosgrove has made a good start at Swalwell and he starred with bat and ball leading his side to victory over Newcastle City at Derwenthaugh.

He conceded just 44 runs in 15 overs taking three wickets and Jim Smith had 3-18 from nine overs as City struggled to 133 all out. Cosgrove then struck a six and eight boundaries in 57 which together with an unbeaten 36 by the former Sunderland player Stuart Pattison, cemented Swalwell's six-wickets victory.

Leadgate had Masood Mirza (6-22 from 15 overs) in splendid form against Benwell and Walbottle who were restricted to 100-9 from 50 overs. Paul Hutchinson, with three sixes and four fours in 45 and Rehan Rafique (32 not out) were untroubled by the visiting attack as Leadgate enjoyed a comfortable seven-wickets victory in 23.1 overs.

Despite 41 by Malcolm Clarke, Ponteland were pegged to 144-8 mainly by Donald Brown whose accurate spell earned him the creditable figures of 5-36.

His son Philip made a top-scoring 27 in the Shotley Bridge reply but the innings only managed 126-9 leaving Ponteland winners by a margin of 18 runs.