Adcock on form

Tim Adcock (60) and Stuart Kay (36) were the backbone of an innings which produced the healthy total of 221-7, despite Stephen Boyd and Stuart Tiffin sharing seven wickets.

After suffering the early loss of David Rutherford, Ashington hit back with a productive second-wicket partnership between Neil Wood (47) and Simon Prudhoe (51) but Stuart Graham and Mark Armstrong steered Tynedale to a crucial 42-run victory when they claimed four wickets apiece.

Leadgate, seven-wicket winners at Whickham, are in a good position to challenge Ashington for runners-up. Masood Mirza captured six wickets for a mere 18 runs as Whickham made 85.

The target was meat and drink to Leadgate and although they conceded a couple of early wickets, they were never in danger.

Whickham are all but relegated and the fight is on to avoid joining them in Division A2. Despite defeating Lanchester by eight wickets, Shotley Bridge are still second bottom but within striking distance of the two sides immediately above them.

David Jackson, with four wickets and 41, and a half century from Phil Taylor enabled Bridge to overtake the Lanchester total of 134 with two wickets down.

Annfield Plain are third from the basement following their 70-run defeat at Swalwell.

Once again, Stephen Humble played the leading role for Swalwell. He opened with 74 which together with 41 by Paul Dumigham and 33 from David Scott propelled Swalwell to almost 200 even though Aldo van den Berg claimed seven for just 22 runs.

Van den Berg then opened the Plain's reply making 55 but Humble followed up his batting performance by taking four wickets and so too did Jimmy Smith as the innings ended on 124.

Lintz had a seven-wicket win at Benwell and Walbottle. Graham Johnson, Michael Edmunds and Stephen Smith all took three wickets restricting the home side to 141 before Smith batted throughout the Lintz reply for an unbeaten 63.

Harry Hubber's innings of 75 featured in the Sacriston total of 154 at Newcastle City who won by four wickets.