Foster's ECB North-East Premier League: THE weather played havoc with the programme and only Chester -le-Street managed a win.

It was a significant result though and the Cestrians are in pole position as the leadership changed for the third successive week.

Their openers Daniel Shurben with 55 and captain Allan Worthy, who contributed 70, laid the foundations for the Cestrians' total of 206 for five even though Australian Davin Charleston celebrated his debut taking four wickets for 47 runs in the Stockton attack.

Richard Waite maintained his outstanding form scoring 82 batting at number three but with the exception of Alan Walker with 36, received little support as the innings closed on 169.

The early pace of Ian Hunter earned him the wickets of Stephen Ward and Guy Darwin and he ended with figures of four for 33. Later, spinner Quentin Hughes picked up three wickets, including that of Waite, at the miserly cost of six runs.

Blaydon's reign at the top lasted only a week. Rain eventually caused the abandonment of their fixture with bottom-of-the-table Gateshead Fell who were 26 for two from 9.2 overs.

Blaydon posted 185 for four in 47 overs batting first. They quickly overcame the loss of Paul Underwood who was run out and a second-wicket stand between Ian Somerville and skipper Mark Drake dominated the innings.

Somerville struck one six and six boundaries in 45 and Drake made a top-scoring 58 with two sixes and three fours before falling to former Durham County spinner Nicky Phillips.

The momentum was maintained by West Indian Neil McGarrell who ended unbeaten on 47 with one six and four boundaries. Phillips proved the most successful of the five-man Gateshead Fell attack returning figures of two for 46 in 13 overs.

Durham Academy, who a couple of weeks ago led the table, are now third after drawing their rain-affected game with Philadelphia at Maiden Castle.

Mark Stoneman, the former Burnopfield junior, made a top-scoring 47 and Ben Harmison 34 as the Academy realised 166 for nine. Phili skipper Lee Beaumont returned his best figures of the season with five for 40.

Another County player James Lowe struck form making 47 but Phili only managed 85 for the loss of four wickets, one of them to Luke Anderson who moved to the Riverside from Bunker Hill at the start of the season.

Norton were well placed on 75 for two with Chris Fawcett unbeaten on 30 in partnership with Marc Symington at Sunderland where they required only another 54 runs for victory.

Captain Simon Old batted throughout for the home team, ending undefeated on 42, but apart from Alan Mustard with 37, received little support as the innings produced 128 for eight. Marc Symington, with four for 37, and Keith Hewson (three for 18) were the bowlers who caused most of Sunderland's problems.

Tynemouth were in a good position at home to champions South Northumberland who were tottering on 156 for eight replying to a target of 200. Chris Hewison (48) and James Miller with 36 steadied South North's early batting after both openers departed for a combined total of 23 runs.

Following their dismissals, however, there was only token resistance from the visiting batsmen as the experienced Russell Perry claimed three wickets to add to the five shared by James Callaghan, Barry Stewart and Graeme Hallam.

Wayne Falla made a good 88 and Stewart 41 to the Tynemouth total of 199 for seven. West Indian Reon King took four of the wickets for just 58 runs and he was assisted in the attack by Hewison who captured a couple of wickets.

Following his century in the previous match, Benwell Hill captain Phil Nicholson was again among the runs in the local derby against Newcastle at Jesmond. His innings of 76 was the feature as a total of 160 for nine was raised. Five of the wickets went to Joel Hughes for a meagre 27 runs.

Newcastle were 15 for the loss of one wicket when the weather closed in.