Foster's ECB East Premier League: Philadelphia, who were expected to have a reasonably successful season following an influx of players, suffered a big defeat at the hands of Norton and for the first time since they entered the league three years ago, are bottom of the table.

Yet at lunch they were in the ascendancy. Norton had struggled throughout the morning session but it was a different picture thereafter as Stephen Riddell, skipper Marc Symington and his brother Craig all made half centuries.

The trio dramatically increased the scoring tempo and when the 65 overs were up, a healthy total of 226-4 was on the board. Phili's response at the wicket was disappointing.

Durham County's James Lowe was run out and three players failed to score. The only real resistance came from opener Paul Riddle with 51 as man-of-the-match Marc Symington ripped through the innings ending with 5 for 38.

Stockton were involved in a high-scoring game at Ashbrooke before losing to Sunderland by just three runs. Faced with a target of 242, they were always in with a chance after Craig Barrington (36) and Alex Roberts, who struck no fewer than ten boundaries in 56, laid the foundations.

Richard Waite maintained his good form hitting a couple of sixes and nine fours out of 64 but in an exciting finale, Stockton's last wicket fell in the 51st over for 238. Simon Brown claimed four of the wickets for 43 runs in 14 overs and Marlon Black delivered 17 overs returning 2-61.

When Sunderland made first use of the wicket, Simon Old declared at 241-7 after 60 overs. Robin Weston was just six runs short of a century and Old contributed 71 to a century-opening partnership which was only ended when he was run out.

Guy Darwin, Kevin Ward and Waite all took a couple of wickets in the Stockton attack.

The game of the day between champions South Northumberland and neighbours Benwell Hill went firmly in the visitors' favour.

Batting first, South North closed their innings after 50 overs with 193-9 on top. Chris Hewison had a couple of sixes and ten fours in 76 while for Benwell Hill, Shahid Nazir sent down 17.4 overs returning 3-49.

Phil Mustard, with two sixes and nine fours out of 63, was the only batsman to offer much resistance and the Hill were all out in 24.4 overs for just 102.

West Indian Reon King was the chief destroyer with 6-50 in 12.4 overs while former player, spinner Lee Crozier captured 4-13 in six overs against his former club.

Chester-le-Street overtook the formidable Gateshead Fell total of 247-8 with wickets and time to spare. Daniel Shurben gave them a perfect platform with an opening innings of 108 which together with contributions from captain Allan Worthy, Tony Birbeck and Ian Jones, propelled the Cestrians to a matchwinning 248-7.

Former Durham County player Nicky Phillips produced an excellent innings of 86, Stuart Walker added 71 and Richie Smith an unbeaten 50 as the runs flowed on the excellent Ropery Lane wicket for the visitors. Another ex-Riverside man Ian Hunter, claimed 5-64 and Jones returned figures of 3-55.

Durham Academy go marching on at the top but they had a close call before seeing off Tynemouth by just six runs. Paul Cummins (37) and Ben Harmison with 46 retrieved a difficult start and Paul Craig added 37 to a near-200 total.

Tynemouth struggled early in their innings but then looked the likely winners as Cameron Armstrong (85) and Graeme Hallam (60) figured in a productive partnership for the fourth wicket.

Following their departures, however, wickets fell quickly and the innings closed at 192 as Lee Rushworth finished with 4-32 - the best figures in a game in which no fewer than 13 bowlers were used.

Blaydon narrowly defeated Newcastle by two wickets. Faced with scoring 174 they were in trouble until Stewart, who went in at number nine ended unbeaten with a matchwinning 50.

Earlier Neil McGarrigle (3-35) and Craig Simpson (3-52) restricted Newcastle to a total of 173.