Although any one of four teams could still win the championship of The Readers Durham County League, Evenwood have finally emerged as favourites to retain their crown.

They managed to stage one of only two games to be played and although it was soon abandoned, because the fixture commenced, they were awarded five points. When a halt was made Evenwood were 77-2 against Tudhoe, who took six points and remain joint third.

Evenwood are now five points clear at top going into their last game of the season against Mainsforth.

Willington's home game with Ushaw Moor did not begin and so each side received just one point while Kimblesworth were 60-6 needing another 101 runs for victory against Esh Winning when the weather intervened. Graham Hurst carried his bat for 65 and Karl Turner added 35 to the Esh total of 160 for seven.

Not a ball was bowled in the Durham Coast League leaving Murton to celebrate their first championship success since 1998. They needed to avoid defeat against Silksworth, who were their only challenger for the title.

Lanchester have won the Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League championship - provided they are not docked any more points.

They became the fourth side out of 12 to have their points total reduced when a penalty of 20 was imposed on the side at a meeting held last Thursday - the decision followed the abandonment of a second team game.

Their second team had no fewer than 60 points deducted following an incident in the fixture with Percy Main seconds in July.

In the absence of officially appointed umpires, the game lasted just 5.2 overs and Lanchester have been found guilty of verbally abusing the opposition. They have already appealed against the penalties.

One game went ahead in Division A1 and Tynedale moved into second place when they took 18 points from their victory at Lintz. Steve Smith (35) and with four wickets produced a good performance for the home side who ended with 133-6 on the board before Scott Kay (60) and Richard Darling with an unbeaten 35 steered Tynedale to a five-wickets win.

Division A2 leaders Whickham gained an advantage when their match at Alnwick got underway before the weather intervened. Michael Brewis with 72 led the home side to 160-9 and Whickham were 85-4 at the close.

Two games were started on Teesside in the Foster's North East Regional Premier League and Stockton finished the season in third position defeating Philadelphia by seven wickets.

Guy Darwin captured six wickets for 53 runs restricting Phili to 112 before Peter Howells carried his bat for 39.

Chester le Street were 44 for the loss of just one wicket responding to the Norton total of 125-9 which included 36 by Marc Symington. Stephen Gale and Quentin Hughes shared seven wickets in the Cestrians' attack.

Only one game managed to start on the final day of the season in the Federation Special Durham Senior League.

At Boldon, the match against Horden was delayed for three hours and when it finally began, Horden were allocated a maximum of 30 overs to bat. However, just 12 overs were possible.

During this time, Horden's leading runmaker Adrian Hedley made 17 before being dismissed as his side made their way to 70. Further rain then resulted in a premature conclusion.