Durham Coast League: IT just gets better and better for Murton, who took a gigantic step towards the championship defeating nearest rivals Hylton.

Silksworth are now second but a whopping 35 points off the leaders, who need just six points to start celebrating.

It was a close call for Murton though runs were in short supply against Hylton. It looked good for the champions-elect when they bowled out their opponents for just 79 runs. But in a tense finish, they conceded no fewer than seven wickets before gaining 20 crucial points.

Professional Calvin Stephenson produced the best figures in a game dominated by bowlers. He returned 6-32 from 14.5 overs and when the evergreen Keith Chapman, who has taken more than 1,000 wickets for his club, assisted with three wickets for 19 runs, Murton were in a very good position at the halfway stage.

It was just about a make-or-break situation for Hylton and they fought to the last. But in the end Murton strengthened their position at the top even though Keith Trotter kept them at bay with an analysis of 4-34 from 15.5 overs.

The best Silksworth can hope for is runners-up position even though they had more than 100 runs to spare over Bill Quay. Smailes led them to 206-3 declared carrying his bat for 91 and replying, the visitors made just 78 as Steve Wright (5-51) and Mark Forster with 4-17 shared nine of the wickets.

Seaham Park are finishing the season with a flourish and moved to fifth from bottom - their highest rating of the season - with a three-wicket win at Houghton.

Michael McNicholas and James Taylor were the match-winners with the bat, both adding half-centuries to a total of 145-7 despite Paul Elliott and Chris White both claiming three wickets at economical cost.

Robson was another player to score 50, which together with 44 by Gary Jones and 33 not out from White took Houghton onto 143 when they batted first.

Michael Massey, with an unbeaten 54 and 35 apiece from Paul Neasham and Brian Daniels swept Easington to 224-6 at Ryhope for whom Paul Watson and Graeme Smith shared six wickets.

Despite in-form Graeme Anderson carrying his bat for 88 and Paul Watson ending unbeaten on 30, Ryhope could only make 167-3 at stumps.

Gary Braithwaite was another batsman in top form but his innings of 91 failed to earn Dawdon victory against Peterlee. Bobby Stephenson contributed 50 and Calvin McNicholas 37 not out to a total of 228-6 before Peterlee responded with 118-8.

They made a good start through Nicky Beall with 37 and Keith Hewson but unfortunately the latter had to retire after scoring 42. Spinner Andrew Stephenson picked up three wickets for just one run in the Dawdon attack.