Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League: Barring a sudden collapse in form, Lanchester are home and dry in the race for the championship.

With only four games to play, they lead Newcastle City by 46 points, but they had to endure a few anxious moments before seeing off a determined challenge from Swalwell on Saturday.

Swalwell reached almost 200, losing nine wickets and Lanchester also had their last pair at the wicket when the winning run was accumulated. Andrew Donnelly (36) and Bhanda (35) figured in a crucial mid-innings partnership.

When paceman Stephen Humble claimed both of their wickets, however, it was all to play for and it was Lanchester who just edged the result. David Scott (35) and Jason Dumighan with 54 were the batsmen who contributed most to the Swalwell total of 194-9.

Newcastle City had no problems against Annfield Plain, winning at a canter with more than 100 runs in hand. Masood Mirza and Sohail both took four wickets and of the Plain total of 120, Bruce Armstrong contributed 78.

Runs were a great deal more plentiful when the home side batted first and realised 232-6. Pargeter (57), Bob Brar (39), and Ahmed (38) all contributed.

The chances of Ryton and Backworth avoiding the drop just about ended when they were both defeated. Bottom-of-the-table Ryton went down by five wickets to Lintz, totalling only 91 as Gary Christie and Michael Edmunds both took three wickets.

The Backworth batsmen fared little better against Tynedale, scoring just 93 which included 55 from Leason. Richard Darling had five wickets for Tynedale, who hurried to a ten-wickets win as Neil Clark (48 not out) and Scott Kay (39 not out) remained together.

The pace of Gavin Swan was too much for Ashington. His five wickets for 28 runs and a 4-17 return by David Metcalfe reduced the Colliers to just 101 after Sacriston had made 141-8, which included 65 by Ian Patterson.