Federation Special Durham Senior League: What a glorious day it was for Horden on Saturday.

The sun shone on Welfare Park, the game was all over in 91 minutes, 20 points were in the bag and Burnmoor defeated Horden's closest rivals for the championship, Eppleton.

The South Shields' innings lasted only 13.2 overs and at one stage it looked as if the visitors would not occupy the wicket for ten overs as they crashed to 21-9.

Last man Johnny Wightman decided that attack was the best form of defence and he struck one six and four boundaries in 30 made from 18 deliveries during his 11 minutes stay at the crease.

His partner Neil Dixon scored just one not out but the pair added 31 for the last wicket taking the total to 52 in 54 minutes.

Horden required just ten overs to complete the rout and celebrate their most comprehensive victory of the season. Carl Watson recorded five boundaries in an unbeaten 36 made in 20 minutes and the innings lasted only 37 minutes.

Eppleton forfeited second position to Burnmoor when their rivals for the championship won by eight wickets. Des Beach was the destroyer of the home side's innings taking seven wickets for just 38 runs in 14.2 overs and Eppleton managed only 104 from no fewer than 44.2 overs.

Mark Benfield, who has been in tremendous form all summer, failed, scoring just a couple of runs but Burnmoor were never in danger and Barry Dews (35) and Mark Robson, with 43 not out added 61 for the second wicket in 55 minutes. Robson struck eight boundaries in his innings.

Marsden, who together with Horden are the only unbeaten sides, have proved to be the most improved team this year and they moved into fourth position with a stunning ten-wickets victory at Whitburn.

Their target was 172 and Sean DeKretser hit a six and 13 fours carrying his bat for 86 and Chris Mann had two sixes and 12 boundaries making an unbeaten 83.

Whitburn, fielding a weakened side, were indebted to opener Neil Ayre (58) who held the innings together and a last wicket partnership between youngsters Tony Gilbert (29 not out) and Michael Turns added a valuable 32.

DeKretser also starred with the ball for Marsden, picking up three wickets but it was Graeme Fox, with 4-68 from 17 overs who caused Whitburn most of their problems.

Durham City are still winless after going down by nine wickets to Boldon at Sunderland Road where the wicket is generally conducive to batsmen.

City though managed only 109 in 43.3 overs as Philip Shakespeare claimed five wickets for 61 runs in a lengthy 21.3 overs.

The early loss of Geoff Houmark did not deter Boldon who romped home through captain Chris Ellison (48 not out) and Grant Forster, with an unbeaten 35. The innings was assisted with 28 extras.

Seaham Harbour too have yet to taste success and their latest defeat came at the hands of Felling who had 136 runs to spare. Graeme Wright (32) and Mark Douglas (45) produced a productive partnership before Michael Norman added 42 to the Felling total of 207. Martin Gill again topscored (31) but Seaham's innings ended on 71 as Chris Pleasants added to his growing haul capturing six wickets for a mere 36 runs.

The derby between Hetton Lyons and South Hetton ended as the only draw in the programme. Just eight runs and four wickets separated the pair as the visitors went close to victory.

Bobby Steel (80) and Peter Nord (37) raised the hopes of South Hetton with a second-wicket stand but Lyons pegged away and when Stephen Errington picked up three cheap wickets, a draw resulted.

Gerry Strydom top-performed with 40 but the pace of John Pendlington (4-31) and spin from Stephen Merrington with 5-56 restricted the flow of runs.