The George Mann Cup: Wolsingham Mill Race will have a chance to retain the 1928 cup, which they won last year, when they play Eastgate Cross Keys in the final of the competition sponsored by Weardale Steel and played at Wolsingham School and Community College.

In the semi-final the Mill Race beat an injury ravaged Wolsingham Club with almost five overs to spare. The Club batted first and lost Nigel Percival for six but then a good stand developed between Derek Elliott and Stephen Peart. This was broken when Elliott went for 17 and Part followed for 24. David Gillies 10 and Andrew Shuttleworth 11 pushed the score along but the remainder of the Mill Race failed to make significant addition to the total, which saw the innings completed on 83.

Wolsingham Club made a confident start to putting out the Mill Race when Richard Cramb went for 4 and Richie Hanlon for 10. However the recovery came when James Ivil joined Josh Wilks. Wilks hit 28 and Ivil 25, leaving the remainder of the Mill Race team only needing to add twelve runs between them. This proved no problem and they hit the winning run with four overs and four balls to spare.

Eastgate Cross Keys batted first against Wolsingham All Stars and raced through to the century mark at a fast scoring rate. Willy Hutchinson, Dan Evans and Raymond Snaith all made 25, whilst Michael Boughey added 23. The scoring arte slowed down from there but they were able to reach 144 with one wicket left when they overs ran out.

After losing their first wicket in the fifth over with only 18 on the board, Kevin Walker and Michael Watson produced a good partnership. Walker eventually went for 27, whilst Watson scored 25 but their rate meant that the All Stars almost needed a miracle. The tight bowling from the Keys prevented any quick scoring and the overs ran out on the Wolsingham team when they were 54 runs shot of their target.

Roseberry Group North East Durham League

Newton Aycliffe hurried to a nine wicket victory at home to Coxhoe and maintained their challenge to East Rainton for the leadership. Although Coxhoe made the respectable total of 172 for eight in 45 overs, they ended well beaten as Aycliffe secured the necessary runs losing just one wicket in 22.5 overs.

Stuart Mitchie scored his third century of the season ending with 115 before being dismissed. He struck one six and 22 boundaries with his hundred coming from just 69 deliveries. Mitchie and Karl Wheeler, who ended unbeaten on 44 added 170 for the first wicket which was a new club record for Newton Aycliffe.

When they batted first Coxhoe had Ian Whitfield in good form and he found the boundary line ten times making an unbeaten 73. Strange added 22 and Appleby 20 while for Aycliffe, Stuart Mitchie returned figures of two for 34 in the 11 overs and G Williams had two for 33 before J Williams introduced late in the attack, also claimed two wickets at a cost of just ten runs.

Washington were at home to Coundon and retained their place third in the table when they also won by nine wickets. Jerry Thompson top scored with 32, hitting three boundaries when Coundon were all out for 113 in 43 overs. Murray was the next top scorer with 21 and for Washington, Will Plender claimed three wickets for just nine runs in 12 overs, seven of which were Maidens and Paul Hebron returned three for 31 in his ten over spell. Alan Wilkie also gave support with two wickets for 26 runs.

The target was never a problem to Washington and openers Nick Thompson and Peter Lyall almost achieved victory without being parted but when he was on 53, which included four boundaries Thompson was run out. Lyall though, continued and struck five fours, carrying his bat for 43.

Matthew Dench made 102 opening the Wearmouth innings in the home game with Littletown. Gary Pickering finished unbeaten on 59 and Wyman struck 31 as a total of 249 for six was realised from only 45 overs. John Ricketts was the most successful bowler in the little town attack capturing three wickets for 52 runs and Chris Vallance had two for 48.

When they replied, Littletown lost both openers for a combined total of only two runs before Andy Woollett made 22. The best partnership however was between Nelson (54) and Vallance with 44 but despite their efforts a total of only 172 for nine was achieved leaving Wearmouth winners by a margin of 77 runs. Peter Stronach took two for 36, Ray Morgan two for 40 and Havelock two for 39 for Wearmouth.

Simonside ended on 185 all out before dismissing Medomsley for 157. Gaff (26) raised hopes of a good Simonside total but it was Main who gave the innings momentum with 58 before being run out. G Dixon had a good day with the ball for the visitors claiming five wickets for a mere 22 runs and Chartlon returned figures of two for 39.

When they responded, Medomsley made a reasonable start through G Dixon and Emerson. Hands added 23 and M Dixon 28 but despite the assistance of 35 overs, Medomsley were 29 runs short of a winning margin.

Main followed up his good performance with the bat by capturing four wickets for just 32 runs and Thompson had three for 21.

Sunderland Hospitals had 17 runs in hand of Hunwick. Duncan Forrest (20) and G Elshaw (25) gave the hospitals innings a good start before GR Shaw added 24. Tansey ended unbeaten with 20 and 36 extras increased the hospitals total with Fleming claiming three wickets for 19 runs and Pratt three for 28. when Hunwick went into bat opener Alderson started with 25 and Pratt scored 35 but eventually the innings closed on 135 all out as W Shaw returned figures of four for 27 and Duncan Forrest, Tansey and GR Shaw all took two wickets.

Plawsworth ended on 164 for eight and East Rainton replied with 145 for nine. John Alderson opened with 35 and Whitfield added 30 which together with 23 by Peel and 20 by Fletcher enabled Plawsworth to post a defendable total. Gary Humpries was in good form with the ball for East Rainton claiming three wickets for 22 runs and both Ian Kitching and Ludlow took two wickets apiece.

When they went in to bat, East Rainton had opener Neil Matthews in form and his 29 raised hopes of another victory. Roberts ended undefeated on 28 and there were 31 extras but even so East Rainton were 20 runs short of a winning margin with their last pair at the wicket when time was called.

John Surtees took four wickets for 35 runs and Harwood two for 32 for Plawsworth who gained 12 points as against the 11 which leaders East Rainton were awarded.

Belmont continued to lead Division Two and they had 15 runs in hand at home to Bearpark.

Following an indifferent start to their innings Belmont recovered to a partnership between Errington (35) and Will Hay with 38 and eventually a total of 158 for nine was realised. Leishman was in good form with the ball for Bearpark taking five of the nine wickets to fall for just 37 runs while Tate, Willis, Bell and Summers all took one wicket each. In reply to that Bearpark were given a reasonable send off by Ghasoor with 34 but there was only minimal support from the other batsmen and eventually the innings ended on 108 as Martin Robinson took five wickets for 35 runs and both Welsh and Peacock claimed two wickets each.

Kelloe are now second and Burnhope have dropped back into third place following their meeting, when Kelloe came out on top by six wickets. Hughes, with four for 19 and Turnbull whose three wickets cost just 37 runs were both in good form and Bowery also claimed a couple of wickets as Burnhope were all out for 132 which included 42 by Morrison and 28 not out from Bates. Bowery also starred with the bat claiming 32 before being run out. Thirlwell suffered the same fate after making 29 but Turnbull steered the side to victory carrying his bat for 23 out of a total of 135 for four.

Whiteleas and Tantobie were involved in a high scoring game. Batting first, Whiteleas ended on 184 for nine from 45 overs with Craig Wilburn ending unbeaten on 68 with no fewer than 10 boundaries. Peter Sowden added 38, with five fours and Peterson contributed 25 to the formidable total, achieved even though Whiteford returned four for 31 and McMahon three for 39. Greenside was also among the wickets claiming two at a cost of 34 runs. When Tantobie responded they lost a couple of early wickets but Robson who went in at number three batted throughout for an unbeaten 39. Bellamy added 42 with six fours before the innings ended at 157 all out. Peter Sowden completed a good day taking three wickets for 34 runs in 12 overs, two of which were maidens and Gavin Peterson had three for 44 in his 11 overs spell.

Littletown overtook the Benwell Hill total of 139 for seven. Their reply got off to a poor start but Chapplow remained unbeaten on 49 sharing an unbroken eight wicket stand with Nixon (27 not out) no fewer than 36 extras helped the Little Town cause and in the Benwell Hill attack Ali took two for 23 and Dave McKay two for 28.

Batting first, Benwell Hill were indebted to McKay for his 47 and to Sargeston who added 30 to the total of 139 for seven. Nixon returned three for 24 and Davis two for 11 for Little Town.

East Rainton went to Kibblesworth where they lost by several wickets. The home side faced a target of just 88 and Wilson set them on their way to victory opening the innings and scoring 27 before Sanders carried his bat for 26. Two of the three wickets to fall were credited to Reay for 21 runs.

When they made first use of the wicket East Rainton were all out for 87 as Laverick returned four for 14, Bush three for 35 and Wilson two for 14.

The runs flowed when North Bitchburn entertained Wearmouth and no fewer than 545 were recorded for the loss of just nine wickets. Batting first, North Bitchburn raced to the huge total of 333 for three as Dalton made 115, Morgan 98 not out and Breeze an unbeaten 71.

Undetered, Wearmouth chased from the start and posted 212 for six which included 33 from Simpson, 27 by Leonard, an unbeaten 28 from Murphy and 66 not out by Bowmaker. Davison was the pick of the North Bitchburn attack taking three for 26 and he was assisted by Dalton with figures of two for 21.

Washington were also in scoring form in their game against Plawsworth. Bewick scored 86 out of a total of 222 before Plawsworth replied with 165 which included 30 by McMahon while both Garrod and Bowes took three wickets for Washington.