Four games in the Foster's ECB North East Regional Premier League failed to start, but the fixture between Newcastle and Chester-le-Street provided an exciting finale.

When time was called the Cestrians required just 14 runs for victory with six wickets intact.

Following the failure of early batsmen, Ryan Phillimore came to the rescue of the Tynesiders with a valuable innings of 62 but the total of 128 still looked vulnerable. Ashley Thorpe claimed six of the wickets for just 37 runs.

Daniel Shurben (38 not out) and Allan Worthy (30) gave the Cestrians a good start to their reply but the visitors' bold challenge fell just short of the mark.

Captain Phil Nicholson led from the front for Benwell Hill against Durham Academy at The Racecourse. He was just five runs off a century when he became one of Gary Scott's four victims. A half-century from Simon Birtwisle was also important in the Hill's total of 188. The Academy only just got into bat when play was halted.

Tudhoe and Evenwood both forfeited their 100 per cent records in The Readers Durham County League.

The former built up a useful 173-7 in their home game with Crook Town before the rain arrived. Simon Davis hit two sixes and eight boundaries contributing 56 and Ian Glasper carried his bat for 42.

John Maughan scored more than half the Evenwood total of 138 when he struck three sixes and nine fours making 74. Kimblesworth were pleased at their first half performance but after receiving only 4.3 overs and scoring 15-1, the match was abandoned.

Esh Winning plundered more than 200 off the Ushaw Moor attack in only 38 overs which enabled them to pick up ten points. Ata-ur-Rehman smashed six sixes and four boundaries ending unbeaten on 68 and there was a half-century from David Lawlor. John Carmedy also kept the scoreboard rolling along with a useful innings of 43.

Tyrone Beaton and Lee Wright both scored unbeaten centuries for Langley Park against Shildon, who were 71-2 which included 44 not out by Neil Franklin. Beaton had three sixes and 13 fours in his 100 not out while Wright crashed six sixes and 15 boundaries as he merrily made his way to 109 not out.

Michael Thorpe's undefeated 67 led Brandon to 102-8 at Etherley but there was even less play at Sedgefield who were 23 without loss in their match with Willington.

Rain dominated proceedings and affected all the games in the Federation Special Durham Senior League.

Horden, although moving to the top of the league could feel aggrieved. The bowling of Nadeem Khan and Andrew Robson had seen opponents Felling dismissed for only 48.

The spin of Khan complemented Robson's pace and the slow bowler ended with an impressive 6-28 off his 17 overs. Robson's support brought 4-18 but their efforts were to prove fruitless when Horden were unable to begin their innings.

South Shields also looked to be well in control against Durham City. After Matthew Muchall (3-15) had made an early impact, which saw City reduced to 32 for five wickets, Ashok Patel took over and his slow left-arm deliveries brought 3-23 but Shields were thwarted by the weather.

Boldon's Michael Forster recorded an unbeaten half century before rain ended their game at Hetton Lyons. The players were forced from the field after 21 overs and although they returned, only eight more were possible before an abandonment.

There were several interruptions in the Whitburn game with Burnmoor. After losing two early wickets, Burnmoor's Barry Dews (58) and Neil Young added 70 together as their side made their way to 133.

The game was never likely to be completed and it was ended 11 overs into the Whitburn innings.

Eppleton and South Hetton suffered a similar fate. Bobby Steel was settling in nicely for South Hetton after Eppleton had picked up a couple of wickets, but rain took over.

Early-season pacesetters in the Durham Coast League, Murton and Hylton strove in vain to complete their games.

Murton realised over 200 runs at home to Ryhope, who did not get to the wicket. Calvin Stephenson struck an unbeaten 101 and Min Mahil added a half-century.

Hylton were 49-1 in their home fixture with Castle Eden, who completed their innings which produced 183-5. Gerard Magee (39), Allan Unsworth (51) and young John Spellman, who carried his bat for 49, were the main contributors.

Runs were more scarce at Bill Quay who made 87 from 36 overs against Seaham Park. Michael Evans was the destroyer with figures of 7-29 from an effective 18.1 overs, which included seven maidens. Seaham's reply ended after only three overs with eight runs on the board for the loss of one wicket.

Easington's fixture at Peterlee only just got underway and there was very little play in the game between Dawdon and Houghton. The match at Silksworth, who were due to entertain Boldon CA, was washed out without a ball being bowled.

Champions Shotley Bridge have not made the best of starts but their batsmen were in top form against Sacriston at The Spa when the sides met in the Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League.

Peter Collingwood struck eight sixes and as many fours ending undefeated on 131 and with Dominic McCabe adding 36, the Bridge romped to 219-6 in only 40 overs. Sacriston were 10 without loss when a halt was called.

Tynedale, too, were comfortable at the wicket in their home game with Newcastle City. Richard Darling hit a couple of sixes and found the boundary line on 14 occasions making 94 out of a total of 190-7 compiled from the full 50 overs. City's reply lasted just two overs.

Despite all their efforts, Lanchester failed to get to the wicket after reducing Ashington to 117 all out when Banda claimed 7-27.

Steve Smith, Gary Johnson and Michael Edmunds bowled Lintz into a favourable position at Backworth who were all out for 111 while there was even less play in the other matches.