Aycliffe in fine shape against Hospitals

Stephen Bell and Karl Wheeler shared a third wicket partnership of 139 with Bell hitting three sixes and seven boundaries in 80 and Wheeler carrying his bat for 65 with a couple of sixes and five fours.

Earlier openers Steve Davison (58) and Peter Coleby (32) gave the innings the best possible send off and the declaration was applied following 42.5 overs.

Responding Hospitals finished with 157 for nine in their 45 overs. Top scorer was Gary Shaw who found the boundary line on four occasions making 42. John Williams had a good day with the ball for Newton Aycliffe and in six overs captured three wickets for 18 runs.

Littletown lost by nine wickets when they entertained second from top Wearmouth. Michael Thorpe struck six fours and one six in 42 before the innings closed following 32.3 overs. Saab Dhillon sent down 16.3 overs in the Wearmouth attack returning four for 42 and Stephenson had four wickets for 17 runs from his seven overs spell.

In reply Wearmouth reached their target in just 24 overs and lost one wicket. Victory was in sight before Mattie Dench was dismissed after scoring 62 which included one six and 12 boundaries. He shared a first wicket stand of 110 with Colin Davison who ended undefeated on 46. He stroked two sixes and five fours.

Belford House had 48 runs to spare visiting Coundon. Duncan Forrest top scored with 68 and Richardson added 33 to the Belford House total of 164 for eight. Bell who claimed four wickets for 39 runs, top performed with the ball for Coundon who when they went to the wicket were dismissed for 116. Eales made 32 and Ramrattan 27 while for Belford House Wright and Ainslie both returned the same analysis of three for 19.

Leaders East Rainton made it 13 wins out of 14 when they had eight wickets in hand at Benwell Hill. Although opener Barry Pearson made 42, the Hill were all out for 121 with Ian Kitching taking five for 55. Although they lost a couple of early wickets East Rainton soon recovered through a third wicket partnership between Colin Henderson (65no) and Proud who carried his bat for 22.

Plawsworth are fourth from bottom after losing by 43 runs to Coxhoe. Taylor (3-39) and Mel Chivers who claimed three wickets for nine runs, soon struck for Plawsworth, but when Maddison went in at number eight and scored 50 the visitors were left chasing a target of 136.

Plawsworth never got into their stride and were all out for 92 as Absett claimed six wickets for 43 runs and Maddison four for 34.

At Medomsley, Washington won by four wickets. Their target was 114 and they were indebted to opening batsman Thompson who set them on their way scoring 35. Five of the six wickets to fall were claimed for Orton for 52 runs. When Medomsley batted first Oxley top scored with 35 in a total of 112 all out. Plender took four for 40 and Wilkie four for 46.

In Division Two second from top Hunwick raced to a ten wickets victory over Whiteleas who were back in the pavilion after 23 overs with just 35 runs on the board. Chris Pratt took four wickets for 24 runs in 12 overs, five of which were maidens and David Nevison had the outstanding figures of five for nine from the 11 overs he sent down. He bowled six maiden overs. Responding Hunwick required six overs before winning without losing a wicket as Paul Alderson and Richard Breen scored the necessary runs.

Tantobie just reached three figures in their game at Washington before being bowled out for 107. Fallon, introduced as second change, returned five for 14 and Brown had three for 33. In reply Washington were never in danger after McIlvaney (33) and Colledge (32) gave the side a good send off. Whiteford took three of the four wickets to go down for 11 runs.

Wearmouth were all out for 51, but made Simonside fight all the way before losing by five wickets. Haynes took four for 31 runs and Thompson captured three for 21, but when Simonside replied they found run making difficult as Murphy Jnr claimed four wickets for 31 runs before Simonside won by five wickets.

East Rainton, third from top, defeated Kelloe by 53 runs. Iley opened the East Rainton innings and scored 46 before Maskell, who went in at number three, added 47 as the pair formed a productive partnership for the second wicket. Eventually a total of 170 was realised even though Turnbull claimed four for 39 and Hughes four for 44 in the visiting attack.

Responding Kelloe were indebted to Turnbull (25), McDonnell (21) and Hughes (29), but they managed to post just 117 all out with Reay taking seven wickets for 50 runs.

No play was possible because of rain in the games between Kibblesworth and Bearpark and North Bitchburn and Belmont.

Darlington and District League

Rockliffe Park are still second behind Heighington despite losing for just the second time this season at Cockerton.

The visitors were all out for 129 which included 34 by opening batsman Krishnan as Farrow captured seven wickets for 61 runs and Lethbridge took three for 54.

In reply Cockerton lost a couple of early wickets but Tomlin contributed 23 and later man of the match Farrow added 31. Cowan then led Cockerton to victory when he carried his bat for 30. Garbutt took five of the seven wickets to fall for 67 runs.

Heighington's home game with Middleton-in-Teesdale when Middleton conceded the match. Heighington therefore were awarded three points without playing and they are four points in front of Rockliffe Park.

Barningham visited Witton-le-Wear where they won by seven wickets. The home side struggled through 40 overs making 69 for eight with Peter Chrisp top scoring with an unbeaten 22 after opening the innings. Dean McGarr sent down 20 overs for Barningham bowling six maidens and returning the excellent figures of five for 27. Steve French gave good support and in 14 overs took three for 26.

Responding Barningham reached the target in 18 overs losing three wickets. Graham Newton hit 31 with one six and two fours. The game was lucky to reach a conclusion as rain caused interruptions.

Raby Castle dismissed Spennymoor for 49 and went on to win by nine wickets. Dent claimed six wickets for 15 runs and Jones four for 24 before Pool, who opened for Raby Castle finished unbeaten with 34 out of a total of 52 for one.

The weather was the winner when Ingleton hosted Aldbrough St John. The visitors were 106 all out of which Fenwick scored 31, Jones 27 and Brown 22 while in the Ingleton attack Gammack had three for 28 and Osborne took three for 24.

No play was possible in the games between Brompton-on-Swale and Middleton Tyas and Trimdon CCA and East Cowton.

In Division B Catterick Village enjoyed a ten wickets success at Lands who they bowled out for 54 when Swainston took five wickets for six runs in seven overs, four of them maidens. Ostleton returned two for 16 from six overs and the Lands innings was concluded following 26.2 overs.

Responding Catterick Village had no difficulty reaching a winning target without losing a wicket. Gailey carried his bat for 37 and Carter was 14 not out as the winning runs were secured in 11 overs.

Cliffe were 184 for six when rain intervened in their home game with Dales.

Knight opened the innings and was run out after scoring 30, but his colleague Rutherford made 60 before being bowled. Hipkiss, Johnson and Rogerson all past the 20 mark, but with a healthy total on the board the game was called off when the rain arrived.

Wallis took four of the wickets for 62 runs.

Haughton defeated King James by seven wickets following a low scoring match.

Although Williams finished undefeated on 37, King James totalled 66 for six with Wilkinson capturing three for 21 and Gill two for nine.

Haughton replied swiftly and Vipond, McGuire and Sergeant all made double figures in a total of 70 for three.

In Division C Lands were all out for 44 against Barningham when Hutchinson took four for five and Banks three for 23. Batting first Barningham posted 180 for the loss of eight wickets and most of their runs came form Nixon with 40 and Stevenson (33).

Haughton were 11 for the loss of one wicket when their game with Barton had to be abandoned. Barton had made 139 which included a half-century by Weaver and in the Haughton attack Pritchard returned four for 44 and Green three for 16.

Rain was also the winner after Trimdon CCA had totalled 97 for three with Carr undefeated on 36. Gorton added 32 and for Raby Castle Jackson claimed three wickets for 44 runs.

Rockliffe Park defeated Cockerton by five wickets. Batting first Cockerton ended with 123 for six of which Dale made 42, but when Pounder led Rockliffe Park's reply by scoring an unbeaten 44, Cockerton finished the losers. Grundy had a good day with the ball for Cockerton taking four for two.

Trimdon Colliery and Deaf Hill enjoyed a comfortable victory against Cliffe.

Tinkler (42) and Craggs (45) enabled Trimdon to make 163 for seven even though Walton returned four for 59. Replying Cliffe were all out for 81 of which Peacock contributed 38.

Owens and Craggs both took five wickets in the Trimdon attack