Shotley Bridge turned the tables on Lintz, who last Wednesday reached the final of the League Cup with a nail-biting victory over their rivals.

There was to be no repeat performance at The Spa on Saturday, however, as Shotley edged their way to a crucial victory which has taken them to within ten points of the leaders.

When Lintz slumped to 35-8 in the cup tie, a ninth wicket partnership added 50 runs but history did not repeat itself. The visitors stuttered to just 93-8 as Dominic McCabe took 4-38 and David Jackson two wickets at a cost of 35 runs. Jackson then led Shotley's reply, adding a valuable 27 runs when he opened the innings before Peter Collingwood completed the task with an unbeaten 35 to see his side to an eight wickets success.

Sacriston moved up to third place, 20 points adrift of Lintz and just ten behind Shotley Bridge, when they beat the threatening weather and Ryton.

Kevin Penny (29) and Neil Robinson, with 30, put together a useful partnership for the second wicket leading the visitors to 139 all out. Stephen Ball returned 4-37 and David Metcalfe 3-39 in the home attack before man-of-the-match Ball controlled Sacriston's reply. When wickets fell cheaply he remained steady and was unbeaten with 37 when victory was secured for the loss of just five wickets.

Much of the programme was affected by the weather and with Ben Harmison in full flow Ashington appeared to be in a good position against Burnopfield. Faced with scoring 143, they were 94 for the loss of three wickets with Harmison unbeaten on 60 when the match was abandoned.

Imran Abbas (65 not out) and Graham Carr (46) top-performed for Burnopfield, who made 142-4 in their allotted overs.

The match at Swalwell was evenly poised. Replying to Lanchester's all out total of 153, Swalwell were 63-2 with Graeme Hallam 43 not out but interestingly Bilal Rana had conceded just nine runs taking two wickets. Karl Halliday, had gone for 50 runs at the other end.

Brian Potts (40) and Halliday, with a useful 28 in mid-innings, enabled the visitors to finish with a respectable total despite Stephen Humble and Hallam both taking four wickets at economical cost.

Aldo Van den Berg turned in another outstanding performance but to no avail as Annfield Plain's match at Benwell and Walbottle was washed out. He scored 91 before being run out, sharing a stand with Phil Brown (86) which took the visitors to 216-7. Van den Berg then took all three home wickets to fall and at 49-3, Benwell had a fight on their hands.

Least play took place at Tynedale, who were 81-3 against Consett when the weather intervened.

Leadgate are favourites to win promotion from Division A2 in only their first season in the league. They sent Seaton Burn crashing to 36 all out before winning by nine wickets in just 7.5 overs.