THE see-saw battle for supremacy at the top of the league goes on and on and Esh Winning's victory over Kimblesworth and Evenwood's defeat by Crook Town has given a new twist to the championship chase.

Neil Arrowsmith came up trumps in the Esh attack when he returned the outstanding figures of 6-26 in 12 overs as the normally free-scoring Kimblesworth batsmen were sent back to the pavilion with 112 runs on the board.

Former Durham County opener Graham Hurst had earlier propelled Esh to 190-6 with two sixes and ten boundaries. The visitors were assisted by 43 extras.

Crook Town completed a quick double over Evenwood, whom they defeated in the semi-final of the League Cup last Wednesday and once again Andy Coe was the thorn in their side.

Required to score 125 runs, Crook were in difficulties until Coe joined Andy Burgess for the fifth wicket. He carried his bat for 49, with one six and six boundaries, and Lee Morton finished with a valuable unbeaten 28 in a four-wicket victory. Thomas Teasdale claimed three wickets for 18 runs in 6.3 overs but his effort was in vain.

Morton also starred with the ball when Evenwood batted first, helping to reduce the home side to only 124 all out, by taking four wickets for 40 runs from 12 overs.

Mainsforth made the highest score of the day - 202-5 - which proved too big for Brandon. Robert Chismon led the home side's assault with four sixes and eight boundaries in 110 not out and he figured in a second-wicket stand with David Fishburn (38).

Peter Crossling gave Brandon's reply a good start, hitting 13 boundaries in 71, and Darren Punshon contributed 47 before being run out. The chase for runs proved too much, though, and the innings ended on 181 with an over remaining. Fishburn, with 4-51, and captain Gary Purcell (3-26) were Mainsforth's matchwinners with the ball.

Shildon are still winless after going down by nine wickets to Etherley who had their opponents back in the pavilion after 38 overs for 64 runs which included 30 from Gary Davis. Chris Renshaw, with 4-10 from six overs, bowled an economical end for the home side.

Carl McGregor made a steady unbeaten 30 and Gary Cummings 25. Victory was in sight before Cummings became Shildon's only success.

Shahid Anwar returned the remarkable figures of six wickets for eight runs in 12 overs, including five maidens when Tudhoe visited Langley Park. Tyrone Beeton gave some stability to the home side's innings with 37 from 95 balls but his effort proved in vain as Simon Davies led Tudhoe to a two-wicket success.

He hit one six and 11 fours in an unbeaten 81 but it still needed an unbroken partnership for the ninth wicket between Davies and Colin Glasper to see Tudhoe through as Simon Huscroft threatened to win the game for Langley. His eight overs produced the excellent figures of 5-25.

Willington sent Sedgefield crashing to 46 all out when Neil Barfuss took 3-19. Tinkler claimed five wickets for a miserly 12 runs. Willington's 174-9 featured a top-scoring innings of 64 not out by Brown.