Burnmoor hurried to a ten-wicket victory at Durham City and, for the second consecutive week, it was Martin Thursfield and Ian Conn who bowled their side into a winning position.

After taking five cheap wickets in the previous match, Thursfield returned 7-27 from 12.2 overs and Conn took 3-22 to despatch City back to the pavilion after only 24.2 overs with just 60 runs on the board.

In contrast, the leaders did not lose a wicket and romped home in only 11.1 overs as newcomer Barry Dews hit eight boundaries in an unbeaten 38, partnering professional Mark Benfield.

Eppleton are second following a Jonathan Beukes inspired victory at Seaham Harbour. Beukes was just five runs short of a century leading Eppleton past the 200 mark. Martin Ferguson, David Lowther and David Borthwick all made at least 20.

Alan Lamb captured five wickets for 80 runs and Stuart Lacey 3-73 before Seaham were reduced to 96 all out. Jeff Laws (33 no) and Neville Gustard (29) were defiant but the Eppleton attack was dominant.

Despite a magnificent effort by Pakistani Nadeem Khan, who took seven wickets for just 48 runs in 28.3 overs, 13 of which were maidens, Horden went down by 99 runs to South Hetton.

Philip Nord's 40 was valuable to the home side's total of 158 but in the event, it was more than sufficient as Horden slumped to only 59 all out. John Pendlington (5-26) and John Leslie (3-4) worked in tandem to great effect.

Newcomers Marsden are the only side yet to win after losing by seven wickets to Whitburn. After being 57-6 at one stage, Marsden ended on 106 with Neil Heppel's 47 including nine boundaries.

Neil Johnson caused problems as soon as he was introduced into the attack, finished with 5-34 in 17.5 overs and Keith Burdett returned 3-37. Although Whitburn lost the wicket of Burdett in the first over, they were never troubled as Neil Ayre (64 no) and Paul Shields (23) added 77 for the second wicket.

Felling are struggling second from bottom and although they made a respectable 155-8, they lost for the sixth time when South Shields ran out winners by a five-wicket margin.

Neil Levinson recorded seven boundaries in 39 with Johnny Wightman the most productive of the four-man Shields attack, claiming 3-31 from his 12 overs.

Lee Whalley (34) and Sean Harris (48) put on 74 for Shields' first wicket, but suddenly the innings slumped to 95-5 shortly after the last hour had been called. It was then that David Maughan (30 no) and Wightman, who hit an unbeaten 33 from 25 balls, steered their side to victory with six overs remaining.

Hetton Lyons lost ground in their bid for the championship when they failed to break Boldon's last-wicket partnership of Chris Miller and John Bishop who survived four overs.

Faced with a target of 171, Boldon were in with a chance when Geoff Houmark (34) and professional Gary Gilder (51) added 44 before Gilder and Gareth Smith put on 41 but at stumps, the innings had stuttered to 141-9.

Gary Dawson (48) and Colin Barnes with 30 were instrumental in the Lyons reaching 170 in 51.1 overs. Chris Miller bowled a lengthy 21.1 overs in the Boldon attack returning 4-58 and Chris Ellison was equally effective, his 15 overs producing figures of 5-54.