The Clennell brothers, Stuart and Graham, combined to keep Lintz in pole position. Graham (3-27), assisted by Gary Christie and Michael Edmunds, bowled out Swalwell for 97 and Stuart then took over with the bat, making an unbeaten 71 in a total of 100-3.

Lanchester are second-top in what is developing into a highly-competitive race for the championship. They defeated Tynedale when Bilal Rana and Tony Halliday shared five wickets. Halliday topscored with 42 in the Lanchester innings which ended on 127-6.

Stephen Ball, with 4-21, and Lee Shaw (3-7) restricted Annfield Plain to 67 and set up a six-wicket victory for Sacriston. Tony Claughan hit an unbeaten 37 for Sacriston, who moved into third position.

Neil Wood hit 19 boundaries in his 115 not out as Ashington posted 190-2 from 40 overs at home to Consett. Surjit Singh, with 3-17 from 11 overs, and Paul Rutherford, whose 6.5 overs yielded figures of 4-29, were the architects of the Steelmen's demise for 98 runs.

Peter Collingwood and Dominic McCabe both passed 40 taking Shotley Bridge to 181-6 in the home game with Ryton. Although Kevin Penny opened with 37 and Peter Moore added 34, the visitors only managed 130-9 as John Collingwood claimed 5-43.

Graeme Angus conceded just five runs, taking four wickets, and Naz Rashid also collected four wickets as Burnopfield were sent back for 114 at Benwell and Walbottle. The top contribution in their total of 164-9 was extras on 44.

Ray Marshall and Sean Cuthbertson were involved in a record second-wicket partnership of 211 for Whickham in the Second Division game against Percy Main. Marshall crashed eight sixes and 15 boundaries in 163 not out and Cuthbertson contributed 68 to a total of 275-3. Their heroics were insufficient to earn victory, however, and Percy Main were comfortably placed on 192-7 at close following a half-century from Jonathan Benn and an unbeaten 49 by Nick Melling.

Leadgate lead the table following their ten-wicket defeat of Ponteland, who were all out for 66 when Sean Ackermann returned 5-8 before Richard Hawthorne (33 not out) and Ackermann (34 not out) hurried their side to seven wins from seven games.

Boddingtons Durham Coast League

Peterlee closed in on leaders Murton when they routed early pacesetters Silksworth for 48 runs.

The innings lasted just 21.2 overs as the Hewson brothers dominated. Keith returned 4-30 from 11 overs, including four maidens, and Neil did better with an analysis of 6-18 in 10.2 overs, six of which were maidens. Amazingly, skipper Chris Pringle made 31 of his side's runs and six players failed to score.

Peterlee hurried to victory in just nine overs as Min Mahil hit a couple of sixes and five boundaries in an unbeaten 34.

Hylton maintained their challenge and the attack was also in splendid form at Boldon CA, who were back in the pavilion with 84 runs on the board. Experienced Keith Trotter took five wickets for 22 runs and youngster David Batty claimed 3-34. Only Jason Jones (35) put up much resistance. Joe Bittlestone was the backbone of the Hylton innings, ending unbeaten on 78, after going in first. Three other players, David Hanson, David Rooney and Batty, all passed 20 to assist in a matchwinning total of 175-6.

Seaham Park, who were bottom of the table until recently, moved further away when they celebrated their first victory at Houghton.

Ian Hauxwell's 42 was the best that the home side could produce in a total of 120 before Andrew Docherty (36) and captain Andrew Worthy with 35 led Seaham to a two-wicket victory despite Elliott claiming five wickets for 40 runs in the Houghton attack.

Allan Unsworth (5-30) and Tony Banks (3-41) did most of the damage when Dawdon were dismissed for 79 at Castle Eden. The rain affected wicket did not make for stroke play and when they batted first, the home side managed only 124 all out which included 44 by Gerard Magee.

Easington climbed into fourth place with a four-wicket victory at Ryhope, who managed only 128 as Stephen Hanson captured six wickets for a meagre 15 runs in 11.1 overs. Easington did not have things all their own way, however, but although Michael Evans took five wickets for 47 runs in 15 overs, he could not stave off defeat for Ryhope.

Leaders Murton saw their game at Bill Quay washed out.