Lintz returned to the top of the table with a victory over championship rivals Sacriston and Annfield Plain's unexpected defeat at Ryton.

Michael Edmunds was the principle architect of Sacriston's collapse when he was introduced as fourth-change into the Lintz attack. He grabbed his chance, taking four wickets for only 16 runs and the visitors were reduced to just 99 all out.

Gordon Baker (27) and Stuart Clennell (34) then led Lintz to a crucial seven-wickets victory.

Annfield Plain were red-hot favourites to win at Ryton, who went into the game bottom of the table without a victory all season. But despite Aldo Van den Berg maintaining his form, taking six wickets for 56 runs, Ryton overtook the Plain total of 122-8 with three of their wickets intact. Their match-winner with the bat was Peter Moore, who ended unbeaten on 35.

Bruce Armstrong (37) top-performed in the Plain innings but their batsmen found the going difficult against Powar (4-58) and Docherty (3-36).

Tynedale had just one run to spare defeating Burnopfield, following a high-scoring game. David Pessara hit a couple of sixes and six boundaries in 55 and Ian Engelbrecht added 39 as Tynedale posted 202-7 from 45 overs. Imran Abbass sent down 17 overs in the home attack, taking 4-57 and almost became the matchwinner with the bat hitting five sixes and six boundaries in 86. Andrew Peart gave support contributing 49 but in a tense finish, Burnopfield were two runs short of victory with three wickets left.

Newly-promoted Lanchester moved into fourth position with a 49-runs win at home to Shotley Bridge. Bilal Rana was their matchwinner with 6-29 from 17 overs and Andrew Bigg claimed 3-16 in his 7.3-overs spell, helping to send the Bridge back for 81.

Although John Collingwood returned 5-50 and David Jackson 4-58 from 22.5 overs, Lanchester still managed 130 mainly through Malcolm Small (31) and Rana (42).

Surjit Singh earned Ashington a 20-runs win at Benwell and Walbottle where he took five wickets for 56 runs after the Collierymen had realised 137-8 mainly as a result of Ben Harmison's 66.

Leadgate still lead Division Two despite their top-of-the-table clash with Whickham being one of four games which failed to start.

Percy Main improved their chances of promotion defeating Alnwick by 17 runs when Jonathan Benn produced a man-of-the-match performance scoring 75 before taking 4-47.

Morpeth crashed to 47 all out against Newcastle City for whom Saheed returned 6-31 in 14 overs and Khan 3-13.

Batting first, City ended on 189-9 which included 64 by the former Darlington professional Nadeep Sidhu.