Brandon showed they could be title contenders after beating champions Kimblesworth by seven wickets on Saturday - and it was thanks to Kimblesworth old boy Darren Punshon.

Punshon took 4-29 in 12 overs as Kimblesworth were bowled out for 104, only Michael Fishwick showing any resistance with the bat, scoring 35. Brandon got off to a low start in reply and at one point had scored 16 in 19 overs before Punshon came in to bat.

He then increased the tempo and hit an unbeaten 40, and together with Trevor Hindmarsh with 32, took Brandon to victory with four overs to spare.

Willington have won four times from five games after they easily beat Etherley by 122 runs.

Willington pro Neil Barfuss again produced a good performance with the bat, hitting 90 out of 234 for 7, and he was given good support by Stephen Donnelly who scored an unbeaten 60.

Etherley got off to a good start in their reply, but once they lost both openers, only Andrew Allen managed to score runs as they made 112 for 9. Evenwood are still unbeaten after they defeated Mainsforth by six wickets.

Deighton Butler caused the damage, taking five wickets to put Evenwood well in control, and they bowled Mainsforth out for 91. Opener Robert Chismon was the last man out with 66. Butler then scored 34 as Evenwood won with more than half their overs to spare.

Shahid Anwar's return to Tudhoe saw them defeat Sedgefield by 86 runs. Anwar, who arrived late on Friday night, shared a good opening stand with Simon Davies - Anwar 48 and Davies 51 - as Tudhoe reached 208 all out.

Tudhoe used six bowlers in Sedgefield's reply and all of them took at least one wicket each. Skipper Kevin Littlefair took 3 for 33 as Sedgefield were restricted to 122 for 9.

Esh Winning had Graham Hurst and John Rippon to thank for their six-wicket win at Langley Park.

The pair put on an unbroken century stand to win the game after they came together with Esh in trouble after losing four early wickets. Langley put on a useful looking target of 157 for 8, Tyrone Beaton scoring 56 of them. Hurst scored 62 and Rippon 46 to lead Esh to victory.

Shildon Railway are still without a win after they were thumped by ten wickets at Ushaw Moor.

Ushaw bowler Micky Hayton took 6-16 as Shildon were bowled out for 64, then Ushaw pro Sanjay Raul blasted an unbeaten 56 to lead them to victory in 20 overs.