Crook Town are right back in the title race after defeating leaders Leadgate by six wickets on Saturday. There is now a point between the teams after Crook bowled Leadgate out for 119.

Calvin Stephenson took 3 for 55, and Richard Manuel chipped in with another three at a cost of 15 runs, including the wicket of Paul Hutchinson when he was going well on 53. Shahid Anwar took 2-43.

Anwar got the Crook innings off to a good start, and although losing Ian Williams, Manuel scored an unbeaten 39 to take his side to victory.

Ushaw Moor missed a chance to narrow the gap on the leaders when they were beaten at Sedgefield. The home side's hero was James Davidson, who took 9 for 36 as Ushaw were bowled out for 67. Micky Hayton gave Ushaw a good start with 5 for 32 as Sedgefield were bowled out for 116, Davidson top scoring with 25.

Etherley pulled off a good win at Langley Park by two runs. Despite being without several regulars, Etherley reached 170 for 8 with Gary Cummings scoring 33, and David Taylor scoring an unbeaten 26. Cummings then took 5 for 43 in the Langley reply, with David Wilson chipping in with 3 for 48 late in the innings.

Mainsforth won by seven wickets against Tudhoe. Mainsforth's David Thompson took 6 for 28 as Tudhoe were bowled out for 146, Garry Purcell also taking 4 for 52. Simon Davies hit 67 for Tudhoe, while Sushant Manjrekar, in his last game for the club, scored 22. Neil Pratt struck 75 as Mainsforth won with plenty to spare.

Evenwood professional Clint Heron hit an unbeaten 88 to set up a 27 run win over Willington. Heron's innings was part of a total of 199 for the loss of three wickets, Michael Townsend and John Maughan also having good innings. Carl Dargue took 4 for 59 as Willington were restricted to 172 for 9, Karl Brown scoring 65 of them.

Shildon Railway won by three wickets at Brandon. Colin Barker took 4 for 56 as Brandon were bowled out for 128, John Moore boosting their score with an unbeaten 38 late in the innings. Railway lost a couple of early wickets, but Phil Jenkins (40) and Robert Timmens (23) guided them to victory.

Kimblesworth beat Esh Winning by four wickets. Peter Maddison (54) and Mohammed Zahid (35) helped Esh reach 159, with Farooq Iqbal taking 4 for 61. But then Michael Fishwick carried his bat for 91 as Kimblesworth took maximum points.

l Although Tynedale still remain favourites to win the Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League championship, the chasing clubs will take comfort from their first defeat of the season at Lanchester, who won an exciting match by nine runs.

A target of 161 appeared comfortable for Tynedale who have swept all opposition before them but they finally found their match when they were bowled out for just 151.

Harry Hubber, who has missed most of the season through injury, claimed four wickets for 64 runs and Tony Halliday weighed in with 3-61 as Lanchester celebrated an unexpected victory.

Paul Pickworth (33) and David Holt (34) temporarily raised Tynedale's hopes but both were run out and although Mark Armstrong added 26, batting at number 10, Lanchester scraped home.

When they batted first, Lanchester were well served by Barry Dews who carried his bat for 70 after going to the wicket at number three. At the end of the innings Paul Donnelly struck 33 which in the event proved crucial.

Richard Darling picked up four wickets for 41 runs and Armstrong took three for 52 but it was Lanchester who celebrated at the conclusion of an enthralling game.