The race for the championship was thrown wide open when leaders Sunderland were held to a draw and second top Blaydon lost.

Despite a century from Simon Old, Sunderland failed to overtake the South Northumberland total of 259-7. Opener Old raised hopes of a victory when he struck 101 before falling to David Townsend.

Darren Blenkiron, who has recently joined the Ashbrooke club, produced 60 but at stumps Sunderland were 234-9, 26 runs behind a winning margin with two wickets remaining.

Townsend finished with 3-75 but it was Nigel Campbell who caused most problems for Sunderland when his tidy spell earned him four wickets for 43 runs.

When South North made first use of the wicket John Graham opened with 86, skipper Alan Heather added 34 and Richard Smalley, who has enjoyed a very good season at Oxford University, weighed in with 41.

For once, West Indian test star Cameron Cuffy failed to take a wicket conceding 67 runs and it was spinner Paul Goodwin who had the best figures for the visitors, snapping up three wickets for 38.

Blaydon, too, lost ground in the title race when their total of 161-9 proved insufficient at Benwell Hill who won with three wickets to spare.

Following a dreadful start to their innings when the first five batsmen contributed 27 runs between them, Ray Marshall led a partial recovery and had added 69 to his team's total before being run out.

Benwell Hill did not make such a good beginning, either, but Simon Birtwistle held the early batting together making 30 and later 37 from Nick White and a useful unbeaten 24 by Lee Crozier earned the Hill victory.

Durham Academy edged their way into a challenging position, defeating Newcastle by seven wickets at the University ground.

The Tynesiders' batting has been fragile all season and when they slumped to 133 all out in 57.4 overs the writing was on the wall.

Matthew Hynd top scored with 44 including five boundaries but generally the batsmen were well contained particularly by the spin of the former Hetton Lyons youngster Gary Scott, who in 18 effective overs claimed seven wickets for a meagre 24 runs.

The target proved extremely comfortable to Geoff Cook's young side and although they conceded three early wickets Gordon Muchall secured the points when he hit eight fours and a winning six out of his personal total of 71 not out.

Chester-le-Street were in some trouble when time was called against Tynemouth, who have yet to win, in their match at Ropery Lane.

The Seasiders finished on 264-4 from their 65 overs after Wayne Falla stroked 14 boundaries in 97.

Recently appointed professional, Pakistani Asif Syed had nine fours in 81 not out and although the Cestrians used seven bowlers, only Ross McLaren made much impact when his 19 overs earned him figures of 3-63.

Ashley Thorpe, who has been in magnificent form of late, for once failed and although Quentin Hughes opened with 30 and Gary Hunter added 55, no player made the big total which was necessary.

David Robson and McLaren made useful contributions but the Cestrians could only make 169-8 at the end of their 55 overs with Craig Stanley bowling 20 overs in the Tynemouth attack in claiming 5-67.

Stockton's batsmen also struggled and their total of 160 proved insufficient at home to Gateshead Fell who won with seven wickets intact.

Dawnley Joseph opened with 44 but his colleagues faltered and it took a late 29 by Nicky Hatch, batting at number 10, to give a measure of respectability to the total.

Gateshead Fell comfortably acquired the necessary runs. John Devenport gave them the best possible start by scoring 60, Marcus North contributed 39 before Paul Dicks carried his bat for 47.