Cricket

East Rainton consolidated their strong position at the top of Division One with a nine wickets victory at Washington who were all out for 94 including 47 by Thompson. Roberts with five for 48 and Ian Kitching three for nine were the bowlers responsible for Washington's cheap dismissal.

Gordon Steel then struck an unbeaten 47 and Colin Henderson contributed 36 not out to East Rainton's eighth win of the season.

Belford House stay second despite their 101-run defeat by Plawsworth who have moved into third place.

The visitors batted first and posted a total of 170 for eight with runs from Pratt (30), Taylor (36no) and Dargue (30) while for Belford House, Adamson took four of the eight wickets to fall for 41 runs.

Responding, Belford House were sent back for 69 with Whitfield and Harwood both taking four wickets in the Plawsworth attack.

Hospitals were one run short of 200 and had five wickets in tact when they visited Coxhoe and won by 66 runs. Fred Sherriff top performed with an undefeated 77 and when Coxhoe replied they madd 133 for nine which included 28 by Fairbrother and other useful contributions.

Benwell Hill mustered only 104 for five and lost by ten wickets at Simonside. Hill had three for 32 and Thompson two for 31.

He then carried his bat for 32 and Smith added 58 not out to Simonside's best win of the campaign, ending 107 without loss.

After making what appeared to be a defendable 146 for seven which included 36 not out by Bunkell and 44 from Lee, North Bitchburn lost by ten wickets on their visit to Littletown for whom Vallance carried his bat for 101.

In Division Two, Kibblesworth were all out in 27 overs for 68 at home to Burnhope for whom John Watson claimed seven wickets for 22 runs.

Burnhope went on to win losing six wickets, three of them to Aqueel Ahmed whose final figures were three for 26 in seven overs.

Wearmouth reached 153 with Colin Davison making 31 and Mattie Dench 23 when the pair opened the innings. Greenside had three for 21 for Tantobie who were restricted to 96 mainly by the bowling of Cliff who returned four for 44 and by Dhillon with four for 41.

Simonside crashed to 40 all out at Coundon for whom Timms captured five for 16 and Murray picked up three for 24.

Coundon lost three wickets before reaching the required target with Ross taking two for 14 for Simonside.

Cunningham, with a top scoring 110, powered Medomsley to 228 for seven at home to Beamish.

Six of the wickets fell to Bolam for 128 runs and Beamish had made just ten without loss when the match had to be abandoned because of rain.

Fred Long with five for eight and David Defty (3-46) bowled out Washington for 97 and East Rainton went on to win by four wickets despite Fallon picking up four for 24.