Middleton breeze to win

Division A

Middleton St George retained their position at the top of Division A with a seven wickets victory in their visit to Weardale. The home side made a poor start to their innings but 28 not out by Breeze and 33 from Snaith enabled them to reach almost 100. McKenna, with five for 24, and Robson, whose three wickets cost just 28 runs, were in good form with the ball for Middleton St George who were indebted to Rogers for his unbeaten 50 as the winning margin of 100 was achieved for the loss of just three wickets.Weardale stay second and Aldbrough St John are third after they won at Witton le Wear by 72 runs. Shield (44) and Gamblin (35) formed a good second wicket partnership for Aldbrough and afterwards Dowson added 37 to a total of 178 for nine. Nelson claimed five of the nine wickets to go down for 51 runs and when his side replied Witton le Wear were pegged to 106 for nine, mainly by the bowling of Mathias, with four for 35 and Wilson, whose three wickets cost just 18 runs. Raby Castle totalled 162 for two defeating Colburn by 80 runs. Opener Dent gave the innings a good send-off by scoring 45 and Poole carried his bat for 65. Replying, Colburn were all out for 82 with Jones and Wilson sharing eight wickets in the Raby Castle attack. Gilling West had nine wickets to spare when they overtook Barton's 94 all out, which took 25 overs to accumulate. John Murray, with five boundaries for 38, top scored for Barton while for Gilling West Parsons took four for 39 in ten overs and Wilson five for 30 from eight overs. Responding, Gilling West needed just 18.1 overs and lost just one wicket as Harwood struck seven fours in 42 not out and Lewins hit one six and six boundaries in 48. Rockcliffe Park had the edge on Heighington by 19 runs, when they batted first, reaching 173 for nine with most of the runs coming from Foster, who made 75 before being stumped. Replying Heighington made useful contributions from a number of players but when time was up they had scored just 154 for eight with Garbutt taking six wickets for 71 runs.

Division B

Iare still top of Division B after their four wicket success at home to Spennymoor who made a very good 206 for seven which included 66 by Collingwood, 47 from Laundy and 54 by Troup.Ingleton went for victory as soon as they went into bat and Laundy opened the innings with 46 but it was Stuart Dawson, the former Dawdon batsmen, who added impetus to the innings. He crashed 77 and a total of 208 for six was achieved despite Grainger picking up four wickets for 52 runs in the Spennymoor attack. King James were all out for 73 on their visit to Dales for whom Andrew Lofthouse took four for 27 in 11 overs, David Hutchinson three for 20 from 16 overs including nine maidens and Mark Kilburn two for 11. Dales easily achieved the modest target conceding two wickets as they secured the necessary runs in 21.1 overs. Stuart Broadbent opened the innings and recorded six boundaries in 35. Lands entertained Trimdon CCA but lost by seven wickets. Smith top scored with 36 when Lands ended on 151 for eight with four of the wickets falling to Watchman for 44 runs. Trimdon's match winners with the bat were Carter (67) and Coughtry (71). Ian Thompson was in good form for Brompton on Swale and he was well worth his figures of four for 22 when Haughton were all out for 123 which included 32 by Ainsley and 35 by Wilkinson. In response Brompton won losing two wickets as Coultish carried his bat for 47. Middleton in Teesdale overcame Heighington by 110 runs. Batting first Middleton reached 181 for six with N Watson scoring 59 and D Watson 41. Heighington were all out for 71 with Coatsworth claiming six wickets for 27.

Cockerton went to Cliffe and managed 79 as Walton and Adamson took three wickets each. Although Cliffe lost six they still won by comfortably.

Division C

I Division C East Cowton beat Middleton St George by 46 runs. After totalling 133 for eight East Cowton bowled out Middleton St George for 87 with Raw taking six for 43.

Strong took six wickets at a cost of 49 runs when Trimdon defeated Cockerton by six wickets while Barningham were seven wickets victors over Lands.

Whire hit an unbeaten century for Middleton Tyas in the match with Aldbrough St John and in Division D Spennithorne and Harmby totalled 260 for one with Farrow making 106 and Sedgeley 93 not out. Witton le Wear managed 99 and in the other game Spennymoor defeated Haughton by four runs.