Ashington made the best of their good luck on Saturday and are now favourites to clinch the championship.

Their game was one of only two to be played. Rival contenders Tynedale and Swalwell had their away fixtures washed out and Leadgate, who were also in the running, suffered a heavy defeat at Shotley Bridge.

Ashington though made no mistake visiting Benwell and Walbottle where skipper David Rutherford led by example. He went in at number three and ended unbeaten on 75 as a total of 160 was achieved from all but four balls of the maximum 50 overs.

Chris Tuck was the player who spearheaded the Benwell attack and his ten overs produced the excellent figures of five wickets for 39 runs. Rutherford then took over with the ball and although Kauschik Aphale stayed around to make a defiant 30, the home side were all out for 125 as Rutherford completed a good day returning four for 31 from 15 overs.

Leadgate's hopes of ending in pole position evaporated at the Spa where Shotley Bridge won handsomely by a margin of 77 runs. Philip Brown (37), David Golightly with 31 and Peter Collingwood (41) were the principal contributors to a near-200 total.

Leadgate failed to cope with the four-man Bridge attack in which David Love and Donald Brown both took three wickets at economical cost.

Only one game went ahead in Division A2 and Lintz also took full advantage of the situation. They are almost certain to return to the top flight following victory at Seaton Burn.

With rain clouds gathering, the leaders bowled out the home side for just 68 with all five bowlers among the wickets. Spinner Michael Edmunds claimed three at a cost of just one run before Gordon Baker struck a quick unbeaten 42 leading Lintz to a nine-wickets victory.