THE celebrations started at Esh Winning on Saturday night when the triumphant team returned from Kimblesworth.

Esh went into the penultimate game needing only ten points to clinch their first championship in 15 years and, after reducing Kimblesworth to a modest 120, were on their way.

Shafiq Ahmed was in super form, claiming five wickets for only 38 runs and despite 40 by captain Stephen Meek, Kimblesworth posed few problems at the wicket.

There was an early success for Andrew McKay but John Carmedy (64 not out) and Pakistani Rizwan Quereshi (44) put Kimblesworth within sight of victory before being parted.

Tudhoe's lingering hopes ended despite defeating Etherley by three wickets. Craig Emmanuel (55) and Carl McGregor (32) enabled the home side to end with the useful total of 181 for eight despite Teneto Willett conceding only 19 runs in 12 overs for three wickets.

Tim Smalley and Stephen Thompson both passed 30 but it was down to Petts (40 not out) and Kevin Littlefair (41) to win the game.

Shildon crashed to 47 all out at Mainsforth for whom David Thompson returned the outstanding figures of seven for 23. He was aided by Sam Hogg whose three wickets cost 22.

Mainsforth, who included the former Blaydon and Horden player David Sherrington making a rare appearance, won losing just one wicket. Captain David Batty (4-16) and Brian Conlon (3-43) bowled Hylton into a winning position against Ushaw Moor who were back in the pavilion for 156.

After losing a number of wickets cheaply, the visitors recovered through Michael Hayton (29), Brendon Jackson (34) and David Armstrong (33).

David Tate, Darren Walton and Lee Foster all scored 25 but it was Stephen Merrington who top-performed leading Hylton to a five-wickets victory.

He ended unbeaten with a well played innings of 41.

The runs flowed for Evenwood in their home fixture with Langley Park. Man-of-the-match Billy Teesdale (52) and Nicholson (62) gave the innings a perfect start and the momentum was maintained by Damador Daesreth (54).

The target of 221 looked beyond Langley Park who only just managed three figures as Teesdale completed an outstanding performance capturing seven wickets for 57 runs.

Neil Davies was another bowler to take seven wickets as Crook Town finished 44 runs in front of Brandon. Dean Storey with 31 top-performed as Brandon were all out for only 130.

Earlier, runs down the order, particularly from Ian Musgrave with 39 enabled Crook to post 174 even though Jim Allenby and Scott Hobson both took three wickets at minimal cost.