There was a delayed start in Northern Rock ECB North-East Regional Premier League game between Benwell Hill and Stockton, but they produced an exciting day's cricket.

In a game reduced to 89 overs, runs were scarce and at close of play Stockton were only 14 runs short of victory, but with their last pair at the wicket.

Their target was 142 but the batsmen found it just as difficult in the middle as the home side. The first four managed just 23 between them, all falling to Pakistani Yasir Ali before Chris Hooker (38) and Kevin Ward with 40 raised hopes of victory.

Martin Pollard claimed the wickets of both batsmen and from then on it was nip and tuck. When Stockton's 40 overs expired they were 128 for nine. Pollard returned five for 34 in 15 overs and Ali also delivered 15 overs for a final analysis of four for 43.

Norton were in the ascendancy when stumps were drawn at Gateshead Fell who had lost seven of their wickets for 150 runs replying to the visitors' impressive 259 for six.

Daniel Nowell (45) and Gary Park, whose superb unbeaten innings of 137 included a six and 15 boundaries, dominated the five-man Fell attack.

Sumit Puri, who conceded only 30 runs in an outstanding 19-overs spell, claimed four wickets but Stephen Devenport and Chris Taylor contributed 34 runs between them in the unbroken eighth-wicket partnership to frustrate Norton.

Blaydon crashed to 74 all out against South Northumberland as the pace of Stephen Humble and the spin from Lee Crozier proved problematic.

All their batsmen struggled, with the exception of Allan Worthy who batted throughout the innings for an unbeaten 43. He received 78 deliveries and hit one six and seven boundaries.

The only other player to make double figures was opener Paul Underwood and five failed to get off the mark as the innings lasted 27.5 overs.

Humble claimed four for 27 runs and Crozier four for 32 while another spinner Richard Brock mopped up the wickets of the last two batsmen at a cost of 11 runs.

South North found run-making easy when they made first use of the wicket posting 220 for four before declaring following 52.3 overs. Matthew Hall had four sixes and as many boundaries in an unbeaten 70 partnering Humble for the fifth wicket. Humble's undefeated 51 included three sixes and three fours and came from just 45 deliveries.

Tynemouth had five wickets in hand defeating Newcastle who laboured through almost 51 overs scoring 124.