Hylton leap-frogged two places to take over as the new league leaders after Bill Quay and Boldon CA, who had previously shared pole position, faced unexpected reverses.

Bill Quay dropped points when held by mid-table Silksworth, while last year's champions, Boldon, lost for the first time when their visit to Washington found them having an unfortunate day at the office.

Boldon fell 24 runs short after Washington had totalled 160 for nine from 50 overs, with Mark Lee hitting a top score of 33 from 25 balls. Tommy Nixon (4-27) and Carl Watson (3-34) must have thought they had done enough from the 12 overs they each bowled to have set up a relatively straightforward victory, but Andy Ebdale (4-50) and Steve King (3-24) had other ideas in the 20 overs they sent down, and with none able to support Karl Bellerby, who top-scored with 37, Boldon slumped to 136 all out.

It was a near thing, though, as the last wicket fell with only two balls remaining for Boldon to survive.

The draw they would have settled for, under the circumstances, wasn't to be, yet Bill Quay, who did share the points with Silksworth, weren't altogether happy with their result. They were 33 short of the Silks' score of 185, of which Chris Pringle made 66.

He shared an opening stand with Sean Smith (30) after which Darren Stoker (32) took the game away from the Quay.

Bill Gardner's excellent knock of 61 almost brought the match back to within winning reach for Quay but Pringle showed his versatility with wickets to add to his runs and they were especially decisive as he removed two of the top three run-makers.

Hylton's win, which took them to the top of the league for the first time, was a nail-biting affair, with just nine runs separating them from Easington in a tense finish. Darren Walton's top score of 32 carried them to 150 before their bowlers reduced their visitors to 141.

Fifteen-year-old Alan Davison (4-53), along with Owen Williamson (4-15), did the damage for Hylton, despite 30 for Jason Moses, Easington's most successful batsman.

Ryhope needed only 15 overs to defeat Murton, who they bowled out for 84, with James Summerside taking six wickets to become the day's star performer.

His success came in five excellent overs which included two maidens, even though Graeme Robson defied him with an unbeaten 47 for Murton, which featured 32 in boundaries.

Ryhope won by eight wickets.

Peterlee's fourth defeat in seven games came against Seaham Harbour, while their neighbours, Seaham Park and Dawdon, were involved in a derby ending in stalemate. The Park totalled 189 for three, with Dave Hanson (80no) and Stuart Pattison (51) in peak form, but Dawdon still needed 34 for victory when time was called. Jamie Greenwood's unbeaten 64 came out of 156 for five.