FAVOURITES Blaydon had the NEPL championship snatched from under their noses in a sensational last hour on the final day of the season.

The title was retained by South North in a repeat of last year’s victory, and they have now been crowned as champions eight times in ten years.

It was the third time in six years that they had overtaken rivals on the last day.

This time they nipped into the top spot even though Blaydon had been unbeaten previously and had held what appeared a comfortable 18-point advantage before they entertained Tynemouth and suffered.

South North showed their ruthless streak when they disposed of South Shields and picked up a maximum 30 points to overtake Blaydon.

The champions hit 258-8 before the spin of Lee Crozier (5- 36 in 14 overs) had their opponents in trouble and bowled out for 136.

Blaydon, with 233-7, expected to defeat struggling Tynemouth, but their opponents knocked off the runs with six wickets and 11 overs to spare. Blaydon fell short of the title by six points.

Durham Academy and Chester-le-Street both won.

John Coxon hit a superb 105- ball unbeaten century for the Cestrians who took out their T20 frustrations on hapless Stockton by racking up 302-5.

The Teessiders were bowled out for 108, although that represented something of a recovery after losing their first five wickets with just three runs on the board.

The Academy made sure Gateshead Fell finished as wooden spoonists after Ryan Buckley (4-24) shone in their dismissal for only 141 which led to a Durham win by seven wickets.