MASSIVE victories for the top three ensured they stayed well out in front, but further wins for unbeaten Marsden and Philadelphia signalled that they are in the race for the long haul.

The difference in class between some of the 26 teams thrown together from varying backgrounds was never more evident as Esh Winning, Burnmoor and Castle Eden all won by significant margins, Esh staying 15 points clear at the top after disposing of Ryhope by 134 runs.

They smashed 238-4 before declaring after 39 overs, Stuart Hall (69) and Dave Lawlor (58) providing the launch pad for Jalat Khan to crash seven sixes in a 32-ball 63. After that it was a case of whether Ryhope could survive, but they slid to 104 all out in 41 overs as Khan and Mark Davison shared six wickets.

Burnmoor’s home win over Langley Park wasn’t too much different, their victory margin 124 runs after Jimmy Daley (67) and Mark Robson (81no) set the scene for Gary Brown to formally renounce retirement with a return of 4- 5.

And Castle Eden enjoyed exactly the same winning margin, Peterlee their victims as Kamran Shah (62) and Jude Dinushan (6-22) vied for the man-of-the-match honours.

Marsden’s resurrection continued apace, a six-wicket home win over Seaham Park lifting them into fourth place, and once again they derived their inspiration from skipper Chris Mann who continued his splendid personal form with another 80 to rush his side past their target of 129 in just 29 overs.

Along with Marsden, Philadelphia are one of six sides who remain unbeaten eight games into the season, their latest victims being Boldon CA.

Boldon were doing reasonably well at 74-3, Anthony Brown making 40 from 83 balls, but a sudden collapse saw them lose their last seven wickets for 20 to end on 94 all out.

Stephen Robinson bowled ten overs, six of which were maidens, to return 4-9, and Peter Greenwell hastened CA’s demise with 4-14.

Phili’s run chase wasn’t entirely trouble free, but David Baxter’s cool head saw them home in only 21.1 overs, the number three bat hitting nine boundaries in an undefeated 49 as Phili moved up two places to fifth.

Kimblesworth lost their footing in the top four when they were beaten by 48 runs at Tudhoe.

The game was highlighted as a potential banana skin for Kimbles, and so it proved, but instead of an expected run glut involving the free scoring hosts, the game saw 20 wickets crash for 192.

Colin Myers looked to have placed the visitors in the driving seat as he bagged 6-34 to leave Tudhoe tottering on 120 all out, but the Simon Davies (46) and Danny Thexton (37) second wicket partnership in that total was to prove a game changer as West Indian Shawn Findlay shattered the visitors with a 12 over spell of 5-10.

Early season pacesetters Easington (133-8) are sliding down the table despite still clinging to an unbeaten record.

They found hosts Crook (167-5) in surprisingly feisty form after their own abysmal start to the campaign, and Town held most of the aces in a drawn match in which Aussie David Embleton (35 and 3-41) played a key role.

Whiteleas crashed to a heavy home defeat, Ushaw Moor their conquerors after an 88-ball 94 from Ul Hassan set a 50-over target of 186 that Leas got nowhere near.

Durham City continued their renaissance with a three-wicket home win over Hylton inspired by Alex Johnson (5-36) and Nick Maiolo (102no).