Barnard Castle begin their Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB Premier League title defence in style, with a big home win over newly-promoted Billingham Synthonia.

Barney were asked to bat first, and skipper James Quinn was in good nick scoring 53 and overseas professional Hashan Dumindu added a fine 77. Richard Borrowdale kept the pressure on with 65, and then Pat Roberts hit a breezy 43 not out from 47 balls, for a huge total of 265-5.

Synners could not cope with opening bowler Josh Bousfield as he took 5-18. Calum Mcnicholas tried in vain for 30 runs, but Robert Dixon with (3-4), finished them off for 88, leaving the champions with a massive 177 run win.

Darlington had a fine victory at Marske, with opener Tom Hewison striking a brilliant 125 from 156 balls which included 11 fours, putting on 79 with Peter Greenwell, who made 30, for the first wicket. Liam Coates added 45 runs from 64 balls in a considerable total of 235-5.

The Seasiders started well with opener Ryan Gibson scoring 67, but Nauman Anwar (37), Sam Berry (38) and Jack English (45 not out), never really built on their good starts. Match-winner Coates (3-51) and then some excellent bowling from Shaun Charlton (5-60), tipped the scales as the home side finished on 209 all out, to win by 26 runs.

Richmondshire had a comfortable win at Seaton Carew.

They batted first and made an excellent 260-4, with Robert Carr (39), Gary Pratt (76) and Mark Layfield (77). They then skittled Seaton for just 129, as man-of-the-match Pratt claimed 6-40, with Sam Wood, taking 3-15, to claim the 25 points, despite opener Matthew Skirving scoring 39.

In the Dukes ECB North East Premier League, Hetton Lyons were well beaten, as champions South North won by 133 runs.

However, they had opener Simon Birtwisle to thank as he made a useful 79 and then John Graham added 39, despite some excellent bowling from Christopher Winn (4-51) and Cameron Grimwood (3-21).

The Lyons made a dismal 45 all out without anyone making double figures, as Sean Tindale took a brilliant 5-14 to wrap the game up after 29.2 overs.

Eppleton welcomed rivals and newly-promoted Burnmoor, to Church Road. The visitors racked up a huge 264-4 declared, thanks to 96 from opener Allan Worthy, which included 18 fours, and 70 not out from Paul Craig, which had 10 fours, with Andrew Ebdale the pick of the bowlers returning 3-49.

The home side batted well for the draw, as Marcus Brown made 80, which included 10 fours and two sixes off 124 balls and Sam Dinning 41, to end up on 202-6, with Ryan Pringle claiming 3-31.

Chester-le-Street slumped to 113 all out at home to Newcastle, as Ross Greenwell took 3-25. Only Kyle Davis with 36 defied him, and with two wickets each for Ben Quirk and Liam Trevaskis, they were all out after 39 overs.

Newcastle started brightly, with Patrick Greishaber scoring a breezy 67 off 54 balls, which included nine fours and two sixes, to guide his side home to an easy seven-wicket win, with a final total of 116-3.

In an exciting low scoring game at Sacriston, Tynemouth were all out for 116. Will Gidman ripped out the middle order with 4-19, with only Matthew Brown contributing with 34 from the visitors.

Finn Lonnberg struck early blows (4-19), as the home side slumped to 9-3 and 55-5.

Matthew Potts held it together for a bit with 32, but Wesley Bedja then took two crucial wickets, for his side to win by the narrowest of margins, as Sacriston were all out for 115.

Skipper Cole Pearce led the way for newly-promoted Burnopfield, as they welcomed Felling to Front Street. He made a fine 101no from 132 balls, which included 11 fours in 247-8. Dale Shaw claimed 3-64 from his 13 overs, on the bowling front.

Felling dug in, as Brydon Carse made 57 and Nihal Shilar 39 following early losses when Adam Ahmed took 3-34 and although Scott Steel claimed 3-27, the visitors held on at 183-9.

In the First Division, Shotley Bridge were at home to Willington and made 217 all out.

Jack Camarda made a half-century (53) and Michael Allen scored 40, as Steven Alderson took 5-55 and Cameron O'Donnell 3-46. The visitors totalled 173 with James Hindmarsh scoring 40 and Jack Howell 30, but the star of the show was Kieran Milburn who claimed 5-43, alongside Oliver Gibson who returned 3-33, to win by 44 runs.

Castle Eden started well as they entertained Crook. Saeed Bin Nasir was their talisman with 80 to his name in a total of 200-9, despite Eddie Watson taking 4-35. In reply, the visitors made 144, thanks to Isaac Unsworth claiming 4-42.

In the Northumberland and Tyneside Cricket League, Lanchester hosted Stocksfield and the visitors decided to bat first, with skipper Steven Henderson making 44, Rob Thirlwell 39, Sam Beedle 39 and Aaron Rourke 34 not out in a total of 201-8, while Greg Halliday returned 3-40.

Kieran Gohery made 30, as did Graham Brinton, but with Aaron Rourke taking 4-33, the home side collapsed to 132 all out, in 37.1 overs.

Annfield Plain travelled to Morpeth and made 157-7 from their 50 overs. John Newstead made a useful 40 not out from 32 balls, with Cam Mackay and James Craigs, each taking two wickets. Morpeth replied with 158-3 to record a comfortable seven-wicket win.