Things are going from bad to worse for Hetton Lyons who picked up an unwanted record at Norton yesterday when they recorded the lowest ever score since the Northern Rock ECB North-East Regional Premier League was launched seven years ago.

They were bowled out for a meagre 39 and the entire game lasted just 36 overs as Norton romped to a nine-wicket win.

Jonathan Kean took four wickets for ten runs in ten overs, seven of which were maidens and he was ably supported by Anthony Fawcett, Gary Park and Peter Armstrong.

Bishop Auckland maintained their grip in the Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division with an exciting victory over Darlington at Feethams.

An unbeaten 120 by Aaron Heal presented Bishops with the formidable target of 218. Amul Mazumdar set them on their way with 80 but it was a contribution of 88 not out by Ben Usher which cemented a two-wicket victory.

Hartlepool remain second and they overtook the Normanby Hall total of 173 with seven wickets intact.

Thara Gunarathne returned seven for 72 before Michael Gough opened Pool's reply making 86.

Northallerton moved into third place, conceding just three wickets defeating Richmondshire. Jonathan Barnes captured another six wickets and then made an undefeated 47 in partnership with Doug Mulholland (44 no).

Darlington RA were sent back for 114 as Todd returned figures of five for 26 in the Middlesbrough attack. Earlier, Shahid contributed an unbeaten half century to the Boro total of 187 for seven.

Blackhall conceded their unbeaten record in Division One losing by six wickets to visitors Guisborough. Rob Hornbrook struck an unbeaten 102 and Chris Trillo 72 as Guisborough reached the near-200 target with six wickets intact.

Thornaby are now the only side yet to taste defeat and they maintained their promotion challenge with an eight-wicket success at home to Middlesbrough who were all out for 95 as Umar Rashid took seven for 32 in 20 overs, half of which were maidens.

Willington returned to pole position in The Readers Durham County League with a six-wicket win over Tudhoe. Gary Cummings (6-25) and Chris Slattery (3-26) restricted the visitors to 130 and an unbeaten 61 by Karl Brown swept Willington to the top.

Previous leaders Evenwood went down by 25 runs to Esh Winning for whom Farouk Iqbal claimed six for 18. The Evenwood professional, Yjoty Yadav, was also in form with five for 18 but Esh held on for third place.

Gary Purcell and Imran Jan both scored 67 leading Mainsforth to victory over Crook Town, while Brandon made the lowest score of the day when they were all out for 71 at Hylton who won with 86 runs to spare.

In the Foster's Durham Senior League, South Shields' lead at the top has been cut to 13 points. They could only draw at Horden while Burnmoor beat South Hetton.

With runs from John Tindale (80) and Brett Pelser (48) the Moors declared at 188. South Hetton's chase never began and they plummeted to 99 all out. However, with two wickets in two balls in the penultimate over, Burnmoor had just eight deliveries to spare.

A century from Lindsay Cullen helped Shields to 225 at Horden. Then home skipper Adrian Hedley did the same and his side were 21 runs short of victory at the close.