A yawning gap opened up between the leading two sides and the chasing pack as both South North and Hetton Lyons won convincingly against their nearest rivals.
It was always going to be a day of reckoning for Benwell Hill and reigning champions Stockton in their quest to alter the shape of the championship, but neither could prevent their opponents from securing the victories that take them into the second half of the season with a massive advantage that will be difficult to haul back.
Benwell Hill did reasonably well to hold the Bulls batting in check, only Karl Turner, with 81 from 117 balls really getting away from them, although his second wicket partnership of 128 with the rock solid Adam Heather (44) provided a springboard which a late 43 from 30 balls from Stephen Humble utilized.
A declaration on 221 for eight after 61 overs dangled the carrot for Hill, but when they slid to 46 for four it became an uphill battle, and one they ultimately lost when a defiant skipper, Phil Nicholson (41), was last man out with the total on 157. Former Hill man Dave Rutherford shared eight wickets with Lee Crozier as the only remaining unbeaten record in the top flight went out of the window.
Stockton’s hopes of retaining their crown took a nosedive with defeat at the hands of Hetton Lyons. And there was cause for a double celebration in the home dressing room as Allan Worthy became the first man in NEPL history to crack the 9000 league runs barrier.
The Teessiders were pinned down by an accurate home attack who restricted them to 210 for nine in 60 overs, with Lal Kumar once again in form as he claimed 4-49 from a 20 over stint. Richard Waite was the man giving Stockton some hope as he made 85 from 125 balls, but he was unable to work his magic with the ball as Worthy hit the milestone with 56, sharing in a second wicket partnership of 81 with Ryan Pringle (54) as Lyons clawed their way to a six wicket success.
Blaydon leapt up to third spot with a fourth successive win, Durham Academy their victims on this occasion. New Zealander Ken McClure cracked 15 fours and 3 sixes in a 163-ball 118, and with Graeme Bridge adding 43 the home side pulled the plug at 260 for six after 60 overs. Gary Stewart (3-38) then led a five-pronged attack who had the Academy back in the shed for 146 in the 53rd over.
Newcastle were unable to defend a total of 258 for nine at Whitburn, losing in the final over of the match as Durham’s new starlet, Paul Coughlin, hit 70 in 80 balls before allowing skipper Andy Turns (42 not out) the joy of hitting the winning runs. Earlier Jacques du Toit had excelled with 82, although Craig Smith’s 20 over spell of 6-55 proved the crucial contribution.
Gateshead Fell gave arguably their best performance of the summer, holding Chester-le-Street to a draw, and almost pulling off a sensational win.
The Cestrians were so confident of a positive result that they declared after 50 overs on 240 for five, and when the Fell slipped to 46 for three it looked like a familiar story was about to unfold, but first Adam Whatley, with 71 from 74 balls, and then Sam Roseby, 86 not out from 117 balls, stretched the game out, and an unbroken last wicket stand of 30 ensured Street ended in a cul-de-sac with their opponents on 223 for nine after 66 overs.
There were two centurions in Tynemouth’s 139-run mauling of Sunderland, Andrew Smith (101 not out) and Matthew Brown (105) the double ton up merchants, while in the First Division South Shields, for the second week running, scraped the narrowest of wins, five runs being the margin this time as they defeated Washington to maintain a healthy advantage at the top of the table.