A heavily weather censored programme saw not a single game in either division reach a conclusion, the only winner on Saturday being the rain.
In the Premier Division the top points return for any team was 10, but for Sunderland that was enough to see them emerge from their crucial relegation clash unscathed, and as they managed to earn three points more than their rivals Gateshead Fell they ended the day 37 clear of their frustrated opponents.
Sunderland pulled off a coup by turning up with England international Graham Onions in their ranks, the touch of irony being that Eastwood Gardens was where the Durham man began his career in cricket.
Unsurprisingly, with Onions and rain providing a real threat, the Wearsiders asked Gateshead to bat when they won the toss and with sentiment cast aside he combined with James Davies to put the home side on the run.
The pair shared 30 of the 37 overs bowled as the home team slid to 139 all out, the top scorer being extras with 30, the next on the list being David Daley with 29.
Onions took 3-24 in his stint, while Davies outshone his illustrious colleague in the wicket taking stakes with a return of 5-55.
Gateshead then hit back to reduce their visitors to 33-3 at one stage before Onions (18 not out) steadied the ship, and when the rains arrived Sunderland had reached 64 for three from 19.2 overs. Cameron Oliver picked up two of the wickets to fall.
At the opposite end of the table there were eight points each for leaders South North and second-placed Hetton Lyons in their respective games, so the Bulls handsome lead of 44 points stayed completely intact.
Jonny Wightman (3-35) threatened to blow home team Whitburn apart in an opening burst that saw him dismiss the first three batsmen for just seven runs between them, but Michael Turns dug in to defuse the threat, making 52 from 76 balls, and with Ross Carty (30 from 85 balls) offering solid support in a partnership of 73 the home side reached 94 for three.
Dave Rutherford (3-18 from 13.3 overs) then removed both run scorers in quick succession and, with four wickets going down for just 19 runs, South North looked capable of forcing a result before the deluge arrived with Whitburn on 113 for seven.
Hetton Lyons found life at the crease tough after being inserted by Newcastle, but they managed to ease their way to a 54 over declaration on 170 for nine with Ryan Pringle the top contributor with 43 of those.
Callum Harding was the man causing the problems, his 16 over spell earning him impressive figures of 5-48, and with Ollie McGee bagging 3-53 from his 19 overs the Tynesiders were happy enough with their time in the field.
Only eight overs were possible in Newcastle’s reply, but Martin Pollard (2-7) struck twice to leave the visitors on 19 for two when the heavens opened.
In the day’s other top flight games a brilliant Rammi Singh knock of 96 not out from 98 balls went unrewarded as Benwell Hill’s innings of 182-2 against the Academy was stopped in its tracks after 36.4 overs.
Graeme Bridge’s six wicket haul at Ropery Lane saw Chester dismissed for 184, but Blaydon were themselves struggling on 27 for three before the premature end, and Tynemouth only had one over to reply to Stockton’s declared total of 215 for nine when proceedings were halted down on Teesside.