Borthwick and Harding heroics in vain

Durham Academy's Chris Harding and Scott Borthwick snared seven wickets between them to scuttle Sunderland out for a modest 117 but they still crashed to a heavy defeat in the Northern Rock North East Premier League.

In a round of games that was once more hit by bad weather, Sunderland turned the tables on the youngsters when Chris Rushworth (5-21) and Ian Stephenson (3-7) ripped through the order to have them back in the hutch for just 65.

Three other games were started but ended up in a draw, as the weather gods once again raised the finger and gave their adjudication.

League leaders South Northumberland gained the bigger share of the spoils from a drawn match at Norton.

The Teessiders scored 198 with a century from Sri Lankan Chanaka Wijesinghe. South North captain John Graham passed a half century in the reply, but steady loss of wickets - five to Norton skipper Peter Armstrong - and the loss of ten overs because of rain meant a stalemate at 180 for seven.

Another century maker was South Shields' Australian Geoff Cullen who was unbeaten on three figures in Shields' 201 for five at Jesmond.

Matthew Muchall then captured three early Newcastle wickets (3-16) but a defiant 43 not out from Sean Adair saw the home side to safety at 104 for five when stumps were drawn.

The final game to see any action was Benwell Hill's home clash with Tynemouth. A total of 40 overs were lost due to the overnight and early morning rain, leading to an 80-over contest.

Tynemouth were able to declare at 152 for six, thanks mainly to an unbroken seventh wicket partnership between Ben Debnam and Andrew Smith.

In response, Benwell Hill were in big trouble early on at 8 for three and then 37 for four, with Grant Lindsay picking up three wickets. When the rain returned after tea, Benwell Hill had reached 78 for five.

The matches at Gateshead Fell against Chester le Street and at Blaydon versus Stockton were wiped out without a ball bowled.