THEY may not be in the running themselves, but Tynedale are having a big say in the Division A1 title race.

They knocked Swalwell off top spot with victory at the weekend, and could further impact where the trophy ends up as they make the trip to new leaders Shotley Bridge for the final game of the season on Saturday.

Having three batsmen pass 50 did the job for them against Swalwell, the stand-out innings from teenager Euan Stephenson whose mesmeric innings came from 38 balls, and at a crucial time with his side on 140-3 as they chased their visitors' total of 238.

Misfield and dropped catches littered the game, and Swalwell's Lloyd Anderson made the most of four reprieves as he hit his way to a century. Dropped on 34, 86, 113 and 132, he hit 17 boundaries, three of which went for six.

His 113 run partnership with James Welch for the second wicket followed a dramatic start for Swalwell, which saw Chris Hewison hit a four off the first ball of the game only to be bowled by David Newton with the next delivery.

Anderson and Welch batted well until the latter became the second wicket with the score on 175, caught by Sam Peter off Paul Newton as Tynedale's bowlers seized the game.

Along with Anderson, Neil Corby was the only other batsman to reach double figures but he was stumped by Crichton to give Paul Newton his second wicket just as the batsman was getting a foothold in the game.

Former Tynedale pair John Meadows and Ross Sinclair were both run out by Tom Cant, who spilled a catch from Anderson but diverted the ball on to Meadows' stumps and then caught Sinclair short from mid-wicket next ball.

Nicky Phillips was the next to go with the score on 204 when he looped a catch to Peter at long-off, the teenager then taking another catch for the prized dismissal of Anderson, off the bowling of Cant.

Ross Keady removed Paul Dumingham in his only over as Crichton took a catch behind the wickets, with the keeper then stumping Mark Gray. Cant made it a treble as he trapped Gary Johnson leg before, ending Swalwell's innings with two balls to spare.

Tynedale made it to drinks at 101-1 having lost Sam Mannion hit a drive into the hands of Anderson at extra cover from Johnson, with Cant and Rainford pushing the scoring on to both reach their half centuries.

Cant, having included eight fours and a six in his knock, departed with the score on 116 when Guy Sazton beat him for pace and trapped him lbw.

Tyne needed 100 to win from 96 balls, but Crichton could only add one to his total from that point as he gave a catch to Hewison at mid-on.

Rainford was joined by Stephenson and they created a memorable finish, the latter crashing Saxton for six over long-on to bring up Tynedale's 150 in the 38th over.

The pair rotated the strike and they made good headway during their 83 run partnership, Rainford running quickly between the stumps while the keen Stephenson upped the run rate too.

The teenager propelled Tyne towards victory as he hit three successive boundaries as he hit six fours and two sixes in total, until he was finally dismissed when Corby took a neat catch behind the stumps off the bowling of Sinclair.

With nine runs needed, Rainford became another victim to Corby, this time from Phillips, but youngster Ollie Fletcher finished off Sinclair and Swalwell by hitting a full toss for six into the tennis courts and chipping a four down to long-on to secure full points.