TYNEDALE'S first team captain Tom Cant made the most of a return to the Northumberland side.

After an absence of two years, he was brought back into the set-up for the final Minor Counties three-day game with Norfolk as they looked for a first win from six.

And he made his mark despite the defeat for Northumberland, impressing with both the bat and ball.

He took three wickets on the opening day as Norfolk posting a commanding total of 303. Northumberland were only able to muster a miserly 86 runs in their first innings, Cant top scoring as he contributed 30 of them.

The second innings was much brighter for Northumberland as they followed on, with Cant and South African professional Jacques Du Toit, who lives in Newbrough, spearheading the chase.

Cant hit a classy 87 while Du Toit smashed his way to 150 to give Northumberland, under the command of former Tynedale man Stuart Tiffin, to give the county a 204 run lead.

Norfolk, however, achieved the total in the last of the 43 overs to secure the victory in dramatic style, Cant this time weighing in with two wickets.

Cant and Tynedale teammate James Rainford will represent the Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League representative side in the final of the Wilkinson Cup. They face the a team from the North Yorkshire and South Durham League at Tynedale on Sunday, with a 2pm start.

Down the age range, Tynedale pair Matty Percival and Euan Stephenson, along with Stocksfield duo Jonny Tobin and Luke Doneathy, have been regulars for the county's U17 team and helped them secure the league championship.