AN ABJECT bowling performance prevented Stocksfield from pulling away from their promotion rivals.

With Seaton Burn and Bedlington both losing, but Morpeth winning, the Tyne Valley side had a great chance to break away from the top two challengers in a disappointing defeat to Bates Cottages.

A good performance with the bat allowed captain Dan Whiley to declare in the 21st over on a rain affected day, but a poor bowling display coupled with a bad day in the field meant that Stocksfield were unable to capitalise.

In a game reduced to 28 overs per side due to the weather, Whiley lost the toss and Stocksfield were put into to bat first.

The message from Whiley was to go out and attack the bowlers as it was clear the game would be interrupted by the rain clouds, but he and fellow opener Richie Mannion fell in the early overs.

Whiley was bowled having only made a single with the score on 18, with Mannion, quickly hitting three fours, caught to take the score to 35-2.

Ben Archer and Luke Doneathy were brought together and they upped the run rate significantly, putting on 31 for the third wicket until Archer was lbw to Ross Symington.

Tris Douglas came and went, but Doneathy and Steven Henderson were scoring at nearly a run a ball to put the score on 111 with their 42 run partnership.

Henderson's departure was followed by a delay for rain, and with overs running out Sam Beedle and Doneathy rocketed through the overs with a stand of 66.

When Beedle was bowled with the second bowl of the 21st over, Whiley felt comfortable that his team had done enough to secure the victory.

But he wasn't prepared for such a lacklustre bowling performance as Bates Cottages picked up the win with an over remaining.

Openers Symington and former Corbridge man Ross Atkinson were in fine form and punished the many bad balls to spearhead the visitors' run chase.

The bowlers weren't helped out by their fielders neither, both openers dropped before going on to add a crucial 10 runs each.

Captain Symington and Atkinson were hitting the ball to all corners, the former hitting six fours and four sixes and Atkinson, who joined from Corbridge in the summer, making seven fours and two sixes.

They posted 95 for the first wicket to put Bates well in control.

When Whiley turned to spin at both ends, Stocksfield finally found the breakthrough with Paul Brown getting the important wicket of Atkinson, caught by Henderson.

Symington was the only one who enjoyed any real joy after that, Luke Doneathy having Stuart Elliott caught behind by Beedle for a 12 ball duck and Martyn Elliott going for a three ball duck, off the bowling of the returning Chris Scandle, soon after.

Gavin Turnbull became Scandle's second victim, while Tris Douglas took a rare opportunity with the ball to finally see off Symington, caught by Andy Wood, to give Stocksfield hope of curtailing the Bates chase.

But, with good assistance from Matthew Carr, Symington's knock had realistically put the game beyond Stocksfield and Michael Telford hit the remaining six runs to confirm the defeat for the home side.