AN UNBEATEN partnership totalling more than 200 runs saw Humshaugh to their second maximum point haul.

Opening batsman Nathan Byerley was joined at the crease by new signing Jack Garrett and the pair’s knock of 212 helped their side to the 40 run success over Hexham Leazes .

Both excelled with the bat to make individual centuries, the first time two batsmen have recorded 100s in the same game since Nick Bowman and Martin Paminter achieved it many years ago.

Home captain Andy Crawford won the toss and put his side into bat first, but Leazes started well as their skipper Dan Toward removed both Crawford and Rob Forster and youngster Toby Willis accounted for Nick Reid to see Humshaugh in trouble on 35-3 after eight overs.

Their dismissal brought former Corbridge man Garrett in, and he and 16-year-old Byerley dominated any loose deliveries and were both soon celebrating their half tons.

The run rate accelerated and it was Garrett to reach triple figures first with a maximum to the leg side, Byerley soon joining him despite looking like he may just fall short at one point.

Humshaugh’s defence of the 247 total started well as Matt Williamson and Garrett managed to get some life out of the hard pitch, beating the bat on regular occasions.

They both struck early on with Williamson following it up with the wicket of the dangerous Ben Thompson, giving keeper Reid his first of four catches.

Andrew Webster and Stephen Donnison looked to put the pressure on after the opening bowlers’ spells came to an end, and respective 50s put Hexham in with a shout.

However, Steven Thompson removed both in quick succession to put Humshaugh back in control with a late flurry from Toward falling short as opposing captain Crawford and Byerley robbed him of batting partners.

A century from Dan Parker helped Haltwhistle make it two from two too, the batsman starring in his side’s comprehensive victory over an under-strength Wylam . Parker shared the plaudits with teammate John Armstrong who wrapped up the Wylam tail with five wickets, an outstanding spell of bowling seeing him swing the ball all ways.

While Haltwhistle lost Joe Barber early on, Parker was giving it some welly and found the boundary regularly with seven fours and seven sixes on his way to exactly 100.

When joined by Dan Kirkup, the run rate shot up as Kirkup whacked his way to a rapid 50 within four overs as he hit seven fours himself.

There were good contributions elsewhere in the order too, as Haltwhistle came close to reaching 300.

In reply, Wylam were never in contention and two early wickets from Kirkup had them reeling.

Armstrong and Jonny Wallace made an immediate impact as change bowlers, particularly the former as his swing ripped through the bottom order as he clean bowled all five victims.

There was another notable victory for Allendale as they thumped Benwell Hill III following an excellent bowling performance.

While captain Tim Raglan hogged the limelight with eight wickets on the opening day, they were shared around this time around during a pleasing team display.

Both openers Ross Laidlaw and Raglan claimed a wicket, but the introduction of 14-year-old Matty Scott proved a big moment as he had the dangerous Darshana Thiranga caught by Charles Sale.

Thiranga’s dismissal put the brakes on Benwell’s charge, and Liam Pringle and Geoff Sparke built on Scott’s impressive bowling to remove the visitors for just 76 runs.

With Ben Lloyd unable to open the batting after fracturing his finger, Sale and Raglan set about the low target and they put on close to 50 for the opening stand before the latter’s aggressive innings ended on 33.

Laidlaw came in and helped Sale sail to a straight forward maximum haul victory within 20 overs.

Haydon Bridge got up-and-running for the year in a close-fought game at Newton , winning by a margin of 31 runs.

Put into bat, they suffered a setback by losing Ian Watson but Chris Welton and Robert Gibson put the innings back on track with a good partnership.

With Chris Wilkie asking questions during a good team performance with the ball, Haydon Bridge lost some quick wickets until teenager Liam Stephenson and Jamie Taylor stepped up to the crease.

Both weighed in with vital runs with Taylor in particular good form, and the extra runs put on proved key in the end.

Taylor and Stephenson combined to good effect as they opened the bowling to put early pressure on Newton, but good knocks from Mark Davison and Jonathan Bennett had the hosts in contention for most of the innings.

Experienced captain Jim Balkwill then accelerated the chase by firing to the boundary at regular intervals, with his dismissal by Mike Cunningham the game defining moment.

Matfen Hall’s New Zealand imports impressed as they recorded a second successive victory, defeating South Northumberland 1864 .

Alex Tait’s excellent opening spell saw him pick up two wickets in the first over of the match, and fellow Kiwi Will O’Brien was soon in tandem as another superb spell saw him take three wickets from his 10 overs.

After a tight spell from Ian Pilkington, Kelly Withycombe was joined in attack by 14-year-old Ellie Tiffin, making her debut, to make league history as the first female pairing bowling together.

Kelly’s good flight kept the South North batsmen in order, while Tiffin ended with a wicket with her consistent line and decent pace. She added the run out of captain David Harbottle with a clever back flick off her own bowling.

The hosts battled on but Tom Scott and Tait returned to stop them just after they past the 100 mark.

Despite good opening spells from Simon West and Ruaidhri Fletcher, Matfen started well through Scott and Jock McDonald. Tait maintained the momentum when the latter bowed out.

O’Brien then rounded off a great all-round performance as he and Max Stephens knocked off the required runs to take the team’s tally to 40 points.