NEW Zealand imports Alex Tait and Will O'Brien again played important roles as Matfen Hall jumped to third in the table.

The Kiwis have dramatically boosted the team's fortunes this year and again stole the show as they both hit centuries to secure the points over a strong Newton side.

They weren't the only ones impressing as 14-year-old Ellie Tiffin excelled with three wickets as she opened the bowling in the absence of brother Aaron, with 16-year-old Tom Scott also in top form with three wickets of his own.

O'Brien and Tait, though, hammered Matfen to an imposing total of 270 within little over 35 overs.

The former was lucky to make the second ball of the game as he called opening partner Ian Pilkington for a quick single only to be sent back halfway down the wicket, bowler Chris Wilkie unable to collect the throw to let the New Zealander off the hook.

Making the most of the opportunity, O'Brien and Pilkington quickly ticking the scoreboard one with Pilkington firing a straight six and three fours. Helping the partnership to 50 within six overs, Pilkington fell in the eighth with the score already on 63.

This brought Tait to the crease, and he clicked into great immediately as the two New Zealanders played shots all round the wicket to keep up the high scoring rate.

Tea was taken early as the rain delayed proceedings for an hour, but O'Brien and Tait resumed where they left off after the break with O'Brien to record his maiden century, quickly followed by Tait with his second ton of the season, with his parents looking on.

With the threat of more rain, and lost time locating balls in adjacent fields and hedges, Matfen captain Alex Pearse declared, with the Kiwis ending on an unbroken partnership of 207.

Matfen opened with the highly promising Ellie Tiffin, and she more than made her mark with some excellent bowling.

Including a double wicket maiden during her spell, she removed the top three batsmen of Wilkie, Dinak Rawlley and Mark Davison.

After conceding eight in his first over, Scott bowled Telfer while Tait capped a great all-round display with two wickets for just three runs, including a superb running catch in the deep by 16-year-old Harry Remnant.

Newton were stubborn in their resistance and put on just 20 runs in 12 overs, as they denied Matfen maximum points for bowling them out. However, Eddie Scott did take a wicket with his first delivery, again caught by Remnant, while son Tom Scott returned for two late wickets which added an extra bowling point.

The victory took Matfen above Haltwhistle , who dropped down to fifth as a result of their nine wicket defeat to Humshaugh .

The weakened side weren't able to put up a strong fight against a Humshaugh side who climbed the table as a result of their third consecutive maximum point victory.

Will Forster and the pick of the bowlers Jack Garrett heaped the pressure on from the start, and the decision to bowl first was a good one as they restricted Halty to double figures.

Only captain Graeme Lee, John Armstrong and Ben Hampshire enjoyed any run at the crease, with Rob Forster and Luke Parkinson also weighing in with wickets during tight spells.

In reply, Andy Crawford got Humshaugh off to a steady start before being bowled by Armstrong, with Allan Murray his typically calm self to tick the score on.

Rob Forster continued his good form with the bat as he wasted no time in making his 50, his seven fours helping Humshaugh jump up to sixth, just two points off fourth placed South Northumberland 1864 .

South North moved up two places as a result of their victory over Stocksfield , who missed a golden opportunity to overhaul Allendale at the top of the table.

Victory would have seen them lead the pack, but the six points in the six wicket loss saw them close the gap by just one point.

Richie Mannion was bowled by Owen Hollins with the score on 16, but Adrian Marrison's quick 50 saw him put on 75 for the second wicket with Matt Bewick, who was bowled with the score on 100.

Stocksfield continued to plug away and Graeme Tolchard stuck around, losing Paul Watson, Ali Thirlwell and James Watson before he departed to give Hollins his third wicket with the score on 159-7.

Mark Jacobs and Matty Scandle added 10 to take the innings total to 169.

But with South opener David Edwards in hard hitting mode, the total wasn't enough as the visitors reached their target in the midway through the 38th over.

Edwards hit 10 fours and a six in his rapid knock, as he and Keshav Krishnan put their side in a commanding position with an opening stand of 112.

Krishnan was caught by Jacobs off Perry Hall, with Edwards and Tristan Meears-White then adding 30 before the opener was finally removed by Thirlwell.

Two quick wickets from James Watson to see off Ben Sidney Wilmot and Will Fishley came too late in the day, as Meears-White and David Harbottle secured the points for the visitors.