BEING bowled out for just 57 runs, Humshaugh recovered well to make it five wins on the bounce.

Jack Garrett ripped through the Newcastle III top order on way to securing another maximum point haul for the fourth placed side.

Basement boys Newcastle looked set for a first win of the season as openers Edward Owen and Sam Crampton got them off to a solid start in their pursuit of such a low score, but some excellent bowling from Garrett soon put an end to that.

In his third over, he took his maiden hat-trick by seeing off Owen, Sam Warwick and Andy Goldsborough with consecutive balls.

When he returned to the attack, he missed out on a second hat-trick when he marginally missed Joe Everson's off stump after removing Phil Kelly and Patrick McMorran for ducks.

Garrett did end with six wickets by bowling last man Vineet Tyagi, following on from excellent bowling at the other end from Rob Forster who took three wickets at the cost of just three runs.

McMorran and Kelly had put Newcastle in a commanding position as they sent Humshaugh's wickets tumbling at regular intervals, brothers Andy and Ed Crawford the only two batsmen to reach double figures.

The knocks proved vital in the victory as Crampton and Tyagi kept things tight when introduced to the attack, Tyagi seeing the innings off with the wickets of Andy Crawford and Will Forster.

Allendale's bowlers were on top in their game with Newton as they secured all 20 points with a comfortable 99 run victory.

New Zealander Ross Laidlaw led the way with four wickets, but all four bowlers used played their role as they removed the hosts for a low score of 40.

On a wet wicket, Allendale did well to make their way to 139 with captain Tim Raglan again impressing as he hit seven fours and two sixes to pass his half ton.

But scoring was difficult and the visitors, missing many first team regulars, weren't at their fluent best as Liam Pringle and Geoff Sparke were the only other batsmen to get out of single figures.

Newton's Australian Zack Brown chipped in with three wickets, and Dan Taylor two as Allendale managed to see the overs out by adding 20 more than what they projected before the match.

Newton opener Taylor was the only one to enjoy any sort of joy from Allendale's bowlers, and even then he was restricted to 10.

Laidlaw was in top form as he ended with four victims, while Pringle kept up the pressure and was rewarded with three wickets.

Stalwart Sparke came in towards the end and recorded a double wicket maiden from his one and only over, having both Mark Davison and Amila Prabandhika caught by Matty Scott to round off a great day in the field too.

It was a good way to warm up ahead of the top of the table clash with Matfen Hall this weekend, with Matfen continuing their excellent form with a high scoring victory at Hexham Leazes .

New Zealander Alex Tait again took the plaudits as it was his third league century of the year which spearheaded the innings as he broke the club's record score by reaching 120.

He was brought in after Alex Pearse departed early and Max Stephens went to a great diving catch from Ben Thompson.

He joined fellow Kiwi Will O'Brien as he included two straight sixes in his rapid knock. Tait made his intentions clear from the start by hitting his first ball for four.

He and Aaron Tiffin kept up the scoring rate with the latter falling just short of his half century, while Sam Brown and Ellie Tiffin played some good attacking shots to add to the total.

Aaron Tiffin made it a good day all-round as his pace as he opened the bowling saw him make it 100 league wickets for Matfen, as he chipped in with two early wickets.

Kelly Withycombe took the new ball at the other end and trapped the dangerous Ben Thompson lbw, while Dan Toward's aggressive knock was ended as the two Kiwis were introduced into the attack.

Both took wickets before the teams went off for heavy rain, but the covers held firm and the match resumed with Tait matching the feat of O'Brien as he finished with three wickets.

Youngster Lucas Holmes top scored for Leazes with some classy strokes, with Ellie Tiffin rounding a great day for the Tiffin family by yorking Andrew McCormack to complete the victory.

Third placed Stocksfield bounced back to winning ways as they inflicted a heavy defeat on Benwell Hill III .

Good batting guided Stocksfield to a good score with openers Jonny Tobin and Richie Mannion making their way to 77 before the former departed.

Mannion continued to push the score on as he hit eight fours to pass his 50, he and Ben Archer seeing the team to triple figures before he was bowled by Mason.

Archer and Matt Bewick took the score to 133 but both fell within quick succession of each other.

It was over to James Watson and James Tolchard to add 58 for the sixth wicket with some measured batting, edging Stocksfield close to 200 as the overs ran out.

Benwell struggled to 27-2 in reply as Saeem Korum was caught by Graeme Tolchard off Perry Hall and David Ladd by Archer off Ali Thirlwell.

Luke Mussett and Nick White steadied the ship before the former was bowled by Tobin, who followed it up by bowling Wood.

With Benwell nearing 100, Trevor Walker disrupted their flow and removed White, Mason and Chris Pounder as they went from 93-4 to 95-7.

Ross Marley and Andrew Jewitt stuck in, though, and saw off the innings to deny Stocksfield maximum points.

Wylam's low score of 57 was overcome by South Northumberland 1864 , but not without difficulty.

For they lost six wickets along the way and didn't achieve their goal until after 30 overs, Wylam playing their part after a below par performance with the bat.

Jack Netts and Sam Wotherspoon claimed early wickets for South North, and when the stubborn Graeme Raffell and Liam Thackray departed, they were firmly in control.

Tony Parker and Thackray combined to take early wickets for Wylam, the hosts four down and under threat.

But captain Owen Hollins stood firm and his match winning knock of 24 not out kept South Northumberland's hopes of breaking into the top four alive.

The West Tynedale derby between Haltwhistle and Haydon Bridge was rained off just before the midway point of the second innings.

Hosts Halty were at 60-3 as they chased their rivals' score of 147, but the heavens opened and the game couldn't be completed.

Bridge suffered an early setback when the impressive Phil Thompson had opener Robert Gibson caught by Reece Thirtle, but a great third wicket stand between captain Graeme Pigg and Mick Cunningham, who was on song as he geared past his 50, fired the visitors towards 150.

Carl Bell was an early casualty for Haltwhistle as he was bowled by Liam Stephenson, but Dan Parker and Thompson steadied the ship.

The big wicket of Parker was claimed by Ian Watson, who went on to claim John Armstrong too, but Thompson was looking in good form until the game was abandoned after 15 overs.

l There was frustration in the West Tyne League U25 representative game with Northumberland Cricket League U21 as the weather again won the day.

Allendale's Tim Raglan had the Northumberland select XI struggling on 51-7 as he took 4-10, but the game was abandoned when the rain came pouring down.