IT was a close run thing, but Corbridge started the season with a win over Ashington Rugby.

Just two runs separated the teams as the Tyne valley hosts removed their rivals for 132, the game going right down to the wire.

New captain Andy Dover elected to bat on a fantastic wicket given it was under water just a few months back, and Ross Atkinson saw his side off to a flyer with a quickfire 44 before being caught.

New signing Russell Perry made an instant impact as a good knock of 18 helped tick things along, with the returning Chris Darling also weighing in with 16 runs.

It was then over to Dover (25*) and veteran John Maude to see out the 50 overs with Corbridge ending on 134-8.

Most of Ashington‘s runs came from Cory Milburn as he quickly clocked up 60 runs, but he met his match when Dean Robinson (2-35) had him caught by Darling.

Perry (4-22) impressed with the ball too, as did Dover (3-15), but the game was on a knife edge as Robinson bowled the penultimate over with Ashington needing just three runs for the victory.

It looked like it was to be the hosts’ day but Robinson had other ideas, claiming last man for the success by the most narrow of margins.