Corbridge prove too strong at home to Bates Cottages

After winning the toss and deciding to bat first, the visitors slipped from a promising position on 83-2 to 115-8 before being dismissed for 141 in the 46th over.

The pick of the Corbridge bowlers were Jacques Du Toit (3-28 off 12 overs) and Conor Garrett-Jowsey (3-32 off 12 overs).

In reply, good knocks from opener Chris Fowler (43), Du Toit (38 not out) and Mark Rowell (32) saw the hosts reach their target in the 25th over with six wickets in hand.

In Division One, there were mixed fortunes for our local teams. Matfen and Ponteland suffered heavy defeats, while Stocksfield enjoyed a comfortable win at home to Annfield Plain.

Matfen lost by 94 runs at Alnmouth & Lesbury after a tough day in the field and Ryton cruised past Ponteland's total of 190 all out in the 39th over with nine wickets in hand.

Batting first after winning the toss, Sam Stephenson (58) top-scored for visitors Annfield Plain in their total of 208-9 from the allotted 50 overs, with most of the damage done by William Archbold (4-23 off 6 overs) and Fenwick Norton (4-44 off 9 overs).

An opening stand of 133 between Steven Henderson (62) and Luke Doneathy (63) put Stocksfield on the road to victory and they were also gifted 43 extras before reaching their target in the 38th over with seven wickets in hand.

In Division Three, leaders Blagdon Park recorded a 12th win in 13 games at Allendale.

John Welch (25) and No.3 Oliver Weeks (21) offered most resistance for the hosts who were dismissed for 88 in the 28th over.

In reply, the leaders slipped to 31-4 before an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 58 between Ben Gibson (23 not out) and Will Phelps (36 not out) steered them across the line in the 21st over.

Ponteland 2nd XI won by seven wickets at home to Hexham Leazes 1st XI after dismissing the visitors for 136 in 45 overs.

Leazes were 76-7 at one stage before No.6 Ross Davies (58) and No.9 Lucas Penny (29 not out) led a mini-recovery.

Ponteland openers John Lumb (53 not out) and Ben O'Brien (46) put their side on track for a comfortable victory by seven wickets with more than 16 overs to spare.

In Division Four, Stocksfield 2nd XI are now only four points behind second placed Whickham after winning by four wickets at Whitley Bay.

A flurry of early wickets left the hosts in big trouble on 16-4 before a mini-recovery took them to 71-5 and they were eventually dismissed for 100 in the 35th over, with most of the damage done by Ollie Newton (3-21 off 11 overs) and Lawrie Cope (3-27 off 6 overs).

Mark Jacobs (46 not out) starred with the bat for Stocksfield who are now unbeaten since May 24.

In Division Five West, leaders Wylam recorded a 10th win of the season at Newton.

After losing the toss and being put in to bat, Neil Wells (34), Jonny Greenwood (67), Lawrence Davis (38) and No.7 Chris Japes (36 not out) were the main contributors in Wylam's total of 214-9 from the allotted 40 overs.

Matt Scattergood (32) and Chris Wilkie (25) offered most resistance for Newton who were dismissed for 114, with most of the damage done by in-form Marcus Wells (5-17 off 9 overs).

Ryton were dismissed for 85 in 20.1 overs at Stamfordham after being 48-8 at one stage.

Joe Turnbull (6-24 off 9 overs) starred with the ball for the hosts, who were then indebted to No.3 Tim Perowne (40 not out) as they got across the line with five wickets in hand in the 33rd over.

United Stars recovered from 82-6 to close on 217-9 at Riding Mill despite some good bowling from Michael Collins (5-21 off 9 overs) and Andy Watson (3-26 off 6 overs).

In reply, Riding Mill were 178-4 at one stage before being dismissed for 196 in the 37th over, with Abbas Hussain (5-38 off 7 overs) proving to be the match-winner.

Matfen opener Justin Dempsey (79) and No.4 Toby Pilkington (51) starred with the bat in their side's impressive total of 231-5 at home to Haltwhistle, who were then dismissed for 174 in the 33rd over.

Michael Parker (50 not out) top-scored for the visitors on a baking hot afternoon which proved to be a memorable one for the Pilkington family with plenty of wickets for Ian (4-13 off 5 overs) and Toby (3-15 off 7 overs).

Bottom of the table Blaydon picked up only their second win of the season in a low-scoring contest at Humshaugh.

Batting first after winning the toss, Hedley Renton (30) top-scored for the hosts who were dismissed for 83 in the 30th over, with most of the damage done by Drew Robertson (4-30 off 9 overs) and Joe Cunningham (3-8 off 7 overs).

In reply, Blaydon went from 29-0 to 29-3 and still had plenty to do on 53-7 before Robbie Lambert (24 not out) steered them home with two wickets in hand.

The earliest finish of the came at Whitley Bay in Division Six Central where the hosts were dismissed for only 28 in 19.2 overs by Stocksfield 3rd XI.

It could have been even worse as they were 14-9 at one stage, with the wickets shared between Antony Allen (5-7 off 6 overs) and Luke Masters (4-10 off 9 overs). The visitors knocked off the required runs in 4.1 overs with nine wickets in hand.

In Division Six West, leaders Corbridge 2nd XI lost by 51 runs in a high-scoring contest at Wylam and are now only eight points ahead of Gosforth Strikers.

Greg Brown (80), Henry Rewcastle (42) and No.6 Tom Worthington (43 not out) were the main contributors in Wylam's total of 282-7 from the allotted 40 overs before Rewcastle (5-45 off 7.4 overs) completed a good afternoon's work as the leaders were dismissed for 231 having been 185-4 at one stage. Their top-scorer was Neil Tiffin (80).

Riding Mill opener Dave Reay (86 not out) starred with the bat as his side closed on 181-7 at Clara Vale.

In reply, the hosts were dismissed for 171 in the 35th over despite a great knock from No.3 Navneet Singh (92). Tim Willis (4-19 off 8.3 overs) was the pick of Riding Mill's bowlers.

In Division One of the North East Premier League, Tynedale's recent improved run of form continued with a winning draw at Priors Flat against Benwell Hill.

Batting first after winning the toss, Tynedale opener Tom Cant (89) and wicket-keeper Jamie Crichton (25) shared a crucial seventh-wicket stand of 57 as their side recovered from 126-6 before being dismissed for 200 in the 57th over.

In reply, economical bowling from Tynedale ensured that promotion-chasing Benwell Hill were always behind the required run rate and their innings closed on 169-9 after 53 overs, with most success enjoyed by Aaron Rourke (4-31 off 15 overs).

In Division Two, more than half of Benwell Hill's total of 139 all out in their home game against Tynedale came from opener Jayam Patel (51) and 22 extras.

Most of the damage was done by Craig Barber (4-31 off 9.5 overs) and Max Gradwell (3-37 off 8 overs).

In reply, a fourth wicket stand of 72 between Barber (48 from 50 balls) and Fergus Odd (18) put the visitors on course for a comfortable victory by five wickets with the target eventually reached in the 32nd over.