STOCKSFIELD'S bowlers bounced back from the previous week's horror showing to put their promotion push back on track.

While well below par in the disappointing defeat to struggling Bates Cottages, they were on top form to maintain their place in second place in Division A2 with just three weeks remaining.

Backed up by some excellent work in the field, they dismissed hosts Tillside for just 67 runs on their way to a comfortable seven wicket victory.

Stocksfield captain Dan Whiley won the toss and had no hesitation in putting his side into the field first, wanting to put right the lacklustre display of seven days previous.

But Tillside's openers Liam and Ross Hindmarsh got the hosts off to a solid start, even if James Doneathy and Perry Hall gave very little away.

It was Hall who gained the breakthrough with a deserved wicket when he had Ross Hindmarsh caught behind by Sam Beedle, with Doneathy quickly following it up with the wicket of captain Liam Hindmarsh, who was caught by Steven Henderson.

When the pair came to the end of their overs, Luke Doneathy and Andy Wood kept it just as tight with the runs slowly trickling by.

Doneathy has Law Atkinson seen off by Beedle, with Wood's consistent line and length dismissing Sean Wales and Daniel Caddick.

The arrival of teenager Paul Brown proved pivotal in Tillside's downfall, his spin causing all sorts of problems as the home side were all out for 67 after looking steady on 30-0.

Jack Bagness was bowled by the youngster with Duncan Sim hitting another behind for Beedle to keep hold off, while Tris Douglas claimed two catches as Brown ended with four wickets for the afternoon.

In between, a wonderful piece of fielding saw Whiley run out Cameron McGregor as Stocksfield were purring.

Chasing a low score on a poor wicket, Stocksfield had a bit of a shaky start when Richie Mannion was bowled by McGregor for a 10-ball duck and Whiley followed when caught behind by Ross Hindmarsh off Calum Bickerton's bowling.

But Ben Archer and Luke Doneathy ticked the score along nicely with an accomplished partnership, edging the visitors towards their target until the latter was caught by Wales to give McGregor his second wicket.

Archer was batting superbly and looked like he could have built up a big score, but the overs ran dry as he and Douglas geared them to victory with the first ball of the 25th over.

Stocksfield II still have hopes of breaking into the top half of Division B2 despite losing by 58 runs to second placed Tillside II.

Three wickets from stalwart Chris Catnach helped Stocksfield restrict their guests to 176, with Matthew Tobin top scoring with 41 in reply for the home side.