STOCKSFIELD lost for the first time in four weeks as a below par batting display saw them go down to Cowgate Sports.

A rocky start and finish to their innings resulted in them finishing 43 runs off in their reply, the Tyne Valley guests unable to build on the good form which has pushed them up to sixth in the table.

Cowgate captain Jaswinder Singh won the toss and asked to bat first, and then watched as openers Max Moss and Gnanasekaran Balasundaram put on 35 for the opening wicket.

Once the former was stumped by Dan Whiley off Andrew Wood, Najeem Anjum came into attack and formed a pivotal partnership of just short of 100 runs.

The pairing was ended when James Doneathy bowled Anjum just after just half century, while Rob Thirlwell dismissed the dangerous Balasundaram.

Stocksfield kept the pressure on as the returning Wood claimed Singh and Richard Crawford, with Thirlwell then bowling Shahnaz Halaldeen to put Cowgate on 176-6.

But the hosts were pushed over the 200 mark as Raza Noor and Ahtsham Mehmood put on close to 30 for the seventh wicket.

Stocksfield were in trouble at 22-3 as they replied, captain Whiley going for a six ball duck and then being quickly joined in the pavilion by Ben Archer and Wood.

Alex Brown came in to help James Watson see the score past 50, but both went within quick succession of each other to leave the away side struggling on 58-5.

But a great partnership between Steven Henderson and Thirlwell put Stocksfield back in with a shout, their stand of 87 giving their side a big boost.

Henderson hit six fours as he faced 59 deliveries, while Thirlwell’s final total was made from 56 balls with the teenager hitting two fours.

But their dismissals ultimately spelled the end of the run chase, Ryan Chamberlain, James Tolchard and Doneathy losing their wickets as Stocksfield ended short.

It left Paul Watson as last man standing, ending with two runs from the two deliveries faced.