COUNTY DURHAM LEAGUES REVIEW.

WITH neither leaders Boldon nor champions Burnmoor giving an inch in their Warmseal Durham Senior League battle, Whitburn, Hetton Lyons and Eppleton all took advantage with convincing victories.

Whitburn moved to within six points of Boldon as they romped to an eight-wicket win over Philadelphia, who were held in a tight grip during their 55 overs at the crease.

Phili finished on 156-7 with Neil Johnson (3-31) the main thorn in their sides, but they were unable to exert the same control with the ball themselves as Lindsay Cullen carried his bat for an 82-ball 63 as Whitburn cantered home in the 34th over.

Hetton Lyons moved into third place after winning at home to Marsden. But victory was a long way from their minds when they were on 15-4 batting first, and it took a quality innings from David Lowther (79, including 11 fours and three sixes) to dig them out of the hole and enable them to declare on 204-9.

Michael Gandy then seemed intent on causing an upset as he cracked a superlative 93, which included 14 fours, but with Sura Malinga (5-29) right on song the Marsden goose was cooked for 136.

Paul Davidson (5-17) and John Leslie (3-32) were the Eppleton match winners as they bowled out South Hetton for 114, this in reply to the visitors' 241-6.

With Castle Eden taking the weekend off, Bill Quay and Washington took the chance to make up ground on the 3D Durham Coast League leaders.

Joe Dodd was the Quay to success for the second-placed side as he dismantled visitors Silksworth with an eight-wicket blast. Dodd's final analysis was eight for 32 as the Silks folded for 113, and then skipper Jeff Tudor carried his bat for 51 to see his side to a seven-wicket win.

And Washington swamped Peterlee to reignite their own championship aspirations. A maiden century for Ryan Nicholson was the highlight as the home team rattled up a score of 212-6.

Nicholson's unbeaten ton came with nine fours as he carried his bat through the afternoon in a superb exhibition.

When Peterlee took their turn at the crease runs were a bit scarcer as Billy Teesdale and Andrew Ebdale shared six wickets between them. Teesdale's three came at a cost of 42, while Ebdale burst on to the scene by grabbing three for five in just three overs as the visitors subsided to 68 all out.

New Ryhope signing Michael Thorpe had a dream day in his side's home match with Dawdon. He scored 102 not out and then took five for 51 - but he didn't finish on the winning side as the visitors held on at 273-8 in reply to Ryhope's 285-5.

Willington drew first blood in the double weekend of Readers Durham County League fixtures when they defeated one of their main rivals for honours in convincing fashion on Saturday.

Crook struggled as they took first knock with only John Lee (34) able to cope with the twin threat of Gary Cummings and Kiwi Sam Wells. The pair bowled 23 of the 38 overs the innings lasted, with both ending with identical analyses of four for 22 as Town folded for just 109.

The result was never in doubt when Karl Brown cracked eight fours in his 43, with Cummings seeing the job through with seven of his own boundaries in an unbeaten 36.

Shildon continued to power on at the top as they defeated Etherley, and champions Kimblesworth overran fellow challengers Esh Winning by 102 runs.

In yesterday's programme, rain provided a frustrating outcome for several of the title hopefuls with Esh Winning 140-3 against Willington when the heavens opened, which was a great shame for David Lawler, who was going like a bomb on 76 not out.

Crook also fell foul of the weather after John Lee (65) had given them a decent start against Ushaw Moor, Town on 161-5 at the close. Leaders Shildon got more of a game, although Brandon were handling themselves well with 158-4 on the board in reply to the Railwaymen's 197-6.

Champions Kimblesworth knocked off Tudhoe's all-out score of 167 to move to within three points of the league leaders..