Title contest opens up as Swal beaten

NORTHUMBERLAND AND TYNESIDE SENIOR LEAGUE

DIVISION A1 leaders Swalwell were bundled all out for just 81 in 22.2 overs as Ashington forced their way back into the title race with a 65-run win.

Matthew Collins took an excellent 5-26 and was ably backed up by Paul Rutherford claiming 3-19.

Earlier the current champions made 146-7 in their allocated 30 overs, thanks to 61 from Ben O’Brien (pictured below) and 30 from opener Neil Wood.

Richard Shotton was the pick of the bowlers, returning 3-44.

The victory takes Ashington up to third in the table.

Swalwell’s loss allowed Shotley Bridge to make up ground and they are now just 23 points behind the Gateshead pacesetters after beating Percy Main by 31 runs.

The home side made 119 all out, Lewis Hall making 48 and Michael Phillips taking 3-31,

In reply, Percy Main could only muster 88 all out, thanks mainly to Phillip Brown’s excellent 5-31 and Stuart Graham’s 3-18.

Ponteland lost again, this time at Lanchester.

The home side batted first and amassed 136-5, Paul Lindsay scoring 50 and Hassan Raza 60 and Callum Barnes claiming 3-37.

Lanchester needed just 23.3 overs to make the runs, Graham Brinton striking 49 and fellow opener Mark Small 67 not out - the pair sharing a 102-run partnership.

Ryton and Leadgate made the briefest of starts, rain intervening with the home side on 3-0.

The matches between Consett and Lintz and Newcastle City and Tynedale were both abandoned. ■■THE Northumbeland and Tyneside Senior League lost by three wickets to the North Yorkshire and South Durham League in the final of the North East Under-21 Championship.

Batting first, the NTSL totalled 116-7, the NYSD responding with 117-7 despite 4-20 from Keith Milburn. ■■SOUTH Northumberland reached the semi-finals of the ECB National Club T20 with a seven-run success against Sandicare.

Marcus North and Adam Cragg (pictured right) both made 30 in South Notth’s 123-7, Sandiacre restricted to 116-6 in reply.