Stocksfield's promotion dream boosted by home victory
Stocksfield's top order all made valuable double figure contributions headed by opener Steven Henderson (65) and No. 5 Adrian Marrison (39), with their final total of 257-9 from the allotted 50 overs boosted by 30 extras.
In reply, GEMS were dismissed for 215 in the 48th over, with the wickets shared by Sam Beedle (4-50 off 10 overs), Luke Doneathy (2), Ryan Chamberlain (2) and Ollie Newton (2).
The victory leaves Stocksfield 19 points ahead of fourth-placed Alnmouth & Lesbury who they play on Saturday in a winner takes all promotion decider.
Also in Division One, there were two centuries in a high-scoring contest at Ponteland where the hosts beat Matfen by 66 runs.
Ponteland opener Ben Rigby (130 not out from 137 balls including 15 boundaries and 1 six) starred with the bat in his side's impressive total of 306-3, before Matfen were restricted to 240-9 despite the best efforts of Abubakar Maqsood who scored 102 not out.
In Division Two, Corbridge lost by nine wickets at home to Tillside in a one-sided match which only lasted a total of 33 overs.
Jacques Du Toit (66) top-scored for the hosts who were dismissed for a modest 85 in 20.2 overs.
After taking four wickets, Tillside opener Joe Bickerton (34 not out) and No.3 Ben Brassell (37 not out) ensured an early finish as the target was reached in the 13th over.
In Division Three, Hexham Leazes recorded a welcome first away win since May 16 at second-bottom Alnmouth & Lesbury.
Lucas Holmes (47), Ross Davies (32) and Harry Fitton (25) were the main contributors in the visitors' total of 191-8 from the allotted 50 overs, before Dan Toward (4-33 off 12 overs), Ross Davies (3-28 off 12 overs) and Jason Macdonald (2-12 off 5 overs) did the damage with the ball as the hosts were dismissed for 119.
In Division Four South, there were heavy defeats on the road for Wylam and Stocksfield as well as a home defeat for Riding Mill, while
After restricting the hosts to 203-9 from the allotted 50 overs, with Luke Barker taking three wickets, Haltwhistle opener Dale Leadbitter then plundered the Consett bowling.
He scored 103 from only 56 balls, including 7 boundaries and 8 sixes, and put on 120 for the first wicket with Luke Barker. The target was reached in the 36th over with three wickets in hand.
In Division Five South, promotion chasing Stamfordham dropped to third after losing by four runs against Benwell Hill.
Felix Seby (4-26 off 9 overs) enjoyed most success of the Stamfordham bowlers as Benwell Hill were restricted to a modest total of 122-8 from the allotted 40 overs. In reply, Stamfordham looked set for victory on 116-7 before collapsing to 118 all out.
Newton's 14th win of the season against South Northumberland saw them swap places with Stamfordham and clinch promotion.
Steve Pitman (4-33 off 8 overs) did most of the damage as hosts South Northumberland were dismissed for 134 in the 35th over, before Dan Taylor (57 not out) and Matt Scattergood (59 not out) steered Newton across the line in the 20th over with six wickets in hand.
Michael Arnup (57) top-scored for Humshaugh who collapsed from 179-5 to close on 193-9 at Matfen for whom Cole Dempsey picked up three wickets.
In reply, Justin Dempsey (96) and Amin Ul Faisal (68) starred with the bat for the hosts who reached their target in the 35th over with five wickets in hand.
In Division Six South, opener James Furniss (75) and No.3 Joseph Beckett (43) provided a solid platform for Stocksfield who closed on 206-7 from the allotted 40 overs at Kirkley.
Despite spirited resistance from opener Simon Raw (62), the hosts were dismissed for 158 with most of the damage done by Steven Page (4-20 off 5.4 overs) and Antony Allen (3-16 off 9 overs).