ALNMOUTH said a probable goodbye to the Northumberland League by becoming the first team to crack 500 points with a four-wicket win over runners-up Blagdon Park.

They bowled the Park out for just 129, Ben Oliver with the outstanding six wickets for 36 runs in a blistering 13-over stint.

During the champions’ reply, Peter Johnson conceeded just 23 runs in 13 overs but Paul Straker (38) and Jonny Denton (27no) held him at bay and despite a late clatter of wickets, Alnmouth eased home inside 36 overs with four wickets to spare, their points total of 510 a new benchmark.

At the opposite end of the table it was a case of wait and see for Ashington Rugby CC as they were rolled over by Berwick. Their miserly two points return meant that if Corbridge could win their game at Stocksfield they would find last day salvation from relegation. But their pursuit of a 50-over 181-5 never got off the ground, and they lost by 90 runs to go down.

Darren Leason (63no) and Peter Finch (5-29) were the architects of Bedlington’s 151-run hammering of nine-man Warkworth, a superb 98 from David Dent enabled Blyth to snuff out Blue Flames by five wickets, and Liam Hindmarsh (52 and 3-15) helped Tillside beat Bates Cottages by 108 runs.

In Division One Clara Vale took the title after an eight-wicket win over Stobswood, and Kirkley booked the second promotion spot with an eight-wicket success against the only team who could overhaul them, Bomarsund. A second wicket partnership of 125 between Will Asher (70no) and Paul Howey (52) doing the business.