TILLSIDE made history when they won the first ever Alnwick and District Cricket League Championship back in 1889.
And 118 years on they have at long last repeated the achievement.
A comprehensive nine-wicket away victory over Alnmouth and Les
bury II on Saturday sealed their success in their penultimate fixture of a season dogged by bad weather.
But that should not detract from Tillside's long-awaited success as they have finished the season in fine form.
While it has taken them more than a century to claim the James Hume Cup it must be remembered that they won three B Division titles at various times when the league comprised two divisions.
Saturday's win was never in doubt after they restricted Alnmouth and Lesbury to a very modest 101 for eight wickets. Tillside knocked off the runs for the loss of only one wicket with Stephen Nutt the mainstay with an unbeaten 49.
Runs were more plentiful elsewhere, particularly at Red Row where the home side amassed 292 for four against Embleton, Alan Mackenzie (95), Keith Appleby (90) and 'Essie' Black (75) blasting the bulk of them.
Embleton, in turn, scored freely at times but were still 88 short of their target at the close.
Warenford's batsmen also kept the scoreboard ticking over as they hammered the Warkworth bowlers for 247 for eight wickets, Kevin Thompson (58) and Brian Thompson (57) leading the way.
But the batting performance of the day came from Warkworth II's Chris Glass who hit 105 out of a total of 172 in their reply.
Bowling honours went to Michael Thomson with four for 25.
Ulgham, who are certain to finish runners-up to Tillside, comfortably accounted for visitors Kelso. Colin Tait (49) and Alan Hynd (41) top-scored in a home total of 203, putting on 109 for the first wicket.
Kelso in reply were 119 all out after 32 overs, Chris Herne (three for 14) and Dave Charlton (four for 22) doing the damage.
Andrew Aitchison with 43 and three for 26 played a prominent part in Wooler's 30-run victory over visitors Berwick, as did Stuart Blacklock with a half century.
A well-contested match at Shilbottle saw the home side beat Rock by 19 runs.
Scores in brief:-
Alnmouth and Lesbury 101-8 Tillside 102-1 (S Nutt 49no). Tillside are league champions.
Ulgham 202-3 (C Tait 49, A Hynd 41, D Campbell 30no) Kelso 119 (C Herne 3-14, D Charlton 4-22).
Warenford 247-8 (K Thompson 58, B Thompson 57, M Thompson 26) Warkworth 172 (C Glass 105, M Thompson 4-25).
Red Row 292-4 (A Mackenzie 95, K Appleby 90, E Black 75) Embleton 203-7 (L Turnbull 45no., R
Turnbull 33, A Mackenzie 3-40).
Wooler 201 (S Blacklock 51, A Aitchison 43, R Matthewson 30no., R White 3-36, M Hush 3-46) Berwick 171-9 (I Thompson 57, C Keenan 40, CR James 3-34, A Aitchison 3-26).
Shilbottle 159 (K Wilson 43, D Knox 35, A Straker 31, T Dunn 3-23, C Johnson 4-32) Rock 140-9 (M Williams 40no., B Inglis 3-32, K Wilson 3-22).
Howick 63 (C Crowe 4-5, M Lees 3-25) Mitford 65-3).
The full article contains 554 words and appears in Northumberland Gazette newspaper.
