AFTER several weekends ruined by rain, Morpeth returned to action on Saturday but could not manage a win in bowler-friendly conditions at Consett.

Skipper Reynolds did manage to win the toss but the visitors failed to fully capitalise on a good start.

Jack Palmer continued where he left off from Alnwick and was a constant threat all day.

The gangly seamer wasted no time with three early wickets as the home side slumped to 26-3, with Reynolds catching Huntsman for a duck and Mikey Craigs taking a comfortable catch at mid-off, while the potentially dangerous Bushall played on.

Morpeth then began to show ring-rust in the field as a couple of chances went begging and some bad luck as an apparent caught behind from Jimmy Craigs' swing was not given.

Batsman O'Sullivan survived that scare and went on to be the mainstay of the innings, eventually ending unbeaten on 83.

Mikey Craigs ousted overseas pro Knare for 21, caught at mid-on after a rush of blood induced a rash swipe.

Palmer then returned and again Consett could not get him away. Palmer took a pair of wickets in his return spell and ended with figures of 5-22 from 15 overs, which showed just how potent he had been.

Jonny Craigs took three sharp catches in the gully, as Reynolds took a wicket but Consett ended on 178-7, with an average fielding display not helping the visitors.

Morpeth set about the chase feeling assured with Reynolds and Leason looking as solid as ever.

Danger man Remmer failed to break through, but Knare's leg-spin turned the game on an un-even track.

On 17, Reynolds was beginning to cut loose when he advanced down the track only to thump the ball back to Knare who took an incredible catch.

Leason had been pulling with authority and looked to smother the leg-spinner, but a leading edge gave Knare another caught and bowled as Leason departed for 31.

Only Jonny Craigs offered resistance after this, with the classy left-hander often using his feet to take the attack to Consett.

Alleway was bowled by Foster's medium-pace and Maxted caught behind to give Knare a third wicket. Craigs was then 'stumped' as the ball ricocheted off the wicketkeeper's pads and his innings came to a premature end on 22.

Palmer also looked positive but was run out for ten and the collapse continued as Knare dismissed Wailes, caught at slip, to finish with 5-35. Foster took two more wickets and Remmer bowled Elliott as Morpeth were dismissed for 125.

Man-of-the-Match: Jack Palmer.