JUST four seasons after winning promotion to the premier division, Marton are making a major bid to haul the championship away from the iron grasp of Middlesbrough, who have held the crown for the past two years.

The weekend saw them move alongside Boro in the top spot, but with the champions having played an extra game the allconquering villagers are in the strongest position.

Unbeaten after six games, Marton’s latest success came at Normanby Hall where the home team were rocked by the loss of the injured Paul Wiseman, and it was left to Gary Scott, their other pro, to shine.

He scored 67, including nine fours, in a patient knock of 119 balls while Normanby managed just 148 from 46.5 overs.

Yorkshire starlet Lee Hodgson took five wickets for Marton before rounding off a winning day with an unbeaten 35 to help Chris Lane (48) and Tom Chadwick (30) to a seven-wicket triumph.

Marton lost 12 overs because of two spells of rain, but they weren’t the only ones to suffer at the hands of the weather.

Middlesbrough were among the worst hit as only four balls of Thornaby’s innings were possible before the game was called off. Boro reached 177-9 and declared after 48 overs with Liam Botham (64) and James Beaumont (59 not out) sharing in a sixth wicket partnership of 85.

Leigh Beaumont grabbed five wickets but failed to tempt his cousin among the victims. He finished with 5-38 with Luke Metcalfe (3-65) also giving the home side problems. Thornaby’s reply finished abruptly when the storm clouds arrived.

Marske (at Blackhall) and Darlington (at Billingham Synthonia) suffered similar fate as their games were abandoned. Marske faced just 28 overs with Chris Allinson unbeaten on 55 out of 104-5. He hit eight fours and a six in facing 79 balls after the former Colliery side welcomed their new professional, Neil Killeen, for the first time after injury.

His debut brought a wicket as he bowled six maidens in a tidy nine over spell. Luke Cushlow took three wickets in 12 overs but conceded 54 runs. The match was called off without Blackhall batting.

Billingham Synthonia were fortunate rain curtailed the Darlington innings on 40 for 1 as Quakers looked capable of overtaking the hosts all out score of 135. Keith Hewson hit 42 and Craig Symington added 31 for the Synners in a face saving fourth wicket stand of 72, before Mark Stainsby (4-46) caused problems.

Richmondshire joined Marton as the day’s only winners but theirs was a low scoring game at Bishop Auckland in which either side could have triumphed. Chris Sawyer (4-6) and Phil Holdsworth (5-29) had Richmond all out for just 79, but Bishops lost after failing to master a rain affected wicket.

They were bowled out for 63 with Ziafat Ashraf (4- 10), Shani Dissanayake (2- 16) and Michael Cunnachie (2-26) the allstar trio.

Guisborough, now in third place, couldn’t get the better of Great Ayton who lost 12 overs because of the rain and their captain David Grainge because of a knee injury.

Grainge had made 28 when he retired hurt and it took some tail-end resistance to fend off defeat and finish on 87-8.

This was in reply to 175- 8 with Martin Hood (53) the top scorer. Marathon bowling by Ian West (4-75) and Riaz Afridi (3-88), who shared the 50 overs, was followed by three wickets for the Priory pro Tariq Aziz and team-mate Paul Goodchild. Sadly, Guisborough’s Ryan Murray suffered a broken jaw while fielding in the incident-packed game.

Northallerton had David Wake and Richard Chandler to thank for batting out the last eight overs to defend the final wicket and draw with Hartlepool, the league’s early season leaders.

Marc Symington (5-44) had Allerton in trouble on 85-9 before Wake and Chandler saved the day.

Pool spent 50 overs making 112-9 with Jon Barnes (5-31 from 25 overs) and Richard Bentley (3-35) in control.

Stokesley are the new leaders of Division One after beating Darlington.