THE absence of captain David Towse is a big blow to Guisborough for their premier division game against Hartlepool at Park Drive tomorrow.

He has been the most economical bowler in the league in recent years and regularly delivers 25 overs at little cost. He is also one of the top wicket-takers.

Richard Dunn will lead the side, which includes the three Murray brothers, with Ryan joining Graham and Chris. It will be the first time this season the trio have played together in the senior side.

Guisborough are 16 points adrift of leaders Saltburn, who are at full strength against Darlington at Feethams, with opener Phil Ramage returning.

Darlington, in sixth place, also show just one alteration, with Philip Buxton taking over from Colin Biglin.

John Russell reverts to the second team to accommodate the returning Bilal Rasool when Great Ayton visit Marske, while Middlesbrough are strengthened by the inclusion of Brett Roberts and Martin Ball for the visit of Bishop Auckland to Acklam Park.

James Beaumont is unavailable and Raf Rashid is named in the second team.

Normanby Hall, with just one defeat in 11 outings, miss David Austin, Neil Pearson and the injured Javed Ramzen at home to Redcar, who bring in Stephen Hutchinson as a replacement for the unavailable Andrew Hassack.

Doug Mulholland makes only his fourth appearance of the season in Northallerton's home game with Darlington RA. Richard Bentley is also named, with John Sample and Andrew Fishburn making way.

Richmondshire have Andy Fleming, Clinton Jacobs and Ben Biker resuming for their crucial bottom-of-the-table clash with Billingham Synthonia.

Jamie Stead, Mike Layfield and David Mathias make way, while Synners, who are 15 points better off than their rivals, include Keith Martin and Mark Bentley for Dave Fairley and John Steel.

Not surprisingly, last weekend's top-of-the-table clash between leaders Saltburn and Guisborough ended in a draw, but the home side gained five more points than their rivals to extend their lead to 16 points.

Saltburn batted first and scored at a rate of five an over to post the formidable total of 250-6 from their 50 overs.

Tony Bell hit eight fours in 77 and his opening partner Adil Ditta scored 40 of his 55 runs in boundaries.

The run-feast was maintained by Richard Storr (56) as the Guisborough bowlers toiled.

But David Towse proved economical and his continuous 25-over spell earned him 4-78.

In contrast to the start made by the Seasiders, Guisborough struggled early in their reply, but Stephen Pennock (77no) stood firm and at stumps a total of 200-7 was on the board.

Normanby Hall took 14 points from their drawn game with Darlington RA at Brinkburn Road. Neil Pearson (41), Andy Harrow (38) and Geoff Robinson (57no) scored most of the runs in a total of 180-5.

Ashar Zaidi opened RA's reply and was still there at stumps unbeaten on 84 out of a total of 132-8. Steve McNicholas and Mohamed Zahid shared seven wickets in the Hall attack.

Great Ayton produced a superb performance to defeat Marske by four wickets.

The visitors appeared to have done enough to at least share the points when they realised 248-7 from 50 overs. Rob Nicol recorded three sixes and ten boundaries in 116 before being run out.

Thara Gunnarathne bowled unchanged for 25 overs, capturing four wickets before contributing 75 to Ayton's match-winning reply of 249-6, which was achieved with seven balls remaining.

David Grainge added 79 with two sixes and 13 boundaries and Anthony Doyle was there at the end, undefeated on 40.

Runs were less plentiful at Billingham Synthonia, who were all out in 49 overs for only 122 against Northallerton. Jonathan Barnes enjoyed the excellent figures of 5-42 in 24 overs and John Sample took 4-47.

Northallerton then occupied the wicket for 39.4 overs before winning with four wickets intact. Jerry Hall made 45 before being run out.

Richmondshire remain bottom of the table, but they went close to victory over Hartlepool, who edged home by just eight runs.

Shonaka Dissanayake bowled throughout, returning 3-88 from 25 overs, while Mark Layfield (37) and Andy Mollitt (48) almost led Richmond to what would have been their second win of the season.

Middlesbrough were all out for only 113 at Redcar, for whom Neil Russell claimed 7-52.

Martin Hood top-performed with 71 as the home side ended on 157-7, with Alex Roberts and Janisar Hussain both taking three wickets in the Boro attack.

Darlington drew their game at Bishop Auckland when 26 runs and one wicket separated the pair.

Replying to a target of 211, Darlington were 184-9 and indebted to Stephen Chapman (57) and to Mark Jobling and Whitehead, who both made 31.