Middleton St George defeated third placed Barton by seven wickets to remain in pole position.

Batting first Barton were all out for 80 as McKenna took six for 35 and Hussein four for 41. Almost a third of the total runs came from Miller, who went in at number three and contributed 25. In reply, Middleton St George lost the wickets of their two openers for a combined total of just six runs before Ashton carried his bat for 59 leading his team to a seven wickets success.

Rockcliffe Park are second and they had five wickets to spare at Ingleton. Watson scored no fewer than 71 not out when Ingleton totalled 115 for seven. Five of the wickets were taken by Swannick for 30 runs and when the visitors went into bat they were indebted to opener Fidell who was still their at the end undefeated on 44.

Selkirk captured three of the five wickets to go down for 48 runs and Gammack took two for ten runs.

Witton-le-Wear could only managed 79 in their home game with Heighington who went on to win with six wickets remaining. Olney claimed five wickets for a mere 14 runs and Fawcett took for 38 when only Nelson who batted at number three got to grips with the Heighington attack. He top scored with 27 and Evans gave support making 24, no fewer than 51 of the 79 runs coming from the bats of the two players.

When they responded, Heighington were well served by Taylor at number three who scored 21 and Hill and Smith then combined in an unbroken partnership for the fifth wicket. Two of the four wickets to go down were claimed by Nelson at a cost of just 18 runs.

Aldbrough-St-John made 182 for six defeating Raby Castle by 60 runs. Mike Priestley was on 84 when he was run out and Brennan contributed 33 for the home side while Kirkup, with two for 37 and Scaife (2-94) were both among the wickets for Raby Castle.

When they responded, Raby Castle were given a reasonable send off by Dent with 24 and West added 33. Although Scaife scored 26 the innings only produced 122 for eight as Sillars took four for 46 and Cogle three for 39.

Cockerton overtook the Haughton total of 134 for eight with five of their wickets remaining. Tomlin and Farrow both scored 43 and for Houghton Dobinson, introduced as fourth change, claimed three of the five wickets to fall for just 18 runs.

When Haughton made first use of the wicket, McGuire scored 46 before bring run out but the good work was continued by Wilkinson with 32 and Edwards who ended unbeaten on 33. Glew had a good day with the ball for the visitors capturing three for 39.

Cliffe hosted Barningham and it was the visitors who came out on top. Needing to score 155 runs, they did so losing just five wickets as Kearton and May both scored 25. Walker added 23 before Laws finished unbeaten on 43 out of a total of 155 for five. Adamson, with two for 66 and Walton whose two wickets cost 30 runs, shared four wickets for Cliffe.

Batting first, Cliffe were in early trouble but Hipkiss (45) and Curry (46) retrieved the situation and set their side on their way to a useful total of 154 for nine. May returned four for 36 and Mossford two for 61 in the visitor's attack.

In Division B, leaders Rockcliffe Park defeated second top Catterick Village by 21 runs. Faced with a target of 159, Catterick Village were all out for 137 as Raby took five 19 runs and Flood also had creditable figures of three for 19.

Lacey top scored with 32, Ostleton added 27 and Coultish 31 for Catterick Village but towards the end of the innings wickets fell cheaply.

When they made first use of the wicket Rockliffe Park made a poor start but Graham carried his bat for 32 and Marshall added a crucial, valuable 74 not out to the final total of 158 for five. Ostleton had three for 45 and Swainston two for 66 for Catterick.

Middleton in Teesdale are in third position after winning by five wickets at home to Trimdon CCA. After Carter had been bowled for 22, Hodgson made a valuable 33 to the Trimdon total of 122 for six. Coatesworth with three for 54 and Watson (2-56) top performed with the ball for the home team.

Responding, Middleton-in-Teesdale conceded a couple of cheap wickets but Watson, who went in at number three remained undefeated on 59 which together with 23 by Fletcher secured 20 important points. All five wickets to go down were taken by Coughtrey for just 36 runs.

Dales hosted Lands and it was the visitors who came out on top by only two wickets with a couple of balls of the 35 overs remaining.

Responding to the Dales total of 114 for seven compiles in 35 overs, Lands were indebted to Elstob for his 35 which included six boundaries. Little added 25 and for Dales, David Htchinson took two wickets for 40 runs in 12 overs and David Wallace had two for 45 from the 17.4 over which he bowled.

When Dales made first use of the wicket, opener Wallace scored 20, Alderson 24 and Winter 27 but even so only a modest total was posted as Little, Talbot and Dalton all took a couple of wickets in the Lands attack.

After making only 101 all out Eryholme lost by eight wickets to Middleton Tyas. Runs were scarce when Eyrholme batted first but King, batting late in the order, scored 25 to take the total in to three figures. Wilkinson was in excellent form with the ball for Middleton Tyas and he finished with four wicket for 15 runs while Campbell had three for 50.

Wilkinson gave the Middleton Tyas reply a good send off scoring 34 and 20 by Wiper and 22 from Williams ensured the points.

East Cowton made a useful 155 for seven at Spennymoor but still lost when the home side ran out narrow one wicket winners. Batting second, Spennymoor were indebted to Potts for his 45 batting at number three and later Ross made a similar score. In the end, the last two batsmen Robinson and Shaw steered Spennymoor home even though Tucker had three for 45, Copeland two for five, Holdsworth two for 33 and Whitfield two for 61 for the visitors.

When they made first use of the wicket both Tucker who opened and number three batsman Woodcock scored 51 each and for Spennymoor, no bowler did better than Troop with three for 51 while Collinwood gave support taking tew for 41.

Heighington just had the edge over Spennithorne and Harmby winning by three wickets. Wilson gave the home team's reply a good send off scoring 37 and Howard contributed 30 before Overfield added a valuable 22 to the final total of 147 for seven. No fewer than five of the wickets were taken by Walker at a cost of just 58 runs. When they made first use of the wicket, Spennithorn and Harmby lost early batsmen before Mawer with an unbeaten 33 and Farra (59) raised the total to 146 for seven. Gibson had the excellent figures of three for 25 and Jameson took two for 31 in the home attack.

In Division Three, Barningham romped to 202 for five against Cliffe, who were then dispatched back the pavilion with just 21 runs on the board, the lowest score of the day.

Metcalfe (48) and Walker with 50 were among the runs for Barningham and Metcalfe carried his bat for 30 while for Cliffe Peacock claimed three of the five wickets for 78 runs. When they replied, Cliffe found the bowling of Moore, who took six for ten runs and Banks, with three for eight too much and they never looked like making a reasonable total.

Haughton went to Cockerton and they took won comfortably reducing the home side to 64 all out when Cull took five for 23, McCarthy three for 16 and Maguire two for six.

Batting first, Haughton ended with 231 for two on the board with Thomas carrying his bat for 103. Bainbridge added a half century.

King James visited Barton and it was the home side who came out on top by a margin of four wickets. Raw ended unbeaten on 30 as King James managed only 83 all out with Hull taking four for 28, and Fairey and Porritt finishing with identical figures of three for 16.

When Brack captured three for 40 runs, Barton still won with four wickets remaining. Brompton on Swale had just one run to spare in their game at Lands who replied with 115 for six after the visitors had made 116 for seven. Tuckey top scored with 37 for Lands and for Brompton Leyburn had three for 19 and Felstead three for 61.

Ellis (35) and Turnbull (32) top performed for Brompton and in the Lands attacks C Howe had four for 24 and B Howe two for 47.

Raby Castle were all out for 105 losing by 25 runs at home to Aldbrough St John. Bickerman (39) and Hodgson (28) led Aldbrough to 130 for nine even though Jackson had the creditable figures of five for 53 in the home attack. Responding, Raby Castle just passed the 100 mark mainly due to the efforts of Hull with 46 while for Aldbrough Stapleton picked up three for 23.

Trimdon Colliery and Deaf Hill were winners of the local derby with Trimdon CCA who were dismissed for just 31 as Owens claimed four for seven, Strong three for two and Craggs two for seven.

In contrast, the runs flowed when Trimdon Colliery and Deaf Hill batted first and ended with 209 for seven on the board. Michael Batey contributed 68 and Owens 40 while for CCA Gorton took three for 55 and Young three for 104.