David Towes and Graham Shaw combined to keep Guisborough in pole position in the Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League as they spearheaded their side's victory against Northallerton.

Towes, renowned for his economy, was at his most accurate, conceding just 24 runs in 19 overs, nine of which were maidens and when he claimed five wickets, Northallerton were on a slippery slope.

Skipper Ian Gill rejuvenated a poor start by his batsman and in partnership with John Place (31), gave Northallerton a chance, especially when Peter Guy weighed in later, adding 31.

Gill stroked seven boundaries in 72 but when the innings ended on 178-8, it was Towes who took the honours.

Guisborough, too, made an uncertain start to their reply before Shaw came into his own. He struck nine fours in an unbeaten 82 as success was achieved with four wickets intact.

Darlington are close on the heels of Guisborough after their victory over Hartlepool at Park Drive. Pool made 165-6 which included a half century by captain Gary Tebbett and for the visitors, Duncan Johnson returned 4-51 from 13 overs.

Darlington's reply began well with Neil Pratt hitting a couple of sixes and three boundaries in 39 and his opening partner Hanif-ur-Rehman contributing 27 before being run out but it still took a contribution of 29 from Mark Jobling to complete the task.

Darlington RA were all out in 37 overs with just 78 runs on the board but Saltburn conceded six wickets before reaching their modest target.

Mautashim Rashid, Adil Ditta and Umer Rashid all took three wickets when RA struggled for runs and only captain David Eckels (30) made any impression.

Wolviston suffered a ten-wicket defeat at home to Blackhall. Imran Jan was man-of-the-match, taking 5-51 in 20.4 overs and was aided in the attack by Gavin Watts whose three wickets cost him 32 runs. Jan, with six fours in an unbeaten 61, and his opening partner John Darby (54 not out) secured the necessary runs without being parted.

The Normanby Hall batsmen topped 200 in their drawn game with Middlesbrough which was evenly poised at stumps.

Stephen McNicholas had a couple of sixes and five fours making 69, Mohamed Zahid maintained his good form with 50 and Mark Croft added 36 to the Hall's total of 210-9. Mattie Brown and Lee Beaumont shared seven of the wickets and between them bowled 29 overs.

Tim McIntosh (57) and Richard Storr (33) raised the hopes of Boro with a second- wicket partnership after James Beaumont had opened, adding 25 but in the end the economical bowling of professional Zahid proved to be the stumbling block.

Bowling unchanged for 25 overs, he claimed 4-55.

The derby at Marske went in Redcar's favour by 81 runs. A fine innings of 80 by Dulip Samaraweera, who recorded 13 fours and his opening partner Martin Hood with 54 paved the way for Redcar's total of 207-9 in 50 overs.

Fahim Fazal captured five of the nine wickets for 86 runs in 23 overs and Stuart McKay took the other four for 46.

Neil Coverdale began Marske's reply, making 46 but there was only minimal support from his colleagues and the innings ended on 126, Neil Russell claimed 6-33.

The only game which did not start was that between Richmondshire and Thornaby.

The weather decimated the Federation Special Durham Senior League programme with only one match starting. Felling took full advantage when veteran Chris Pleasants (6-34) bowled them to victory at South Hetton, collecting maximum points in a low-scoring match.

Wickets fell at regular intervals with South Hetton losing seven wickets for 23 runs.

John Pendlington and John Leslie claimed the three wickets to fall but Felling needed just 19 overs to complete their job.

Murton are the new Boddingtons Durham Coast League leaders after toppling Silksworth, who had won their first three games. A week earlier, Silksworth sent Hylton crashing for fewer than 50 runs but on Saturday, it was the turn of their batsmen to struggle and they were all out for just 69 in 26 overs.