FOUR more clubs joined the championship chase as those already at the heart of the fight were thwarted by the stormy finish to the weekend’s most crucial games, abandoned as pitches became waterlogged during the final hour’s play.

Leaders Richmondshire and rejuvenated Great Ayton took the major share of the points in washed out drawn finishes with Barnard Castle and Stokesley respectively, but it was mainly Marske and Middlesbrough, with 25 point returns, who were singing in the rain as they enjoyed rewarding victories.

With Hartlepool staying close, too, only 40 points now separate the top seven clubs and it remains one of the most open championships for more than a decade.

Richmond, who regained the lead three weeks ago from Barney, continue as favourites to take the silverware, especially as they were always in control of their game with their arch local rivals on Saturday. They extended their advantage from seven to 19 points by grabbing a winning draw over the Castle who were on 90 for the loss of five wickets in reply to 201 for 7 when the thunderstorm hit.

Gary Pratt top scored with 82 from 139 balls with five fours and a six as Rob Carr (27) joined him for a sixth wicket stand worth 62 runs for the Dalesmen. Richard Borrowdale’s 16 overs produced 5-62 to stop the hosts getting too far ahead in the run chase before Barney’s reply featured 44 from 66 balls as James Quinn smashed seven boundaries. Sam Woods (3-43 from 12 overs), and ultimately the rain, put an end to any further fight back by the visitors.

Great Ayton’s remarkable second half to their season continued with their unbeaten run extended to eight games in cutting back Stokesley’s lead over them from 23 to 11 points. The amazing batting form of skipper Chris Batchelor brought him another century and he is now the highest scorer in the league. His unbeaten 132 came against the old enemy at the SCG and not only saw him become the second of three to pass the 1,000 runs milestone, but took him to 1,118 with five games still to go.

Ayton batted first to reach 230-5, and when the game was abandoned with 21 overs still remaining Stokesley were looking shaky on 111-5.

Strangely though, Ayton dropped down a place to fifth in the league placings as Marske won their derby clash at Redcar and picked up the extra bonus points for batting first. They made 201-9 as Brett Roberts (50) and Ullrich Boshoff (39) shared a 61-run partnership before dismissing their fellow seasiders for just 102 with the storm brewing and just minutes away. Once again Roberts (7-30 from 13.4 overs) and Boshoff (3-25 from nine) became the destroyers to help lift their side a point ahead of Ayton.

Middlesbrough are just six points further behind after beating Marton, who continue to be involved in a relegation battle with three others including Redcar.

Marton must have thought they had a winning hand when they bowled out Boro for just 144 runs after Graham Shaw and Hasantha Fernando each took four wickets, but Steve Reeves (5-17) pulled the heart out of them in 17 superb overs and they were all out for 93 as their last seven wickets

fell spectacularly for just 18 runs.

Norton, another of the clubs facing the drop back to the lower division, eased the danger a fraction with a fighting draw against Darlington in which Helen Fenby, the league’s only female participant, played a notable part. She survived 16 balls and, along with fellow saviour Marc Symington who was unbeaten on 77 after a 154 ball innings of quality, defied the Quakers attack.

Darlington totalled 183-8 of which Doug Mulholland made an unbeaten 61 from 63 balls and then took the first three Norton wickets to fall for 11 runs. Norton recovered to reach 138-9 in which 15-year-old Fenby played a straight bat perfectly without needing to score.

Guisborough’s Karl Turner became the third player to reach his 1,000th run when he scored exactly 100 against Normanby Hall before the game was washed out by the weather after teammate Chris Nicholls (4-40) got his 50th wicket of the season.

Seaton Carew continued their fight to stay in the premier division, responding to Hartlepool’s score of 253-7 by finishing on 140-6 when the storm hit Park Drive.

In Division One there was a dramatic twist as leaders Billingham were beaten by lowly Blackhall, their defeat allowing Whitby to take over pole position despite only drawing with Saltburn.