A splendid victory for last season's champions Richmondshire was counter balanced by a shock defeat for 2014 champions Darlington, on a frantic opening day.

Richmond's win was against Great Ayton, the team which, after a poor start to last season, chased them all the way to the finishing line. The villagers, just as in the first few weeks a year ago, couldn't cope with either the bowling or batting power of their opponents who are again strongly fancied to carry off the silverware.

Ayton started promisingly enough, reaching 74 before the first wicket –skipper Chris Batchelor fell for 44. Newly-appointed professional Chris Allinson (75) lost four more partners, two without scoring, before his new team reached the 100 runs mark as Craig Marshall and Toby Bulcock, who shared five wickets, struck menacingly.

At the 50-over break Ayton's offering of 152-8 looked well short.

And so it proved, the title-holders winning by eight wickets despite their skipper and opening batsman, Gary Pratt, making just 11 runs and gone with the score at 27. Mike Layfield hit a splendid 47 before the Fleming brothers, Andy (44) and Mike (32) added 56 in a stylish unbroken partnership.

Darlington lost against Marske at Feethams where the first of the season's three centuries were scored. The other two were at Stokesley where the Weighell brothers, Andrew (104) and Jonny (109), shared a 200-run partnership.

Against the Quakers, Lee Hodgson, the Marske skipper, hit 106 from 148 balls with 44 in boundaries.

He shared a fourth wicket stand worth 155 with Craig Gratton (63 not out) after the Seasiders, on 48-3, had been in danger of a collapse. Not only did Hodgson bat until the penultimate ball of his side's innings, but he introduced himself as third change bowler to take four wickets cheaply and swing the game the visitors way for a second time.

Darlington lost by 65 runs after making just 139 of which Paul Freary (39), James Sutton (38) and Mohammad Saad (25) did best.

Stokesley's contribution to the day's run-making total of 2,242 was an impressive 266 against Seaton Carew, who are a much changed team from last summer when they survived relegation with a Houdini-style escape. Seaton were 103 runs short but had four wickets in hand at the close thanks to Stu Lobb (47 not out) and newcomer, Reece Carr (35).

Stokesley's new pro, Doug Mulholland, took three wickets on debut after watching the Weighells in full cry, Andrew hitting 11 fours and two sixes from 142 balls for his 104, and Jonny facing 120 balls for his 109 with seven fours and six sixes.

Middlesbrough and Hartlepool each enjoyed victories.

Pool share top place with Marske on 25 points after victory over Normanby Hall, who suffered a batting slump largely because of poor shot selection. Responding to the 50-over Pool total of 214-8, Hall found their own pitch quite lively and it didn't help that newcomer, Jonathan Carson, an Aussie spinner, was an unknown quantity.

The new recruit, who took four wickets for 31 runs from nine overs, had the Normanby batsmen tied in knots and with Lewis Stabler showing equally dynamic form to take 3-44 from 8.5 overs it was a tough afternoon all round. Chris Veasey, who made 46 out of the team total of 139 in 38.5 overs, saved Hall from complete embarrassment.

Pool’s Neil Coverdale hit 77 from 120 balls to provide the perfect platform for David Seymour (43 from 55 balls) and Stabler (37 from 27 balls) to produce late acceleration.

Middlesbrough needed to score over 200 to defeat Guisborough and they did it with a late flourish from former Great Ayton batsman, Sam Harper.

He made 30 from 32 balls with four boundaries and shared a match winning partnership with veteran Danny Evans (24 not out). Earlier, Adil Ditta (46) and Steve Reeves (44) put on 68 to leave Boro needing 55 for victory from eight overs. Their success, by three wickets, came with seven balls to spare.

Norton (192-7) were 24 runs short of victory at Barnard Castle (215-7) where Matty Thomas top scored with an unbeaten 44 and the Symington's added 75 between them. Richard Borrowdale (74) left the Teessiders with just a little too much to do after they slid to 160-7.