The two leading sides both take a trip to the seaside today as they attempt to continue their excellent starts to the season, although judging by the weather forecast they might be better off taking buckets and sponges, rather than bat and ball.

While revenge is probably furthest from their minds, Northallerton will not have forgotten it is just over a week since their dream of a first ever league and cup double was shattered as they were dumped out of the prestigious Kerridge Cup by Marske when it seemed they were well on their way to victory.

One advantage is their principal objective is now in sharper focus which could be bad news for their rivals.

They go into today's encounter with an unchanged side, and one that is considered their strongest line-up. Marske cannot say the same as they face wholesale changes for a variety of reasons that have one or two old-timers shaking their heads.

Guy Whatmore, Col Haslett and Gary Lynch are all at the Test match at Riverside, Jon Wiltshire is absent following a minor operation and Steve Larkins is at a wedding. Karl Bramwell and Paul Smith return, with Jack Hugill and Graham Lambton drafted in from the seconds.

Just two miles down the coast Middlesbrough will be able to keep a close eye on proceedings at Windy Hill Lane as they attempt to maintain their challenge to Northallerton's leadership when they play a Redcar team performing better than pre season predictions. The Coatham club can be dangerous opponents, especially with professional Tariq Aziz in such scintillating form.

There are just two changes in the home line-up this week as Gordon Kidd and Darren Nalton miss out through work, so Ryan Lazenby and Ollie Rodgers come in.

Boro could have a potentially significant absence with James Lowe working at the Test. He has been scoring lots of runs at the top of the order and will be a big miss. With Raf Rashid Jnr dropping back into the seconds, the visitors bring in Darren Birkett and Daniel Trodden.

Richmondshire are starting to make their rivals sit up and take notice as a run of four straight victories has brought them to the fringe of the title battle.

They play at Marton today knowing a fifth consecutive win would move them above their opponents into third. Marton have slowly slipped back in recent weeks.

Richmond will miss Chris Layfield and Kevin Ashton for today's encounter, although they continue to have faith in some excellent youngsters at the club as they promote Mathew Hodgson and Adam Hillary.

Great Ayton have the chance to get back in touch with the top four when they entertain a Saltburn side who have now lost nine of their ten league games and have not experienced the upturn in fortunes they hoped for when they finally acquired their two professionals a few weeks back.

The home side believe the fixture list has not favoured them so far and that they now have a run of winnable matches coming up that will enable them to put together a consistent run and take advantage of any slip-ups from the leading pack.

They are without John Grainge today, Mark Bashford sliding into his gloves, and also miss Matt Wilkinson, who is replaced by Peter Renvoise.

Bishop Auckland take on Hartlepool, both teams nestled in the mid-table comfort zone, in a game that is very difficult to call.

Pools can beat anyone on their day and they enjoyed seeing Ian Palmer earn career-best figures in last weeks defeat of Guisborough, to take the limelight away from their two outstanding professionals.

However, the visitors do have an injury concern over star man Michael Gough, although expecting him to play, while Ian Jackson returns for John Daniels, who is working.

Darlington have had a quiet week and go into their game at Fountains Garth with no changes.

Because of Saltburn's parlous position the clubs just above them look relatively safe at the moment but the Quakers will know that could change at any time and will be looking to prey on Guisborough's mini-crisis of confidence that has seen them exit the title race before the half way stage of the season.

In the final game of the day Blackhall entertain Normanby Hall with Farukh Iqbal back in the side following his recovery from a broken finger while Hall promote Geoff Robinson to captain the side for this one, and also have Keith Martin back from holiday.

The Division One title race is suddenly not so clear-cut as Thornaby were once again unable to bowl out their opponents when losing the toss last week and saw their lead cut to just 13 points.

There is a double programme this weekend which sees their closest challengers, Billingham, have two home games, a venue where they usually enjoy success, and Thornaby face two trips away, the first a tricky test at Darlington and the second to fourth-placed Stokesley, who have already beaten third-placed Seaton Carew this season, and have four consecutive wins to their credit.