Guisborough will become only the second club in the history of the league to win four consecutive championships if they take just five points from their final game of the season against Darlington RA at Brinkburn Road on Saturday.

They took another step towards creating history when they defeated Normanby Hall with consumate ease at the weekend. Their hosts laboured through 50 overs for a modest 114-9 as David Towse, Imran Jan and Paul Goodchild dominated.

Towse was once again the model of economy, conceding only 40 runs in 25 overs and the only batsmen to offer resistance were Mohamed Zahid and Chris Veazey.

The target was meat and drink to Guisborough and although they conceded two wickets, were never in danger as Jan hit a couple of sixes and five boundaries in an unbeaten 56, forming an unbroken partnership for the third wicket with Stephen Pennock.

Bishop Auckland are second but unless Guisborough suffer a disaster on the final day, will have to make do with the runners-up position.

They consigned the wooden spoon to Blackhall when they secured a six-wicket victory which at the very least ensures they will finish in second position.

Despite useful performances down the order from John Darby (33), Paul Webster with 34 and Graham Bell (41), the Colliers' 172 compiled from 46.2 overs proved insufficient.

Richard Hawthorne (45) and Amul Mazumdar whose 40 included a six and five boundaries, gave the Bishops reply the perfect send-off and the momemtum was maintained with an unbeaten half century from Ben Usher.

Blackhall's fate hangs in the balance. They await the outcome of the race for the Division One championship and whether the winners meet the necessary criteria to move up into the Premier Division.

Marske have escaped ending at the bottom winning their penultimate match of the season against Darlington RA by no fewer than 142 runs.

Richie Rennard was in super form striking 13 boundaries in a century which together with 61 from Gary Lynch propelled the Seasiders to 257-6 - the highest score of the day.

Peter Cartwright took four of the six wickets before RA slumped to 115 all out in 30.2 overs as Rob Nicol and Stuart Mackay shared seven wickets. Phil Crowther made a good half century for RA recording one six and nine fours from the 78 balls he received.

The best that Northallerton, who have challenged all season for the title, can hope for is third place. They took just nine points from their game at Great Ayton who following a poor start to their first season in the top flight, have gradually improved.

Darren Hickey (62) and Thara Gunnaratne with 53 laid the foundations for Ayton's total of 182-9 which also included 38 by Andy Doyle.

Jonathan Barnes bowled another lengthy spell in the Northallerton attack claiming seven wickets for 66 runs and then scored 44 before being run out. At close of play the outcome was delicately poised with Northallerton needing only eight runs for victory but with their last pair at the wicket.

Gunnaratne, with 4-75, almost snatched victory for Ayton.

Hartlepool surprisingly romped to a nine-wicket win over Richmondshire at Park Drive. A half century from Mark Layfield was the feature of the visitors' innings which produced only 148-8 as the seven-man Pools attack restricted the scoring.

Michael Gough then led the home side's reply batting throughout for an unbeaten 80.

A fourth-wicket partnership of 100 between Neil Pratt, whose 81 included 15 boundaries, and Lee Hutton, who scored his maiden Premier Division half century ending unbeaten on 61, earned Darlington a three-wicket win against Middlesbrough at Feethams.

Mattie Connelly took six of the seven wickets to fall for 66 runs and when they batted first Boro's 50 overs produced the useful total of 205-6.

Openers Brenton Parchment and Darren Birkett both made half centuries and for Darlington, no bowler did better than Stephen Chapman whose 14 overs yielded5-41.

Redcar came out on top in the Seaside derby at Saltburn where the home side ended on 165-8 from their 50 overs. Umar Rashid stroked eight fours in 75 but the man of the match was Redcar's Qureshi who after taking five wickets, contributed 72 with three sixes and five fours. Neil Russell gave admirable support ending unbeaten on 69.

l The race for the Division One championship and the possibility of promotion to the Premier Division will go right to the wire with only 11 points dividing Billingham Synthonia from Marton.

Synners are the favourites following their 29-runs victory over Bedale when runs were far from plentiful. The home side stuttered through 46.3 overs making only 131 as Mark Ellis and Jonathan Wilkin shared eight wickets. Ellis, in particular was economical, returning 5-42 from 23 overs.

Opener James Clarkson made a good 71 with seven boundaries but even so Bedale were all out in 44.2 overs for only 102 as Keith Martin and Martin Cull both took five wickets.

Darlington were sent back for just 93 in 42 overs at Marton for whom Dean Kirby captured six wickets for a meagre 22 runs in 7.1 overs.

There was a long economical spell of 21 overs from Graham Shaw which cost him only 39 runs.

Shaw then took over with the bat, hitting eight fours in 54 before he became Darlington's only success with victory in sight.

Stokesley crashed to 43 all out in 27.1 overs at Yarm, who have their eyes fixed on finishing third from top. John Kay took 5-18 in 14 overs and Phil Andrews 4-18 from 13.1 overs before Yarm needed just 13.4 overs to secure an eight-wickets win.

The Marske batsmen also found it difficult at Thornaby where they made just 74 from no fewer than 39 overs. Chris Nichols claimed five wickets for just 14 runs in nine overs and Thornaby finished comfortable eight-wicket winners needing only 11.3 overs at the crease.

Barnard Castle were another side which failed to make three figures stuttering to 99 at Seaton Carew. Kevin Rowntree, with 5-26 in 15 overs and Kevin Gibbon (3-18) were the bowlers who did the damage.

Seaton's reply was swift and effective. Richie Clayton remained unbeaten on 43 while Danny Black, an under-15, celebrated his debut striking four boundaries in 34 as Seaton enjoyed a nine-wicket romp.

Two games bucked the trend. Wolviston declared on 201-9 with an over remaining at Redcar who produced an exciting finish making 194-9 from their 51 overs.

Fish stroked seven fours in a top-scoring 63 for the visitors and in the Redcar attack none did better than Adam Pickard with figures of 5-46 from 11 overs.

Opener Lee Powell (53) and Andy Weatherill with 31 led Redcar's response to set up a nail-biting finale. Martin O'Neill's performance in taking 4-41 from 17 overs was crucial for Wolviston.

Normanby Hall realised 168-6 in their drawn game with Guisborough. Paul Gettings (57 not out) and Geoff Robinson (32) top-performed with Will Wyatt taking three wickets for the visitors.

Rob Hornbrook opened Guisborough's reply making 52 but the innings only realised 138-8 as Robinson and Eddie Brown both took three wickets.