Weather takes a heavy toll

The weather was the only winner on Saturday as rain swept through the region during late afternoon. Although every game started, not one went the full distance.

Leaders Redcar made an early start but little play was possible in the home fixture with Richmondshire for whom the Layfield brothers took the score to 80 without loss.

Clive was on 34 not out and Mark carried his bat for 36 as the five-man Redcar attack failed to make a breakthrough.

Blackhall, who a week earlier caused a shock defeating Guisborough, had lost six of their wickets with just 73 runs on the board at Kingsway. Bishop Auckland bowler Paul Timmins was the destroyer with the impressive figures of 5-21.

Champions Guisborough tried in vain to beat the elements against Hartlepool at Fountains Garth but to no avail.

Pool opener Stephen Chapman batted throughout for an unbeaten 69 out of a total of 100-5. Paul Goodchild picked up three of the wickets for 43 runs.

Former Gateshead Fell captain Chris Nichols captured three wickets for Thornaby as Middlesbrough made their way to 142-6 but even less play was possible in the other three fixtures.

Darlington RA faced few overs at Saltburn where they posted 28 without loss, Lee Sykes guided Normanby Hall to 65-2 against Marske when he remained undefeated with 37 and Jonathan Barnes maintained his impressive start with 31 not out for Northallerton (50-2) at Darlington.

In Division One, Darlington had Bedale on the back foot at 118-7 from 28 overs. Chris Dent returned the splendid figures of 5-63 after Simon Gough (89) and Keith Barker (65) had put together a century opening partnership which laid the foundations for an impressive total of 217-5 declared from 46 overs.

Barnard Castle had progressed to a healthy 146-1 in their home game with Redcar. Duncan Coates recorded one six and eight boundaries carrying his bat for 65 and Michael Stanwix was 48 not out with two sixes and five fours.

Middlesbrough had lost eight wickets with just 86 runs on the board against Seaton Carew at Acklam Park. Danny Evans, with 4-17 from six overs and Dave Alsop and Kevin Rowntree, with two wickets apiece, proved problematic to the home batsmen and only Jack Conway and Sarfraz Yaqub managed double figures.

John Woolnough, who struck a couple of sixes and four boundaries making a top-scoring 52, led Wolviston to 165-9 at Billingham Synthonia, who only just got into bat when the weather intervened. Keith Martin, with 5-76 and Martin Cull (4-65) shared 50 overs in the Synners attack.

Colin Murray and Anthony Doyle, with three wickets each, restricted Guisborough to 121-7 from 38 overs when they visited Great Ayton while Stokesley were 49 for the loss of half their wickets against Marton, for whom Peter Williams and Dean Kirby did the damage.

Only 32.5 overs were possible at Normanby Hall who raised 91 for one, Mark Lane contributing 52 with seven fours.