REIGNING premier division champions Guisborough continued their title charge on Tuesday when they cruised to a ten-wicket victory over visitors Darlington RA at Fountains Garth.

The home side asked RA to bat first and they made 162-5, with Paul Freary scoring 41 as David Towse bowled unchanged to return fine figures of 4-66.

This total was not enough as the Guisborough openers eased their side home. Saul Clifford made a superb unbeaten century (101) and Graham Shaw also carried his bat for 62.

At Feethams, Blackhall set Darlington a target of 238-5 in their 50 overs. West Indian pro Imran Jan made 95 and Tony Booth a fine 90, while Rob Lawrence bowled well to claim 5-73 in his 18 overs.

Darlington slumped to 117 all out, falling to the bowling of Jan (3-50) and Richard Darwen, who claimed 4-13 in only 4.5 overs. Mark Jobling made a top score of 42.

Richmondshire travelled to Cricket Lane to play Normanby Hall and asked the home side to bat first. They scored 239-6, with the major contributions coming from Mark Croft (41), Zahid (38), Ramzan (41) and Jarvis Ramzan (51). Pro Michael Ponter claimed 5-101 in 25 overs. Richmond had made 180-6 by the close, Andy Mollitt making 41.

In the local derby at Marske, the home side batted first against Saltburn and scored 237-8 after their 50 overs. The visitors, having lost early wickets cheaply, achieved victory by three wickets.

At Acklam Park, Middlesbrough were in a hurry when they batted first against Wolviston. They posted a massive 237-4 and declared after only 40 overs.

This was due to a fine opening partnership of 168 in 29 overs between James Lowe, who scored 94 from only 62 balls with 17 fours, and James Beaumont, who stroked seven fours on his way to 70 from 107 deliveries. The visitors replied with 163-8 as the match ended as a draw.

The game at Northallerton saw visitors Hartlepool score 170-7 in their 50 overs. The main feature of the innings was an opening stand of 91 between Gary Tebbett and professional Stephen Chapman.

The latter scored a fine 79 with a six and nine fours, while youngster George Kay bowled well to claim 4-50 in his 11 overs as pro Jon Barnes bowled unchanged to earn 3-65.

A fine partnership between Barnes (63) and captain Ian Gill (50) looked to be guiding Northallerton to victory, but Chapman returned 5-38 in 16.1 overs and the home side were bowled out for 155 and defeat by 15 runs.

Redcar dismissed visitors Thornaby for 123 as Dulip Samaraweera claimed 5-13 in 14.3 overs and Jason Robinson earned 3-31 in seven overs.

Home opener Martin Hood made 40 and Mattie Stokeld scored 31 as Redcar won by seven wickets.

On Saturday, Guisborough bowler Chris Murray took five wickets to help the champions to a comfortable victory at Richmondshire.

The visitors posted a massive 251-6 as the home bowlers suffered against openers Graham Shaw (86) and Saul Clifford (42) and No 3 Richard Dunn (67).

The Richmond batsmen floundered and were dismissed for a paltry 93 as the Priorymen won by a massive 158 runs. The wickets were shared, but Murray was the most impressive with 5-14 in his 8.5-over spell.

Darlington RA entertained Middlesbrough at Brinkburn Road. The visitors batted first and lost five early wickets, all to Peter Cartwright, but they were indebted to wicket-keeper James Lowe, who made a fine 80 as they were bowled out for 162 in the 47th over.

Cartwright again bowled superbly to claim 6-46 in his 18 overs, while Indian pro Maroof Khan claimed three late wickets and returned 3-47 in 13.5 overs.

Captain Dave Eckels opened and was the backbone of the RA reply, scoring 59, while fellow opener Paul Freary hit 38. Khan made a rapid 29 and, after a few scares, RA won by three wickets.

Darlington travelled to Saltburn to play their championship contenders and the home side made 219-6 in their 50 overs, with the major contributions coming from opener Simon Davies (39), Tony Bell (54) and the brothers Rashid, who both made 34.

Mark Jobling made a top score of 43, but the Quakers batsmen struggled and they were dismissed for 121 as Saltburn won by 91 runs. Pakistan professional Maurice Rashid was the chief destroyer, taking 6-47 in his 17.5 overs.

Marske hosted Normanby Hall, who batted first and were all out for 234. The major additions were made by Steve McNicholas (54), Mark Addison (49) and Graham Robinson (42), while the wickets were shared between Tim Hood (5-83) and pro Fahim Fazal (4-61).

Extras top-scored in the Marske reply and they made 138-8 in a drawn match.

At Mandale Bottoms, home side Thornaby batted first and scored 170-7 in their 50 overs against Hartlepool. Stephen Moore made a top score of 63, supported by Ian Macdonald (32) and Ian Still (49). Andy Holland and pro Steve Chapman each claimed three wickets.

The Pool reply was well founded by openers Gary Tebbett (31) and Chapman (61), but at the close they were two runs short of victory at 169-9 and the match was drawn.

Bottom club Wolviston posted an all out total of 170 against visitors Northallerton. Geoff Peacock made 34 and Mark Christon 56, while visiting professional Jonathan Barnes bowled unchanged and returned 5-46 in his 25 overs. Richard Chandler claimed 3-46.

Opener Peter Guy, Dougie Mulholland and captain Ian Gill each scored 38 runs and Barnes made an unbeaten 32 to lead Northallerton to victory by seven wickets.

At Welfare Park, Blackhall captain Ben Usher asked Redcar to bat first and they were dismissed for 167. This was largely due to Usher, who claimed 5-18 in his 10.3 overs, and Richard Watts, who returned 3-84 in 21 overs.

Redcar openers Martin Hood (32) and Dulip Samaraweera (39) and coach Neil Russell (45) made the major contributions. In the home reply, opener Steve Sargeant made 75 and Paul Webster 37 and the scores were tied at 167-9 at the close.

l See page 24 for a report on the division one matches