The entire North-East programme was washed out on Saturday, writes Malcolm Pratt.

It was the first time in years that every fixture was cancelled and few games have been called off this season because the weather overall has been good.

Although points differences are unaltered, teams at the top actually strengthened their positions since those challenging have fewer games in which to reduce deficits.

In the Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division Saltburn command a 49-point lead and Guisborough now have only eight games left to make up the gap.

The last match to be called off on Saturday was that between relegation candidates Northallerton and Richmondshire. The home side hoped the game would go ahead but by mid-afternoon had no option than to concede defeat to the elements.

In Division One Thornaby held on as long as possible in the hope of taking the maximum 20 points from third-bottom Redcar but were denied the opportunity. Thornaby have a 25-point advantage at the top over Marton who have two games in hand, while Blackhall are also handily placed in the race for the championship and promotion into the Premier Division.

After being dismissed for fewer than 100 runs in each of their two previous games, South Northumberland were keen to play their Foster's North-East Regional Premier League fixture with Gateshead Fell but it was soon obvious that there was no chance of the game going ahead at Gosforth.

South North lead Chester-le-Street by 32 points with seven games worth 210 points still up for grabs.

Murton's fixture with Peterlee was the last one to be cancelled in the Durham Coast League. Murton, aiming to win the championship for a third successive season, have led the table for most of the campaign but are down to third.

They were eager to stage their game, especially after learning that the matches involving table-topping Castle Eden and second-placed Seaham Park had earlier been called off.

It did not take clubs long in The Readers Durham County League to realise that play would be impossible and by lunchtime all six games were cancelled.

Esh Winning are firm favourites to clinch the title, 39 points in front of Willington.

Esh are unbeaten but Willington have lost five times and third-top Tudhoe have suffered defeat on four occasions.

The statistics prove that Esh have been consistent throughout the season and it will be a major surprise if they do not win their first championship since 1990. Tynedale hoped to line up Durham County's Gary Pratt in the crucial Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League game at Hexham. They hung on until early afternoon before finally giving way to the rain.

The Hexham side are just 13 points adrift of leaders Ashington with Leadgate and Swalwell tucked in between the pair.

Whitburn will be ruing the rain on Saturday when they appeared to have the easiest chance of winning of the top three in the Foster's Durham Senior League.

Their high hopes of picking up maximum points were hampered by the weather and certainly put a dampener on their chances of overhauling Hetton Lyons.

However, there are still seven matches remaining and 140 points to play for and with just seven points separating the two teams Whitburn will not be worrying too much. If they both maintain a level of consistency, the crunch could well arrived when the pair meet at Whitburn on Bank Holiday Monday.

Currently in third place, Eppleton could well emerge from the rear. They still have to play both Hetton Lyons and Whitburn and if Jim Daley, Sean Ezzard and company can bat to their potential, they will at least have an opportunity to change the direction of the championship.

Leaders Hetton Lyons have yet to play two of the bottom sides as do Whitburn and if either slip up in this kind of fixture, it would open a chance for Eppleton.

Outsiders Burnmoor and Eppleton will be on hand if the leading two show any signs of faltering and this would be a great incentive for the title to develop into one of the most exciting in recent years.