The title and relegation issues will go down to the wire, concluded on Saturday - the last day of the season.

The relegation scenario is a little more confusing, as Richmondshire second team lost in Division One. That increased the chances of two being relegated from the Premier League.

Bishop Auckland are set to go down, 40 points adrift of the safety line. They were hammered at home by 192 runs against Thornaby who amassed 248-7. Jeremy Boyle scored 85, Paul Allen 55, Tharindu Rathnayake 40 and Lewis Harper 34. Bishops disintegrated and made just 56, as Liam Crooks took 4-29 and Rathnayake an excellent 5-4.

Marske did all they could at Hartlepool, winning by 107 runs to collect 25 points along the way. The Seasiders made 230-7, thanks to Lee Hodgson who scored 73, Sam Berry 36 and Johnathon Pickard who added 39 not out, while Doug Mulholland claimed 3-59 with the ball.

Pools, who are still not safe, collapsed to 123 all out, as Benjamin Van Rensburg (5-36) and Sam Berry (4-39) bowled brilliantly to guide their team to victory, however, they are still 17 points behind third-bottom Middlesbrough.

Boro were well beaten at Richmondshire, who stay third, by 126 runs.

The home side amassed 253-4 declared, with 59 coming from opener Robert Carr, 96 off 83 balls, which included 10 fours and two sixes, from Matthew McKiernan and 43 not out from Matthew Cowling off just 24 balls.

Boro then got off to a bad start (27-3) and never recovered, thanks to Josh Dowson (3-30) and Sam Wood bowled well claiming 4-38, despite Steven Reeves making 65 not out and were all out for 127.

Leaders Barnard Castle have a four-point advantage going into the last game, but they did not have things all their own way at Stokesley.

Opening bowler Richard Chandler took 5-39, ripping out the top order, with Daniel Chillingworth claiming 4-47. However, they are not at the top for nothing, as a late partnership of 57 between Richard Watson (26) and Robert Dixon (44no), they managed to get their score up to 190-9.

Stokesley lost early wickets, and the home side were struggling on 69-5. Daniel Chillingworth made 51 and Tom Preece 36, but Richard Watson ripped out the rest in claiming 5-20 for a crucial 25 points for his team, as the home side were all out for 127.

Great Ayton travelled to Marton, and won by just 10 runs after making 210 all out, with Michael Croft top scoring with 40, while skipper Alex Wardell took 6-75 with the ball.

In reply, the home side made a positive start with Jonathan Spillane scoring 35 and Luke De Vlieg 51, as they put on 93 for the first wicket, in a total of 200 all out, as Joe Marsay took 5-63 and then Thomas Leng 3-29, to bowl their side to victory.

Darlington are fifth, beating Seaton Carew at home by seven wickets. The visitors totalled 191-8, with Liam Gough scoring 74 not out and Neil Whitworth added 31. The home side then replied with 195-3, mainly thanks to Nathan Wright who made 63, Lee Hutton with 63 not out and Callum Lethbridge 46 not out.