THERE is no doubt where the match of the day is in the premier division tomorrow.

Guisborough, winners of the championship in three successive seasons, are second to Saltburn, who have a slender two-point lead.

A blow to Guisborough's chances is the news that Johnny May is unfit and Willie Wyatt, who was called into the side as a late replacement last week, retains his place.

One-time leaders Northallerton, who are now fourth, visit Marske with Chris Weyman taking over from Richard Chandler. The Seasiders are strengthened with the inclusion of Chris Burke, Shazid Mohamed and Gary Lynch with Paul Smith, Alex Welch and Steve Larkin giving way.

Middlesbrough will need to improve on their batting if they are to profit from their fixture with Great Ayton at Acklam Park. Their chances are enhanced with the return of captain Martin Ball, Guy Whatmore, Jack Conway, Mattie Brown and the promotion of Matthew Connolly.

James Beaumont, Lee Roberts, John Paul Price and Darren Reilly are all absent while Chris Bruton reverts to the second team.

Andrew Chisholm will play his last game of the season for Darlington RA against neighbours Darlington at Brinkburn Road before returning to Australia on Sunday.

He was club professional in 1996 and has been back for a year teaching. He will captain the side in his final match, while visitors Darlington are unchanged.

Both Redcar and Richmondshire are unchanged for their game and Blackhall, at home to Hartlepool, line up Paul Webster and David Lamb for Stephen Sergeant and Gavin Watts, who will miss the remainder of the season with an Achilles tendon injury.

Guisborough enjoyed the rub of the green last weekend when they were able to complete their game at Blackhall and move into second position.

Three games failed to start, while others were badly affected by the weather, but Guisborough beat the rain and their opponents and are now just two points behind leaders Saltburn.

Imran Jan returned to his former club and top-scored with 51 in the Guisborough innings, which realised 167-7. Graeme Murray added 48 before being run out and a late unbeaten 18 from Gary Bolton maintained the momentum.

Richard Watts was the most successful bowler in the Colliers attack, capturing 4-41.

Blackhall then lost John Darby without scoring, but Tony Booth raised their hopes and while he was at the wicket the home side were in with a chance.

But, following his dismissal for 57, the innings ended on 134 as David Towse took 4-44 and Chris Murray emulated his brother, returning the outstanding figures of 5-33.

Saltburn held on to the leadership even though their game with Hartlepool at Park Drive was eventually abandoned.

Phil Ramage (77) and John Windows (56) propelled the Seasiders to the formidable total of 199-7. Ian Palmer and Michael Gough both took a couple of wickets for Hartlepool, who were 33-2 when the weather became the eventual winner. Gough, who opened the innings, was still there unbeaten.

Middlesbrough found the going difficult at Kingsway, where they were dismissed for only 42. The batsmen found the twin attack of Phil Timmens and Richard Partington extremely difficult to cope with.

Timmens captured 6-15 and Partington took the other four wickets for just 26 runs.

Batting first, Bishop Auckland ended on 136-5, which included 31 apiece by Richard Hawthorne and Darren Blenkiron. Timmens, later to take the man of the match honours, added a useful unbeaten 28.

Brenton Parchment was the most successful bowler in the Boro attack, taking four of the five wickets to fall for 60 runs.

Richmondshire were 31 runs short of a winning margin with half their wickets intact at Redcar. The target was 186 and openers Shanoka Dissanayake (78) and Andrew Smith (35) put them in with a chance, but eventually time ran out.

Suleiman Benn took 3-50 and Neil Russell had figures of 2-59 for Redcar, who had earlier posted 185-7 before declaring. Most of the runs came from Benn with an undefeated 76.

The games between Northallerton and Darlington RA, Darlington v Normanby Hall and Great Ayton against Marske were cancelled without a ball being delivered.