Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division: Northallerton go marching on at the top and Jonathan Barnes again inspired them to victory against Marske.
Few players have proved so successful and reliable in recent years and he was again in top form with bat and ball. He claimed six wickets for a mere 22 runs and the Seasiders were back in the pavilion with just 130 on the board.
Mark Stainsby opened Northallerton's reply scoring 30 before man-of-the-match Barnes hit 33 enabling his side to win by six wickets.
Middlesbrough sprang a surprise at Saltburn winning by six wickets. Faced with a target of 158 they were grateful to opener Brendon Parchment for his 77 and to Brett Roberts, who ended undefeated on 36.
Richie Storr made a half century but Saltburn managed only 157-9 as change bowlers James Beaumont and Mattie Brown both claimed three wickets.
The runs flowed at Kingsway where 450 were recorded for the loss of just 11 wickets. Darren Blenkiron hit a couple of sixes and five boundaries in 79 made from 117 balls, Richard Hawthorne added 69 and Amul Mazumdar 37 as Bishop Auckland made merry, scoring 230-3 in 50 overs.
Normanby Hall conceded three early wickets before Stephen McNicholas and David Cross raised their hopes. McNicholas contributed 75 from 110 deliveries and Cross struck three sixes and six fours in 88 compiled from 124 balls.
Their heroic efforts failed to earn victory and when time was up, the Hall were 220-8, 11 runs short of a winning margin. Another couple of wickets, however, would have earned Bishops victory.
Runs also flowed at Park Drive where Hartlepool and Redcar drew. Paul Johnson, 15, carried his bat for an excellent century, John Cannon struck 14 boundaries making 94 and Michael Gough (42) raised Pool's total to an impressive 258-3 declared in 49.3 overs.
Martin Hood, with a six and 13 fours out of 88, was the mainstay of the Redcar reply which produced 191 for nine wickets in 50 overs. Ashley Day had a good day with the ball for the home side claiming five for 49 in 18 overs, half of which were maidens.
Top-flight newcomers Great Ayton were comfortable at the end of their drawn game with Darlington RA although earlier, they struggled. After seven wickets fell cheaply, Doyle and David Grainge (37 not out) took the total to 146-7.
Earlier, RA posted 220 with David Eckles making 41, Wilden Cornwall 78 and Andrew Chisholm 32. Grainge was also in form with the ball for Ayton and he claimed five wickets for 38 runs.
Champions Guisborough only managed a draw at Richmondshire. Stephen Pennock's half century and 32 from Saul Clifford enabled the visitors to reach 188-9 despite the efforts of Shanoka Dissanayake and Clive Layfield who shared seven wickets.
Richmond made a good start to their reply but when David Towse claimed the wicket of Dissanayake for 50, the pendulum swung back to Guisborough. Michael Fleming though ended undefeated on 38 leading the home team to 156 for eight at stumps. Towse delivered 23 overs taking 5-43.
Darlington required another 24 runs with four wickets remaining when time was called against Blackhall. Their target was 213 and when Stephen Chapman (55) and Gary Moody (35) were together victory was in sight but in the end the innings only produced a total of 189-6.
Tony Booth contributed a half century, Fahim Fazal 32 and Steve Sargeant 41 to the Colliers' total of 212. Half their wickets fell to Chapman at a cost of just 38 runs.
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