Rain-affected pitches caused the majority of games to be called off and Darlington must have wished their fixture with Bishop Auckland had also fallen victim to the conditions.

They were caught out on a sodden track at Feethams where Phil Timmens and Richard Hawthorne made merry. But unlike the home batsmen, Bishops found no terrors in the surface and romped to a ten-wicket victory.

Darlington were in trouble from the start and, despite the efforts of Steve Chapman, the innings collapsed to just 85 all out from 30.4 laboured overs.

Timmens, who included the prize wicket of Chapman in his collection, ended with matchwinning figures of 7-36 from 15.7 overs including seven maidens. Hawthorne, introduced as first-change, sent down ten overs, taking 3-18.

Hawthorne and Darren Blenkiron then dominated Darlington's five-man attack. The former recorded five boundaries in an unbeaten 35 and Blenkiron struck six fours for his 41.

Guisborough also managed to stage their fixture with Northallerton at Fountains Garth, but the three-times champions came unstuck losing a low-scoring game by 12 runs.

Jonathan Barnes, Richard Chandler and George Kay revelled in the conditions and Guisborough managed only 92. Earlier the visitors also struggled for runs and eight wickets went down while a total of only 104 was posted. Five of the wickets went to the ever-reliable David Towse for just 41 runs, but it was Northallerton who celebrated a second successive victory.

Premier Division newcomers Great Ayton gained a draw with Darlington RA at Brinkburn Road. Murray topscored with 44 in a total of 134 as Andrews took six wickets for just 54 runs in the RA attack.

Although David Eccles opened making 49, the home side were struggling at stumps on 119-8. Murray picked up three wickets and Ayton's new Sri Lankan professional Milan Gunaratne captured 4-37 with his off-spin.

The other four games in the Premier Division were cancelled and a similar number suffered the same fate in Division One where there were wins for Bedale and Barnard Castle.

Liam Brown (37) and Duncan Johnson (46) were prominent for Darlington who ended with 163-9 from their 50 overs at Bedale for whom Martin Shillito captured 6-32 in 14 overs.

Replying, Bedale had five wickets to spare with one over remaining when they clinched victory.

Runs were scarce at Thornaby where Barnard Castle's total of 87-8 proved sufficient. Thornaby were bowled out for only 61 in 34.5 overs - David and Michael Stanwix sharing the ten wickets.

Ian McDonald sent down 16 overs in the Thornaby attack, taking 3-43 and Sam Toulson 3-19.

The game between Billingham Synthonia and Stokesley was drawn. Vinod Nair hit 54 enabling Synners to reach 151-5.

Stokesley ended on 100-7 as Keith Martin returned 3-46 from 22 overs and Martin Cull 3-34 in 21 overs, ten of which were maidens.