IT is still nip and tuck between Guisborough and Saltburn as the pair battle it out for the championship.

Both sides won low-scoring matches on Saturday, leaving Guisborough a tenuous 12 points ahead of their rivals with 40 points still up for grabs in the remaining two fixtures.

Guisborough made no mistake at Fountains Garth against Darlington, who they bowled out for only 105 as Paul Goodchild, with six wickets for 51 runs and David Towse, whose three victims were taken at an economical 29 runs, ripped through the line-up.

The target was meat and drink to the home batsmen. Saul Clifford (34) and Graham Shaw gave the reply a perfect send-off and Shaw, who struck 31, then partnered Richard Dunn (30 not out) in an unbroken second-wicket stand.

Saltburn's attack sent Redcar back to the pavilion for only 69 runs. Mauhtashim Rashid claimed five wickets for a meagre 30 runs and his brother Umer had figures of 3-35.

There were one or two hiccups for Saltburn before they reached the low target. Five wickets went down, but Mauhtashim and John Bond steadied the innings.

Another battle is raging at the bottom, principally between Thornaby and Hartlepool to avoid the relegation place.

Both sides lost and each gained seven points leaving Pool 18 points better off than their rivals in distress.

Hrishikesh Kanitkar again struck form with 79 as did Muldowney (78) as Thornaby reached 217-4 against Darlington RA at Brinkburn Road. Four of the wickets were taken by skipper David Eckels for a mere 26 runs.

Eckels then opened his side's reply with a half-century.

Paul Freary and Darren Hickey also passed 50, leading RA to a six-wicket victory.

Hartlepool were well beaten on their visit to Richmondshire. Shanoka Dissanayake was the match-winner with bat and ball.

First, he contributed 56 and Mark Layfield added 67 as Richmond reached 256 for eight.

Dissanayake then claimed the wickets of both Hartlepool openers and despite 73 by Cannon and 33 from Carter, who also fell to the professional, Pool were all out for only 167. Dissanayake ended with seven wickets for 102 runs.

Bishop Auckland went down by four wickets to Normanby Hall where they managed only 180 for eight, which included 69 by Richard Hawthorne and 41 from Amul Mazumbar.

Mohamed Zahid, who has twice taken nine wickets in a match this season, again struck form for the Hall, claiming another four wickets at a cost of 44 runs.

Steve McNicholas, Ramzan and David Cross then led the Hall to victory and they are now almost certainly safe from the threat of relegation. Northallerton are not out of the woods yet, but they too are just about free of the danger zone even though they picked up just seven points from their drawn game with Marske.

Tim Hood led the Marske innings, making 69 out of a total of 184, when once again Jonathan Barnes was the main wicket-taker in the Northallerton attack.

His superb effort earned him figures of 7-66.

Northallerton's reply though never gained momentum and stuttered to just 104-6 as Fahim Fazal kept the home batsmen at bay finishing with 4-44.

Blackhall were all out for just 120 in their home game with Middlesbrough.

Imran Jan's half century was the only contribution of note as Dan Conway returned the outstanding analysis of 5-28 in 12 overs, five of which were maidens. Middlesbrough's reply was positive and victory was achieved for the loss of just one wicket in 24 overs.

Brenton Parchment opened with 41, Mark Croft carried his bat for 45 and so too did James Lowe, ending undefeated on 31. Both Croft and Lowe found the boundary line on six occasions