Oxbridge Darlington and District League: Middleton St George are still ahead in Division A following their narrow victory over Witton-le-Wear when runs were at a premium.

Batting first the home side reached 119 for eight which included 31 by Sneath. Stones contributed 26 and no fewer than 31 extras took the score to 119 for eight even though McKenna captured four wickets for just 36 runs in the Middleton St George attack. He was given support by Ayub with two for 18.

When they replied the leaders conceded their first two wickets for a combined total of three runs and after McKenna was dismissed for 16 it was Ayub who became the match winner as he carried his bat for 43. Middleton St George conceded no fewer than eight wickets, five of them to Jones for 57 while Nelson took two wickets for 51 runs.

Rockliffe Park are second and they had 37 runs in hand of Aldbrough St John. When they made first use of the wicket Rockliffe Park were pleased for useful contributions from T Garbutt and Todd who both made 26 and P Garbutt with 29 as an all out total of 144 was posted on the scoreboard. Hoyle returned four for 64 and Harker three for 16 in the Aldbrough attack.

Replying the visitors were all out for 107 with P Garbutt the match winner with the ball for the home side claiming seven wickets for 36 runs. Pybus took two wickets for 17 and for Aldbrough their top scorer was Priestley who scored new fewer than 65 of the modest total.

Barton are still third despite losing by 24 runs to Raby Castle who managed only 123 for three when they batted first. Dent opened the scoring at 20 and West carried his bat for 35 with Frankland taking two of the three wickets to fall for 50 runs.

Replying Barton were all out for 99 with Jones taking four for 49, Scaife two for 21 and Dent two for 12. Most of the runs for Barton came from Miller with 36 and Murray (27).

Barningham had 58 runs in hand of Cockerton. The visitors faced a target of 148 but were all out for just 91 which included 25 by Dale. French was in good form with the ball for Barningham capturing five wickets for 37 runs and Mossford took three for 32.

Barningham made first use of the wicket and finished with 147 for seven on top. Opener Newton made 35 and Lowes 32 before May contributed a valuable 24 towards the end of the innings. Lethbridge took four wickets for 89 runs in the Cockerton attack.

Cliffe just had the edge on Ingleton winning by the narrow margin of five runs. Rodgerson (28), Knight (29) and Curry (27) all made useful scores helping Cliffe to 141 for five with Osborne taking two for 42 and Easby two for 17 in the home attack.

Easby then opened the Ingleton inning scoring 40 and Heslop contributed 43, but following an exciting finale the innings closed on 136 as Adamson took five for 47, Curry three for 33 and Carrick two for 19.

Heighington defeated Haughton by two wickets. Batting first Haughton made a poor start, but Wilkinson retrieved the position and finished undefeated with a top scoring 72. McCarthy gave support adding 37 to the total of 154 for seven. The wickets were shared by Howard with figures of four for 34 and by Beaumont who had three for 64.

Replying Heighington were in early difficulties but 24 runs from Smith and 41 by Olney raised the score and later Wilson added a valuable 22 as victory was achieved with Heighington's ninth pair at the wicket. Wilkinson and McCarthy each took two wickets in the Haughton attack.

Rockliffe Park lead Division B and they had 133 runs to spare over Trimdon CCA. The Park reached 249 for eight batting first as the runs flowed from Edwards with 54, Swanwick (87) and Eleanor with 38 before Taylor made a useful 25. Three bowlers were used in the Trimdon attack with Coughtree taking three for 76, Carter two for 83 and Watchman two for 74.

Replying Trimdon CCA were all out for 116 with Westgarth capturing three for 28, Stoker two 17 and Edwards two for 20.

Carr and Churlish both scored 27 for Trimdon CCA.

Catterick Village lost by 69 runs to Middleton Tyas, but stay second from top. Wiper (50) and Mann (67) formed a big partnership for the second wicket leading Middleton Tyas to 162 all out. Only one other player made double figures as Frear claimed three of the wickets for 69 runs.

In reply Catterick Village managed just 93 with Baxter taking six for 36 and Snowdon two for 11. Carter top scored with 29.

Dales made 215 for three which was just as well since Eryholme replied with 191 for seven. Lawson was in magnificent form for Dales and opening the innings, he was still there at the end unbeaten on 136, Simpson added 46 and for Eryholme Lynn took two of the three wickets to go down for 56 runs.

In reply Eryholme were 191 for seven when their overs expired. Warne top scored with 54 and Thornton, who opened the innings with Warne, contributed 24. Later Skillbeck carried his bat for 37 and there were 32 extras, but even so Eryholme were 25 runs short of a winning margin.

Heighington managed 48 visiting Lands as Simpson claimed five of their wickets for a mere 16 runs and Howe returned two for 14.

Runs were a lot more plentiful when Lands made first use of the wicket and totalled 198 for seven. Opener A Elstob top scored with 88, Cummings added 39 and D Elstob finished unbeaten on 33. Most successful bowler for Heighington was Clark with three for 42 and Gibson returned two for 35.

Middleton-in-Teesdale reached 198 for three in their home game with Spennymoor who were all out for 115. Bradley opened for Middleton scoring 38 and the momentum was maintained by Fletcher with 87 and Lee-Shield who finished unbeaten on 55. All three wickets to go down were taken by Collingwood at a cost of 73 runs.

Responding Spennymoor ended with 115 all out which included 38 by opening batsman Ross. Byers captured three wickets for a meager four runs and Waller took two for 59 in the Middleton attack.

Spennithorne and Harmby went down by three wickets to East Cowton who replied with 119 for seven after the visitors had been restricted to 118 for six. Woodcock (26) and Lee (29) were the main contributor to the East Cowton innings and in the visiting attack none did better than Burton with figures of four for 42.

Spennithorne and Harmby ended with 118 for six when they batted first with Clarkson scoring 25 while for East Cowton Whitfield and Copeland both took three wickets.

In Division C there was a big win for Brompton-on-Swale when they sent Cliffe crashing to 26 all out. Felstead claimed five of the wickets for nine runs and Nicholson took four at a cost of just 17 runs. Batting first Brompton reached 213 for seven mainly as a result of the efforts of McGough with 51, Atkinson (36), Askey (31) and Orton (54). Walton took five of the seven wickets to go down for 51 runs.

Cockerton managed only 56 runs when they were opposed to Barningham, who batting first ended with 150 on the board. Simpson had four for 18, Harris three for 30 and Owen three for 49 for Cockerton, but they were all bettered by Barningham's Hutchinson with five for 17 and Metcalfe whose five wickets cost him 17.

Haughton bowled out Trimdon CCA for 63 and more than half the runs came from Gawton with 33. Pritchard had four for 11 for Haughton who batting first totalled 227 for six. Bainbridge contributed 30, Cooker 68 and Dobinson an undefeated 47 and for Trimdon CCA Gawton took four of the six wickets for 66 runs.

King James ended with 203 for five but were still beaten by Trimdon Colliery and Deaf Hill who won losing three wickets. The match winner for Trimdon Colliery was Tinkler who ended unbeaten on 108 and Craggs added 40. Owton did even better ending undefeated on 123 and James scored 31 for King James.

Barton finished ahead of Raby Castle after totalling 186 for three which included 73 by Bell and 67 not out from Kelly. Walker took all three wickets to go down for 59 runs and replying Raby Castle were all out for 125 as Bell completed a good day capturing six wickets for 53 runs and Fairey returned four for 42