The Guisborough bandwagon rolls on and their unbeaten record, which stretches back to August 2000, was extended yesterday against Saltburn.

But they were forced to hang on for much of their innings as their visitors threatened to topple them from pole position yesterday.

Only four matches went ahead and all ended in draws which was some consolation for Guisborough.

Saltburn posted 175-9 which included contributions of 38 from Mauhtashim Rashid and 36 by Simon Walker. Rashid then took over with the ball and the home side were in trouble when he claimed five wickets.

Guisborough were pleased when time was up with their score on only 100 for the loss of seven wickets.

Middlesbrough were close to victory against Blackhall at Acklam Park. Faced with a target of 210, they were 22 runs short with eight wickets left when their innings of 40 overs came to an end.

Tim McIntosh maintained his splendid form with 67 not out but it was Colin Haslett who almost pulled the game out of the fire with a whirlwind 84 from as many deliveries. He plundered one six and ten boundaries.

Imran Jan (78) and Tony Booth (64) led the Collierymen to 209-9 from the full 50 overs.

Martin Hood and Dulip Samaraweera swept Redcar to 224 without loss in the home game with Richmondshire. Hood had ten fours scoring 104 not out and his colleague stroked 14 boundaries as he finished with an unbeaten 107.

Michael Ponter held up Redcar's challenge for a win by carrying his bat for 42 out of a total of 104-4.

Steve Chapman recorded a six and 15 fours in his 94 and 48 by Gary Tebbett enabled Hartlepool to compile 202-8 declared against Darlington RA at Park Drive. RA were 126-7 at stumps.

On Saturday Guisborough were well on top against Normanby Hall as David Towse bowled with deadly accuracy.

He bowled throughout and his 25 overs cost just 54 runs which meant the Hall batsmen were nearly always on the defensive. Towse also weighed in with four wickets and despite 45 from Graham Scanlon the home side managed just 151-8 from 50 overs.

It wasn't all plain sailing for the leaders, though, and three of their first four batsmen managed only 37 runs between them but they were never in serious danger. Richard Dunn steadied the ship with 31, Paul Goodchild added 29 and the ever-reliable Graham Shaw carried his bat for 30 to see his side home by five-wickets.

Darlington kept up the pressure on Guisborough with an emphatic victory at Marske who were all out in 28 overs for 66. Neil Pratt, Hanif-ur-Rehman and Duncan Johnson all claimed three wickets.

The Seasiders' innings was in sharp contrast to Darlington's. Despite losing Pratt and Mark Stainsby early, the runs flowed as Rehman cracked 11 fours in 53 compiled from 49 balls and Mark Jobling added a similar score with nine boundaries. Morgans struck 31 so a total of 210-9 was posted. Five of the wickets fell to Mohamed Fazil for 96 in 21 overs.

Darlington RA captain David Eckels was a happier following his side's first win of the season against Northallerton. Maroof Khan was the matchwinner with 7-25 runs in 17.1 overs, seven of them maidens.

The target of 65 proved comfortable for RA who celebrated a rare win when they had seven wickets in hand.

Tim McIntosh hit an unbeaten 119 and Richard Storr made 81 as Middlesbrough piled up 257-2 before declaring against Richmondshire at Acklam Park. McIntosh recorded a couple of sixes and 11 boundaries from 154 balls while Storr had two sixes and 11 fours. At the end, James Lowe (35no) was in partnership with McIntosh.

Lee Beaumont returned 6-20 but he was unable to bowl Boro to victory as Richmond replied with 167-8. Their saviour was Australian professional Michael Ponter who maintained his good form scoring 48 out of his team's total of 167-8.

Imran Jan rose to the occasion steering Blackhall to victory over Hartlepool.

The West Indian hit an unbeaten 108 and Paul Moss contributed 40 to the unbroken second-wicket partnership after John Darby had opened with 40.

Jan was also in form with the ball with 3-52 which together with 4-40 from Ben Usher meant the Collierymen were left with a target of 201.

Steve Chapman (40) and John Cannon with 79 were the main contributors to the Hartlepool total of 200 all out.

Wolviston are still searching for their first victory after going down by six wickets to Thornaby. Phil Thomas (4-36), Colin Vaulks (3-15) and Usman Tariq (3- 15) bowled out Wolviston for only 81 and although they conceded four wickets, Thornaby were never in danger.

Saltburn had the better of neighbours Redcar by a margin of 56 runs. Adil Ditta (44) and Tony Bell (72) shared a productive partnership for the second wicket and John Bond was 30not out so Redcar were presented with a target of almost 200.

Openers Martin Hood and Dulip Samaraweera went cheaply, and although Geoff Bowen contributed 66, the innings closed at 140. Ditta took 5-32 and Mauhtashim Rashid 3-45.