Teesside League

The top clash between unbeaten sides Middlesbrough Mavericks and Norton 1 failed to materialise as a contest when the visiting north of the Tees side failed to turn out a strong squad resulting in a 71-41 defeat.

The home side started the stronger with Phil McCarthy firing in a three pointer and Andy Reid hitting six points to put their side 15-5 ahead at the end of the first quarter.

Only Graham Bennett managed any response for Norton as Mavericks took total control in the second period. McCarthy hit a further four three-point shots to take his side to 37-12 at half-time. With the result beyond Norton, Mark Rhodes offered some late resistance but Middlesbrough were home and dry well before the final whistle with Reid, McCarthy and Bezemer Rawdon all into double figures and their unbeaten record in tact.

Thirsk Vikings visited Marske Mariners were separated by a point at the end of the first quarter. Vikings inside play initiated by Moray Finch was the platform for Berens and Wakefield to open up the game as they stretched their advantage to 31-21 at the break. Mariners' poor defensive play in the second period proved disastrous as Vikings forged ahead to a 21 points lead. A final flurry from the home side brought some respectability as they hit their outside shots to finish the game losers by 11 points, 68-57. Paul Neesams was the game's top scorer with 32 points for Mariners as Kiely hit 20 for Vikings.

Tigers made home court advantage count and used their inside play to good effect against Yarm Conyers who quickly found themselves behind by 28-6 at the end of the opening quarter. Conyers could not cope with the inside power of Dave Murphy and Lee Woolams who stretched Tigers' lead to 50-15 at the break.

The younger visiting side picked up in the remaining periods as the home side ran their bench and emerged comfortable winners by 94-50. Woolams and Murphy each hit 21 points with Roland Todd (12) and Richard Rowden (14) top scoring for Conyers.

East Cleveland Ruins gave visitors Thornaby a shock in the opening minutes, building a 21-11 lead with 12 points from Coward. Thornaby pulled themselves together and with some excellent defence came back to lead 33-27 at half-time.

This had been Ruins purple patch as they struggled to contain Thornaby as Paul Brown finished on 24 and Peter Scott 17 which included three three-pointers in a row. Thornaby won 71-51 with Coward 18 points and Ed Holland (10) leading Ruins' scoring.

Darlington Devils travelled to Norton II and blitzed the home side from the start, hitting 23 points before the home side could reply ending the first quarter ahead 27-3.

A slight recovery by Norton saw them down by 45-21 at the half but Devils had taken the sting out of the game and coasted to a comfortable 88-50 win. Devils had Craig Dawson on 24 points and Aaron Hope with 21 top scoring as Martin Kelsey and Chris Ellis managed double figures for Norton