THE weather played havoc with last weekend's fixtures, but leaders Saltburn opened up a 20-point gap at the top after an eight-wicket victory at home to Thornaby on Monday.

The visitors made 90-9 in their 50 overs with Pakistani professional Maujashim Rashid taking 3-42 and Ramzan 4-9 in only nine overs. Adil Ditta and John Bond then each made 30 as the home side cruised to an easy win.

Redcar were dismissed for 170 when they entertained Richmondshire, with opener Martin Hood and Mark Cosgrove each making 49. Martin Shutt took 4-33 and captain Andy Mollitt 4-30 for the visitors.

Richmond struggled in reply, but Ron Barker made 34 and Shutt completed a fine performance with an unbeaten 40 as the innings closed at 154-8 and the match was drawn. Mick McCabe produced fine figures of 4-41.

Middlesbrough kept third place when they restricted Darlington RA to 100-8 in their reduced 40 overs at Brinkburn Road. Young James Beaumont claimed 3-28 in 13 overs and cousin Lee Beaumont took 3-19 in 11, while Colin Cartwright smashed two huge sixes in making a top score of 33.

Professional Paul Thomas then claimed 3-49 in 14 overs, but the visitors won comfortably by five wickets.

Guisborough retained fourth position when, in a match reduced to 43 overs at Feethams, Darlington made 164-7 with opener John Glendenen making 42 and Keith Barker 35. Guisborough captain Richard Dunn bowled 11 overs to return 4-41.

Phil Ramage then made a top score of 45 as the visitors achieved their objective for the loss of six wickets.

Bishop Auckland travelled to Marske and set the home side a daunting 212-4 in their 50 overs thanks largely to professional Stephen Chapman's undefeated 92 in 112 balls.

Marske professional Stuart Hutton then scored 77 from 89 balls and Graham Lampton made 40 from 45 balls, before Robin Walker struck a rapid unbeaten 22 to drive the home side to a magnificent two-wicket victory with five balls to spare.

At Park Drive, Hartlepool made 200-5 against Northallerton, with professional Alley Haider scoring 76 from 88 balls and captain Gary Tebbett making 51.

Haider then claimed 5-43 in 19 overs, but Northallerton professional Jon Barnes made 40 as the visitors closed on 164-9 and the match was drawn.

Normanby Hall dismissed Blackhall for 67 at the Welfare Ground with Steve McNicholas claiming 6-41 in 15.5 overs.

The visitors eventually won by four wickets, but not before professional Michael Foster had claimed 6-30 in 13 overs.

Only three Premier Division matches were started on Saturday. At Fountain's Garth, Redcar scored 121-9, with Paul Goodchild claiming 6-59, but the match was abandoned at the tea interval.

At Cricket Lane, Normanby Hall had scored 68-3 against Saltburn when the match was abandoned and Darlington RA made 36-3 in 16 overs against Thornaby at Mandale Bottoms before the rain brought an end to proceedings.

l See page 30 for Division One report.