The weather once again played havoc with league cricket on Saturday.

Not a ball was bowled in either the Foster's North East Premier League or the Durham Senior League and elsewhere only limited play was possible.

Three teams battling for the championship of the Darlington Building Society NYSD League Premier Division were involved in limited play but there was little change at the top of the table.

Neil Russell, with 20 not out and Stephen MacNicholas (27) took Normanby Hall to 68-3 before the game with Saltburn was abandoned.

Second-top Redcar were 121-9 at Guisborough for whom Paul Goodchild captured six for 59 in 22 overs and David Towes 3-57 from 23 overs. The pair bowled unchanged but after 45 overs the rain arrived.

The only other match to start was at Thornaby where Darlington RA lost their first three wickets, all of them to Chris Vaulks for 14 runs, with runs on the board.

Four matches went ahead in Division One but only one reached a conclusion.

Barnard Castle and Great Ayton shared 73 overs but the former did not gain any advantage on leaders Billingham Synthonia, who still head the table by four points.

Barnard Castle picked up six points when they stuttered to 70-6 from 33 overs. Their saviour was John Ashworth who carried his bat for 30, including four boundaries and for Great Ayton, Andrew Doyle claimed four wickets for only 27 runs in 14 overs, six of which were maidens.

Batting first, Great Ayton posted 137-8 in 40 overs. Gary Mudd led the way with 33, striking five fours and for Barnard Castle, the Stanwix brothers were in form with the ball. David sent down 15 overs returning the figures of 5-37 and Michael took 3-43 from 11 overs.

Marske completed their innings at home to Hartlepool, realising 209-6 mainly due to the efforts of David Lightwing whose 97 included a six and 12 fours.

Mark Walker, with seven boundaries in 35, gave support and for Pool, Hashim sent down 22 overs in claiming 5-68. Hartlepool were 27-1 when a halt was made.

Stokesley made 150-3 in 34 overs at Seaton Carew before the weather intervened. David Weighell found the boundary 15 times in his unbeaten innings of 86 and Chris Knock had six fours in 44. The pair put together a partnership of 101.

Leaders Billingham Synthonia managed only a few overs, making 20 without loss at home to Wolviston.

Crook gained sufficient points from their abandoned game with Willington to go top of the 3-D Cricket Durham Senior League

The match was the only one to take place in the league because of heavy rain elsewhere, and because Crook picked up maximum batting points before the rain returned, they went four points clear of Leadgate at the top.

The start of the game was delayed by rain, but once they get going Crook reached 234 for 2 in their 40 overs, with openers Ian Williams and Shahid Anwar putting on 207 for the opening wicket. But the rain returned in the tea interval, preventing Willington from starting their reply.

Crook official Dave Greener said: "It was amazing how good a condition the pitch was in, so we were able to play. But conditions might not work in our favour in the last three matches."

It was a good day all round for Crook. Because their second team's game at Willington was abandoned, they clinched the four points they needed to lift the Division B title

Only one game went ahead in the Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League but the result was of considerable significance to two clubs. Ryton qualified for next season's revamped First Division and consigned Percy Main to the Second Division.

The two teams started the last programme of the season midway in the table and with the same number of points but Ryton took one bonus point from their match at Whickham when they scored 132-2 from 22 overs. They needed a minimum of 125 runs so only just reached their target.

Keith Maxwell hit one six and 11 boundaries in 72 and Nick Malan had four fours in 30 as Ryton celebrated even when the rain arrived.

There is no change in the Boddingtons Durham Coast League. The two leading clubs, South Hetton and Hylton both made a start but little play was possible and neither gained advantage on the other.