Guisborough professional David Towse has made an instant impression.

He made his debut last Saturday, claiming six wickets for just 37 runs in Guisborough's nine-wicket win against Bishop Auckland, and on Tuesday proved just about unplayable when Northallerton were dumped out of the Kerridge Cup.

Towse, who this season took out the first three Essex batsmen, including England captain Nasser Hussain, when he played for Wales, clean-bowled six Northallerton players and had another leg-before to finish with 7-12.

"He keeps a good line and length and is also proving very economical," enthused Guisborough captain Richard Dunn.

"David is medium quick at the moment but with the wickets becoming harder I think he will be very fast and a lot of batsmen are going to find him difficult, to say the least.

"He has been on the Lord's ground staff and played Minor Counties for Wales so we are very lucky to have signed him.

"He moved up here with his work and David Pennock quickly put us on to him. It was a real stroke of luck and David has really given the side a lift."

Towse can't play in today's match at Darlington RA but he should be available for the remainder of the season.

Ironically, it is Pennock who fills the vacancy.

Guisborough are now only 12 points behind leaders Redcar and are still involved in three cup competitions. On Monday, they host Darlington in the semi-final of the Kerridge Cup and a week tomorrow are at home to Sheffield Collegiate in the National Club Championship.

"It would be fantastic if we made it into the final and had a trip to Lord's, but there is an awful lot of hard work to do on a number of fronts," said Dunn.

"I will be very disappointed if we do not win some silverware."

RA are also pleased with the form of their Australian professional Paul Thomas, who has more than 40 wickets to his credit.

"Paul has done really well for us and it was good to return to winning form last weekend, although I appreciate we face a very difficult game today against Guisborough who I tipped as one of the championship contenders before a ball was bowled," said RA captain Peter Eckels, who could be forced into changing a winning side if Paul Hague does not recover from injury.

Hartlepool have signed a new professional as a replacement for Saurabh Shukla, who was forced to retire for the season through illness.

Pakistani Aaley Haider, a right-handed batsman and leg-spinner, will make his debut at Redcar.

"Aaley has been playing in Nottingham and we checked out his credentials and decided to engage him for the remainder of the season," said chairman Jim Kennedy.

"We are second from bottom but everybody is confident we can stay up and Aaley might just give us an edge."

Ollie Stacey, who made his debut last week following his transfer from Gateshead Fell, stays in the side and Andy Holland returns, but Hartlepool could be without two leading players.

Captain Gary Tebbett suffered an injury to his ribs last week and Andy Carter has a knee injury.

Redcar, who lead the table by five points from Blackhall and Saltburn, are minus Mally Whitehead, so Andy Hassack moves up from the second team, with Matthew Stokeld taking over behind the wicket.

Blackhall have shot up the table and they host the match-of-the-day with Saltburn. The pair are level on points.

The Collierymen are at full strength with the returning Mark Cushlow and Stephen Sergeant displacing Dave Williams and Anthony Gray.

Middlesbrough are also in the championship frame and they meet bottom-of-the-table Normanby Hall at Acklam Park without Guy Whatmore, whose place is taken by Janisar Hussain.

Boro have reached the finals of the League's two cup competions and will meet either Guisborough or Darlington in the Kerridge Cup and Saltburn in the MacMillan Cup.

"We could do the treble, although it will be extremely difficult since shortly we will be without players for one reason or another," said skipper Danny Evans.

"We are playing well and in professional Henderson Bryan we have a player who can quickly change the outcome of a match."

Richmondshire and Northallerton are in desperate need of points when they square up to each other.

Skipper Andy Mollett cannot call upon Ben Biker or Chris Hill and Martin Shutt and Danny Dale are promoted from the second team.

Northallerton were all out for 95 against Darlington RA last Saturday and made just 35 in 25 overs at Guisborough on Tuesday.

Several changes are made in an effort to arrest a slide which has sucked Northallerton into the relegation mire. Luke Jarvis, Richard Chandler and Barnaby Heap all return and second-team captain John Gregory retains his place after scoring more than half his team's runs last Saturday.

Peter Guy drops down to lead the seconds and both David Wake and Paul Sunley are unavailable.

Darlington, who have recently lost ground in the championship race, host Bishop Auckland at Feethams showing just one alteration. Paul Raine has returned from holiday and replaces Danny Morgans.

Harry Smurthwaite drops out for Bishops side and his place goes to John Russell Senior.

Ben Walker is in the Marske second team and Ali Hargreaves fills the vacancy for the match with Thornaby, who include Jimmy Carter following his return from Russia. Rob Fergey, however, cannot play.

Skipper Denis Wing will be hoping to add to the 7,000 runs he has scored for Billingham Synthonia when his side goes in search of Division One championship points at third-bottom Stokesley.

Barnard Castle lead the Synners by just 14 points and they visit Guisborough, who are minus the experienced Pennock and father and son Kevin and Alex Welch. Leg spinner Chris Normanton and Geoff Coates, an opening bowler, both play.

Darlington show several alterations for their game at Great Ayton, who are third. Danny Morgans will skipper the Feethams outfit and also named are Keith Barker, now he has returned from holiday, and Peter Mellor. Derek Coates, David Alderson and Shaun Russell are excluded.

Great Ayton cannot include David Grainge or James Marshall, who had an operation on his knee last Monday. James Cook and Andrew Middlemiss are the replacements.

Ashley Pritchard resumes as captain of Marske at Seaton Carew and Marton, at home to Middlesbrough, are minus Graeme Scanlon. Lee Charlton is back to keep wicket and spinner Richard Borwell will add variety to the attack.

For their home game with Wolviston, Hartlepool have promising wicket-keeper Alan Ruddick in the team which will be led by Chris Suttill, while Wolviston parade new signing from Normanby Hall, Johnny Woolnough. Geoff Peacock, however, is unavailable.

Tomorrow, Wolviston travel to Folkton and Flixton, near Scarborough, in the last 16 of the National Village Cup.

Northallerton, at home to Yarm, will be captained by Peter Guy, whose side also includes Chris Hewitt, Doug Burnett and Paul Stirling, which means there are no places for Graeme Pearey, David Brown, Nev Buchanan or Andy McQuaker