DEFENDING champions Bishop Auckland crashed to a nine-wicket defeat at Guisborough in the Darlington Building Society North Yorkshire and South Durham premier division on Saturday.

It was their first league defeat under new skipper Keith Stones, and only their second of the season.

Auckland professional Steve Chapman top scored with 42 as Bishops made only 90-9 in their 50 overs, home pro David Towse taking 6-37.

Guisborough then reached their winning target of 93-1 in just 22.3 overs, with Graham Shaw 45no.

Bishops II fared no better, suffering a ten-wicket trouncing at home to Normanby Hall II in NYSD division two. The visitors needed a mere 18.3 overs to make 102-0 after holding Bishops to 101-9 in 50 overs.

With no league wins and just one cup win all season so far, Bishops II followed the 1st Xl out of all cup competitions this term with a four-wicket defeat at home to Philadelphia II in the second round of the Whitbread Blair Trophy.

Scores: Bishops II 101-9, J Russell 24, D Brown 5-19; Normaby Hall II 102-0, L Sykes 38no, G Robinson 49no.

Bishops II 66-5, J Johnson 24no, S Parker 3-35; Philadelphia II 69-6, M Moore 20, P Stones 4-38.