BLACKHALL, unbeaten in six games, lead the table. Their game was the only one to be played on Saturday but yesterday the fixture with Thornaby was abandoned when the rain returned.

The Colliers made a disastrous start and amazingly five of the first six batsmen failed to get off the mark. Steve Hanson and John Onion though, came to the rescue and after the latter departed for 33, Hanson remained undefeated on 63.

Blackhall were 145 for eight when a halt was made and Ramzan, who took the wickets of five of the first six batsmen ended with outstanding figures of five for 33.

The Stanwix brothers, David and Michael, scored almost 100 runs between them for Barnard Castle but their efforts were in vain at Thornaby where the weather was the winner.

David opened making 35 before being run out and Michael contributed 64 to a total of 163 for five which included an unbeaten 29 by Andrew Toulson. With the score on 163 for five the match had to be abandoned.

The same fate was suffered at Wolviston where Billingham Synthonia were 103 for the loss of nine wickets.

Only four players made it into double figures as Jimmy Jones claimed three wickets for only 46 runs. Simon Driver top-performed with the bat for Synners with 26 but generally the batsmen were contained by the four-man Wolviston attack.

The weather played havoc with Saturday's programme and only one match went ahead.

Blackhall must have been delighted that the Barnard Castle pitch was playable even though the innings were reduced to 46 overs a side.

The Colliers were set a target of 147 which they achieved without losing a wicket in just 26.3 overs.

Paul Moss hit a six and six fours in an unbeaten 65 and his opening partner John Darby thrashed six sixes and as many boundaries, ending undefeated on 78.

Stanwix brothers David (34) and Michael (35) starred for Barnard Castle who ended on 146 for seven.

Blackhall used three bowlers in their attack and none did better than Richard Watts who took four of the five wickets to fall to bowlers for a meagre 23 runs.