IT WAS a case of being in the right place at the right time as Richmondshire made up significant ground on leaders Hartlepool in their quest to win only their second championship.

With all of the other title contenders badly affected by the weather the Dalesmen had two full games – and made maximum use of the heaven sent opportunity by churning out two emphatic victories that took them to within two points of the top.

Yesterday they rolled visitors Marske over for 76 in 26 overs, and it could have been a lot worse for the Seasiders as they were 33-8 at one stage after James Clarkson (4-33) and Michael Cunnachie (3-15) had ripped the heart out of their batting.

Skipper Mike Layfield smashed 44 from 37 balls as he powered his side to a nine-wicket win inside ten overs.

The victory followed Saturday’s success at a rain-free Feethams where they gained a seven-wicket win over a Darlington side who were bowled out for their lowest score of the season.

Shani Dissanayake (5-13 from 12 overs) and Craig Swainston (4-36 from 12.2 overs) sent the Quakers tumbling from 53 for two to an all out score of 94.

Richmond lost three early wickets in their reply but Moneeb Iqbal (40 not out) and Andy Fleming (26 not out) took control.

Hartlepool never got out of the dressing room on Saturday, and for a while it looked like the same thing might happen yesterday at Marton, but in a reduced 32 overs per side game Pool closed frustratingly on 124-6 chasing a victory target of 135.

Barnard Castle yesterday leapt into fourth place when they overcame visitors Guisborough by four wickets, with the spin trio of Dave Stanwix (3-20), James Finch (3-41) and James Quinn (3-22) bamboozling the Priorymen for 99, which at least represented a recovery of sorts from 15-4.

Barney’s response also got off to a bad start with the first two wickets going down for nine runs, but James Quinn (37) and skipper Ben Usher (45) put together a stand of 71 that effectively decided the game, a late clatter of wickets proving too little too late for Guisborough.

At the foot of the table there was joy at Kingsway where Bishop Auckland recorded their first win of the season, and at the same time underlined the very real relegation plight champions Middlesbrough now find themselves in.

Boro had Bishops 60-5 but allowed them off the hook as Graeme Wrightson (46) and Chris Sawyer (36) put on a sixth wicket stand of 71, the home side reaching 170. Sawyer picked up 4-23 in 13 overs as Boro collapsed for 110.

And there was a turn around in fortunes for Northallerton as well, a great batting performance at Acklam Park on Saturday, when skipper Adie Monk hit his maiden century, was followed by another yesterday when Darlington’s attack was put to the sword as Anwaar Hafeez (82) and Andrew Fishburn (77) teed up Town with a 160-run opening partnership. The Quakers never recovered and were beaten by 121 runs.