REVENGE became superbly sweet for leaders Hartlepool as they overpowered their principal championship rivals Richmondshire to extend their advantage from two to 17 points with their eighth win in a run of 13 unbeaten games.

For the Dalesmen, who had beaten Pool on the season’s opening day, it was the second time they had blown their chance of making a significant challenge for the title. Five weeks ago they moved into the top spot only to lose it within the week!

Once again most of their players appeared to be overcome by the big occasion with James Clarkson, who made 71 from 116 balls with 11 boundaries, the exception.

Richmondshire were only able to muster 152-9 as Marc Symington (4-36), Callum Prosser (2-31) and Kasun Bodhisha (2-44) took control.

Pool took just 36 overs to get the runs needed – and win impressively by six wickets – with Bodhisha unbeaten on 58 from 51 balls to become the fourth in the league to pass the 500 runs milestone. Only Moneeb Iqbal (4-56) came up to expectations among the visiting bowlers.

The battle among the four clubs currently in danger at the relegation end of the league continued to attract much of the spotlight. If Middlesbrough ultimately escape they will look to Saturday’s defeat of Marske as one of the turning points in their most difficult season for years. What was only their third win in 13 games was achieved from the last ball – and it didn’t even come off the bat. A leg-bye did the trick as they recovered from 18 for two to reach 202-8 largely due to 49 from Dan Hodgson and weighty contributions from the Rashid brothers, who scored 64 between them.

Chris Allinson hit 79 to give Marske a chance of success with 201-8 after losing a wicket from the first ball of the game. Boro are now 12 points ahead of Marske and just three points behind fourth from bottom Northallerton, who were heavily defeated at Marton.

Despite 46 from Anwar Hafeez, now second among the league’s highest run makers, ‘Allerton were bowled out for 117 with Richard Chandler unable to bat after breaking a finger while fielding and finishing with a hospital visit. Newly appointed Marton captain Matty Brown hit 64 of his side’s 255-5, sharing a 66-run stand with Lee Hodgson (42), and then grabbed five wickets in nine of the most accurate overs. They cost just 29 runs.

Bishop Auckland remain in bottom place but their two recent wins were followed by nine more vital points from a draw with Normanby Hall.

Veteran Graham Shaw hit an unbeaten 109 from 111 balls as the Hall reached 219-8, and he then showed his great versatility by taking five of the eight wickets Bishops lost.

Shaw’s first century of the season, which was only the 11th throughout the league all summer, included 12 fours and two sixes. Bishops finished on 164-8.

Stokesley, too close for comfort to the bottom four clubs, grabbed a lion’s share of the points in another drawn finish. This was at Guisborough where Ian Still (49 not out) and Andrew Weighell (43) made sure the visitors reached a comfortable 179-6 which they then defended thanks to the return of James Beaumont (3- 40 from 17 overs). The Priory club reached 155-8 after being five down for just 92.

The other games finished in stalemate, at Billingham where Great Ayton closed up the game by scoring just 32 runs from the last 20 overs, and at Barnard Castle where Darlington survived with an eighth wicket stand of 55.

With Billingham aiming for victory after scoring 158-9, Steve Pennock spent 145 minutes at the crease to remain unbeaten on 42, facing 95 balls to play out the overs.

Ayton finished on 130-7 after his rather uncharacteristic innings. Earlier Mike Croft (6- 35) enjoyed his best bowling figures of the season for Ayton.

Nearly 450 runs were scored at Barney where Gary Pratt (89) and Ben Usher (58) shared a third wicket partnership of 110. Doug Mulholland took five wickets as the home side posted 239-8.

The Quakers replied with 207-7 with an unbeaten 46 from Colin Biglin and 39 from James Dobson.