RICHMONDSHIRE, buoyed by their first piece of NYSD silverware since 1999, are set to play an integral part in the dogfight at the other end of the table which is still very much alive.

The Dalesmen spent last weekend battling to stop Marton making it a grand slam, and while they went down to a heavy league defeat against the new champions, they turned the tables 24 hours later when playing almost the perfect game of Fifteens cricket to deservedly take the Premier Cup.

This weekend they travel to Blackhall, where the home side are engaged in a fight for their top flight lives, after being dragged into the relegation mire by a series of below-par performances. They do still have a 19-point cushion over bottom club Billingham, but the fact that lead was over 60 points just a few short weeks ago emphasises just how far the former colliery club have fallen.

Clive Layfield misses out on the away trip as usual because of work commitments, and his place in the Richmond side is taken by youngster Sam Wood.

Blackhall expect to have a fullstrength side in the field as the troops are mobilised for a big safety push – with suggestions that the fact that Sunderland do not have a football game is a big help.

Their last win was a long time ago now, but it was against Richmond and the South Durham outfit hope that is just the omen to help them halt a six-game losing streak.

Billingham’s chances of avoiding the drop will probably turn on their game at Acklam Park – in recent times this would normally have been a home banker, but one of the Synners only three wins came in the reverse fixture and with their title now gone Boro have appeared a little lacklustre of late. However, Synners hopes have been hit by the unavailability of Martin Cull and Simon Driver.

With just the relegation issue to resolve in the Premier Division attention is now focused on the fascinating battle for promotion to the top flight, where Barnard Castle have hung on tenaciously to a 24- point lead over Stokesley.

The game in hand that Stokesley have will be played on Sunday when they entertain Normanby Hall, while they play at Marton in their Saturday fixture and Barney travel to play a Wolviston side battling for their Division One future.

Veteran Barney skipper Mike Stanwix reflected on a breathtaking campaign: “It’s been an exciting season, but we’ve been on the ball right through. We’ve got two away games left but we are confident we can keep ahead – we’ve a lot of good players and if we win promotion we’ll be looking to sign two professionals.

“I’m glad Stokesley are with us in the fight because, like us, they do everything right, especially bringing on the youngsters.”

One thing that is probably certain is that there could be a few more twists and turns before the season ends in a week’s time, with both clubs on a long winning streak, but both experiencing some extremely close calls.

Last Saturday a century from Andrew Weighell, and nine wickets from Clive Dowson were the undoing of Saltburn – but only just as the Seasiders lost two wickets in the final over of the day, and both to full tosses which came directly out of the setting sun.

While on Monday, Barney were up against it after being bowled out for just 123 by Marton – and it wasn’t the sun that was bothering them, but the rain. There was a long stoppage in the game with the visitors on 65-7, but the teams got back out only for Marton to get within 11 runs of Barney’s score. At the same time, bottom club Wolviston were pushing the Stokesleyans all the way before going down by three wickets just before the gathering storm broke.

For Stokesley, it was a nervehredding weekend – just the day before they had lived up to their favourites tag in the Division One Fifteens final, but it couldn’t have been closer as a battling Yarm fell just a single run short of Stokesley’s score of 137. Skipper Ian Still turned in a virtuoso performance for the winners with an unbeaten 62 and 3-15.

In the Premier final, Richmond played superbly to upset the odds and derail Marton’s clean sweep attempt. After holding the powerful Teessiders to 118 in their 15 overs, the Dalesmen won with time and wickets to spare as Ziafat Ashraf (3-14 and 55no) starred and skipper Shani Dissanayake (47) played the captain’s role to perfection.

But Marton weren’t too downhearted – they may have missed a unique grand slam, but they achieved the primary objective of wrapping up the blue riband event with two victories over the weekend, securing their first ever Premier Division championship to go alongside the Kerridge and Macmillan for a magnificent triple crown.

The victory parade began at Richmond on Saturday with an emphatic 125-run win, John Glendenen (59) and Jonny Spillane (58) heading their run makers before the professional duo of Lee Hodgson and Mohammed Zahid each claimed 3- 16.

And then the title was sealed with a home win over Hartlepool as Spillane, an astute close season signing from Middlesbrough, notched up another half century and his former Boro colleague, Ben Hutchinson (6-39), bowled the Pool out. But perhaps fittingly, it was skipper Graham Shaw who set the ball rolling as he added another 89 runs to an already mind-boggling career aggregate.