BUBBLY Barnard Castle have become the new league leaders for the first time, reaching the half way point of the season with their sixth victory just as their hottest rivals, Stokesley, became the third side in the last month to defeat Richmondshire and send them crashing from top spot.

Barney defeated fellow championship chasers Darlington in a game which, before the start at Feethams, saw them separated by a single point, while Stokesley had much the better of the exchanges in the other top-of-the-table encounter at the SCG which greatly improves their own title ambitions. They have moved into fourth place with a game in hand over their main rivals and just a win away from leading the table themselves.

Barney’s defeat of the Quakers was anything but a runaway success, losing six wickets in reaching the winning total of 146 runs. Darlington’s innings collapsed disastrously after James Sutton (56 with seven boundaries) and Paul Freary (37) had shared an opening stand worth 87. They lost the second wicket at 100 and then the next eight for just 45 with James Quinn (3-12 from seven overs) and James Finch (3-41 from 10.1) leading the charge.

Despite five wickets for the league’s smartest partnership, Liam Coates (3-56) and Doug Mulholland (2-52), the Barnard Castle trio of Simon Tennant (33), Quinn (33) and Finch (32 not out) batted with care and reached their target with four overs remaining.

Stokesley’s success centred around the spectacular batting of James Weighell, one of five batsmen to celebrate scoring centuries on a high scoring day. His 130 from 95 balls with 94 in boundaries (seven fours and 11 towering sixes) took his side to 239, the first time any side has scored so many against Richmond in two seasons.

Weighell later showed his all-round ability by taking three wickets in 7.1 overs to finish off the Dalesmen for just 141, defeated by the decisive margin of 98 runs. Gary Pratt top scored with 43 and Sam Wood (40 not out) tried to play out the final overs, but Richard Chandler (4-37) struck regularly.

Two of the other century makers were in the same match, Middlesbrough’s James Lowe making a superb unbeaten 153, his second of the season, and Usman Arshad, Redcar’s in-form new pro, collecting 105, his first in just his fifth appearance with Redcar. Lowe’s magnificent innings was at a run-a-ball and included 12 fours and six sixes. Boro declared on 288-2, including an opening stand of 115 between Lowe and Paul Johnston (41). Arshad hit 16 fours in a 144-ball innings sharing the spotlight with Mohammed Zahid (54) as the Seasiders saved the game on 207-7. Matty Connolly took five of the wickets.

Normanby Hall took a 25-point step away from the danger zone and are now ninth after beating the inconsistent Marske on their host’s ground. Only 29 runs separated the teams at the finish and it was the first century for Sachithra Serasinghe – 103 from 108 balls – which made the victory possible. But home skipper Jonathan Pickard (64 not out) battled hard, losing his last partner with just 11 balls remaining.

Guisborough moved into a more healthy mid-table position by beating Norton, but Chris Allinson had a bitter-sweet end to his day. As skipper he took the side to victory with five balls remaining but he finished with one run short of what would have been a brilliant century. He hit a six to end the game on 211-6 having faced 124 balls for his unbeaten 99 with 50 in boundaries. Norton’s Harry Linton made 94 which on another day might have brought a different result.

Seaton Carew’s Macmillan Cup win last weekend proved a confidence booster as they battled for draw points at Great Ayton. Chris Batchelor hit his first century as the Villagers smashed an impressive 227-6 after losing their first two wickets for only 12. Ayton’s newly installed skipper hit ten fours and two sixes in facing 144 balls and shared a late partnership with Andrew Liddle (47 not out). Paul Braithwaite (82 not out from 155 balls) stuck superbly to the task of seeing out the game for the bottom placed club on 164-9, 63 runs short but a vital wicket in hand.

Marton are 17 points from safety in second bottom place after being beaten by ten wickets at Hartlepool. They could only manage 134-9 with Alex Wardell (51 not out) getting little support before John Watson (83) and Neil Coverdale (44) took just 27 overs to seal the victory.