THE last day of the Newroc Homes Darlington League season threw up one final surprise as Middleton St George, already crowned champions the week before, slumped to a 119-run defeat at Rockliffe Park.

Park’s cause was helped by some end-of-season largesse from their opponents that saw the Saints use all ten outfield players as bowlers in an innings limited to just 30 overs. Rockliffe’s batters took full advantage by rattling up a score of 204-6 with Ashley Feidell (37), Mattie Wheeler (47) and Arvind Shetty (41).

Josh Binks then hit 41 in Middleton’s reply, but the visitors crumbled to 85 all out as Michael Bloomer (3-8) and Michael Bean (2-6) made it a walk in the Park for the hosts.

There was some last day joy for Barton also after the disappointment of missing out on the title. They put hosts Cockerton to the sword with Tom Borthwick in fine form as he hit 124.

With Dave Copson (32no), Dave Stanway (28) and James Frankland (27) adding further momentum Barton amassed 283- 7.

Cockerton got off to a decent start in their reply with opener Gary Lee (54) leading from the front, but when he and Ian Rawlings (27) fell in quick succession the game was up as John Murray (3-19) and Stanway (2-7) wrapped things up with the home team bowled out for 140, still 143 runs short of the target.

The win for Barton ensured they took the runners-up accolade even though Rockliffe’s late surge brought them level on points, the higher placing going to the team with the most number of wins.

With the matches at Haughton, where Barningham were scheduled to visit, Raby Castle, where Catterick were due, and Middleton-in-Teesdale, who were hosting Ingleton, all abandoned without a ball being bowled due to the heavily waterlogged grounds, the only other top flight game of the day took place at Lands who entertained Aldbrough St John.

And it was the home side who came out on top with a convincing 99-run victory set up by opener Ben Howe, who hit two fours and two sixes in his 39, and number four Richard Elliott, who held things together with an unbeaten 43 to enable Lands to post a score of 176-7 in 30 overs.

Aldbrough’s response was in trouble from the off as Ben Howe (3-15) claimed three immediate wickets without a run between his victims, and despite Rory Wood (32) putting up a fight Matt McConnell (3-27) turned the screw before Ryan Nicholson blew the tail away with a burst of 3-0 to skittle the visitors for 77.

The season’s end saw East Cowton and Richmond promoted to Division A in place of relegated Ingleton and Catterick, while only Cockerton IIs were relegated from Division B as Cliffe IIs were unable to gain promotion from Division C alongside Trimdon CCA as their first team is already in the higher division.