IN the Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB Premier League, the relegation decider between Normanby Hall and Great Ayton at Cricket Lane, went the way of the visitors, who will now remain in the Premier League for next season, but the home side were relegated.

Ayton had a 00.28 average points advantage going into the game and won the toss, inserting the home side. Normanby collapsed to 24-5 and then were all out for 82, which included 30 extras, as Doug Mulholland was in rampant form, claiming an excellent and devastating spell of 7-32 from 12 overs.

With Ayton at 15-2 in reply, the game was on a knife edge, but Chris Batchelor (22no) and Phil Holdsworth (48no) eased them home to victory on 83-2 as they put on 68 unbeaten runs, thus avoiding relegation and sending their opponents down into Division One.

Relegated Marske were skittled for just 98 all out, at home to Barnard Castle. Adam Hickey scored 44, while Robert Dixon and Samarth Seth shared six wickets between them. Opener Josh Bousfield then made 39, to steer his side to victory with a final total of 99-2, to finish the season as runners up.

Champions Richmondshire batted first at home to Marton, and totalled 221 all out, as Craig Marshall scored 64, alongside Mike Layfield who hit 41 from 32 balls. Steven Mather then scored 45, while Johnathon Pickard claimed 3-6 with the ball.

Lee Hodgson then hit 43 and Johnathon Pickard 39 not out late on in reply, but they lost wickets regularly and were eventually all out for 184.

Stokesley lost early wickets at home to Middlesbrough and were 28-3, at one stage. Andrew Weighell then scored 44 and Harry Harding added 33, in a fourth wicket stand of 79 runs. Robert Foreman then added 31 late on as they totalled 171 all out, while Ahsan Shrindal and John Woods shared six wickets between them.

Boro then made a good start, as James Lowe made 49 and Jake Whittle 28, while Cole Pearce added 32, but Joe Marsay took 4-47 to peg them back. However, they were all out on 171, losing two late wickets and the game ended in an exciting tie, the only one in the Premier League this season.

Billingham Synthonia decided to bat first at Thornaby, making 157 all out, thanks to JP Meade who made 40. Husnain Bukhari with 4-27 and Dale Metcalfe with 3-43 doing the damage. The home side replied with Davis Seymour scoring 47 and Bukhari with the bat made 43 and Tonius Simon 32 not out, to get them over the line on 161-3.

Hartlepool finished their season with a defeat at home to Saltburn, and finish fourth in the league. The visitors posted 268-5, thanks to Ben Ainsley who made and impressive 110 from 163 balls, which included 11 fours. Salinda Ushan added 67 and Ryan Gibson 34. Pools in reply, could only manage 87 all out, as Alex Smith claimed an impressive 5-32.

In division one, Stockton go up as undefeated champions into the Premier League, while Darlington will join them as runners up, after they beat local rivals Darlington RA to second spot, on the last day of the season by six wickets, at Feethams.

The champions restricted Seaton Carew to just 49 all out at Hornby Park, as Leigh Beaumont took 4-5 and Josh Sowerby 3-20. The visitors were 10-2, but they eased home on 50-4, despite Stuart Lobb claiming 3-25.

Darlington had Jonathan Barnes to thank, as he struck (4-7) early blows in the "winner takes all" game, at home to local rivals Darlington RA. The visitors were 37-5, but recovered to 149 all out, thanks to Callum Buckley (61) and Ben I'Anson (30), with Grant Sowerby claiming 4-39 late on.

The Quakers then had opener James Sutton to thank, as he made 55 and Adam Baldwin 53 not out, as they put on 60 runs for the second wicket, which helped ease them home to victory on 153-4.