A defeat at Hartlepool on Saturday deposed Richmondshire from the top spot as new leaders Middlesbrough won to take 25 points.
They lead by two points but Richmondshire have that vital game in hand, Middlesbrough having no fixture on bank Holiday Monday.
Barnard Castle are now out of the race losing to relegation threatened Stokesley as their form continues to plummet.
Richmondshire put Hartlepool in to bat and they were then seriously disrupted by an injury to wicket keeper Tom Dowson.
A broken finger meant that Tom had to be replaced by makeshift keeper Gary Pratt , normal stand in Mike Layfield being absent at a wedding.
Hartlepool made 259 for five thanks to 133 not out from Durham Academy player Harry Crawshaw and 72 from Yorkshire academy player Yash Vagadia.
Richmondshire experimented by filling Tom Dowsons’s place as opener by Tom Brooks but he lasted only three balls before being out for a duck. Sam Winter quickly followed, lasting eight balls before he was also out without scoring.
59 from Bob Carr and 67 not out from Gary Pratt left Richmondshire needing 79 with eight overs remaining.
It was a tough challenge but given Richmondshire’s recent form not impossible but sadly rain intervened and Hartlepool taking the game on D/L and 25 points.
Richmondshire were left with the meagre reward of six points to move up to 346, Middlesbrough had completed their win against Marton before the rain arrived and have 348 from one game more.
Barnard Castle’s game was also cut short with Stokesley needing 58 with eight wickets in hand and winning on D/L. Five points leaving them with 304 and seemingly out of the title race.
The 2nds had a good home win against Guisborough 1sts. Batting first, at one stage Richmondshire looked in trouble at 48 for five but 77 from James Kelly and 39 from Jake Percival got them to 232 all out. They then dismissed Guisborough for 164 Dale Marshall taking four for 53 and James Kelly three for 41.
The 4ths tough run continued when they had the worse of a drawn game against Normanby Hall. After being put into bat Normanby made 189 for eight and Richmond were left hanging on at 139 for nine at the end of their 40 overs.
The 5th team also had a tough day at Middleton Tyas when they made 162 for nine batting first with 31 from Isaac Bottomley and 32 from Matt Bromirskyj. Tyas then knocked off the runs without loss.
On Sunday the 3rds extended their lead at the top of the Sunday Premiership taking 20 points against Middlesbrough 3rds. Middlesbrough made 192 for eight after being put into bat, veteran Andy Dade topping the bowling figures with three for 34.
57 not out from Jamie Stead and 46 not out from Joe Shields, supported by 37 each from John Clark and Alex Percival meant that Richmondshire completed the win with 196 for three in 33.4 overs.
