In their final game of the season, the firsts visited Darlington RA, who had defeated them by ten wickets in the reverse fixture.
Needing nine points to be sure of second place in the league Richmondshire took the opportunity to play a couple of the promising juniors and they both played their part in a three wicket win.
Darlington RA made an aggressive start and had put on 44 for the firt wicket in quick time when Harvey Websdale (two for 29) claimed the first wicket. It was then an inspired spell from Sam Wood (five for 22) that turned the game as RA collapsed to 91 for seven.
Junior Joe White (three for 13) then came on to clean up the tail with his spin. RA ending on 134 all out in 36.1 overs.
Richmondshire opened with Bob Carr (21) and Mike Layfield (46) who put on 41 for the first wicket. Gary Pratt had been held in reserve and came in at 102 for five to score 22 not out. Three runs were still needed when the seventh wicket fell but Josh Dowson took just three balls to complete the win with a boundary.
20 points meant they finished the season on 337 points, 45 behind leaders Saltburn and 13 ahead of Hartlepool who had taken 25 points in beating relegated Great Ayton.
Another heavy defeat by 75 runs to Seaton Carew makes the 2nds relegation certain. Having battled valiantly all season in a league made up of 1st XIs with teams including a large number of juniors the chance to regroup and develop may not be a bad thing.
The 4th team took 11 points from a draw with Whitby 2nds. They made 156 for eight with Jamie Stead topping the scorers with 49. Despite two for 18 from Michael Platt they were unable to dismiss Whitby, who made 123 for four.
This leaves them 16 points clear of relegation and with their final two fixtures against the two bottom teams, leaving their fate very much in their own hands.
The 3rds took 25 points from a nine wicket defeat of Hartlepool. With an attack made up largely of juniors who had already played in a playoff final in the morning they dismissed Hartlepool for 118 with two wickets each for James Cox, Jack Platt, Joe White and Raam Raj.
Alex Percival then hit 84 not out as Richmondshire knocked off the runs in 19.1 overs. With two games remaining they are 21 points behind Wolviston with a game in hand.
It was a busy week for the junior teams with a series of playoff games. The Under 15s defeated Middesbrough by ten wickets on Wednesday with Harry Saunders taking three for 16 in holding Middlesbrough to 85 for three. Oliver Ashton 40 not out and Jack Platt then sealed the victory which qualified them for Sunday’s final against Skelton Castle.
This they won by eight wickets holding Skelton to 93 for eight in their 20 overs. Raam Raj taking three for 15 and James Cox two for two for 12. Jack Platt then made 54 not out and Joe White 23 as the runs were knocked off in 9.3 overs.
The Under 13s fielded two diffent sides in different competitons, in the North Yorkshire playoffs they lost to Barnard Castle by seven wickets. Captain Will Fudali made 30 not out but was the only one to double figures as Richmondshire were all out for 76.
Lewis Pybus then took two for 16 as Barnard Castle reached 77 for three.
In the Hambleton League playoffs the other side lost to Sessay by 26 runs despite 23 from Archie MacLelland and 19 from Jack Ford.
The Under 11s also played Sessay but this time in the North Yorkshire playoffs, winning by 60 runs. Batting first they made a net score of 285 with 21 from Mylo Walker and 16 from Louis Morris. Sessay were the dismissed for 225 net with Alfie Bottomley taking two for eight and Ollie Saunders two for nine.
