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South North beat Chester
Blaydon beat Shields
Gateshead-Sunderland was drawn
Tynemouth-Hetton Lyons was drawn
Stockton-Benwell was drawn
Newcastle-Academy was off
 

Here is this weeks Sunderland Echo review:


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Birtwisle back to lift Cestrians
Published on Thursday 10 May 2012 12:00


IT’S one step forward and one step backwards at the moment for Chester-le-Street as they struggle to find their Dukes North East Premier League early-season rhythm.


The wettest April for years has taken its toll, with shock results and performances almost becoming the norm for every club on bowler-friendly surfaces.

Last weekend typified the Cestrians’ season so far as they brushed aside the league challenge of Gateshead Fell in imperious style on Saturday, but were then surprisingly beaten the following day in the national club cup that they hold dear to their hearts.

That setback adds even greater importance to this Saturday’s Ropery Lane game against leaders Blaydon, who rolled out the biggest shock of the season so far when they skittled South North for one of their lowest ever scores to go top.

Chester will have Simon Birtwisle returning from injury to bolster their squad, while York student Fraser Campbell is set for another outing after hitting a half-century on debut last week. Blaydon are at full strength, their motivation being the chance to topple both of the “big two” in consecutive weeks.

Sunderland were taking the league leadership plaudits last Saturday night after over-estimating their points return from the derby drubbing of Newcastle. A re-check of the labyrinthine points system the following day meant a reduction of four that confirmed they were actually second to Blaydon.

The Wearsiders had the last-minute benefit of Chris Rushworth’s services for the Newcastle match, after Durham’s early return from London, and with the county in CB40 action this Sunday it is hoped he will be available to face Tynemouth at Preston Avenue.

If he does turn out, Rushworth will resume a deadly partnership with Kieran Waterson, who heads the early-season wicket-takers list with 13 victims at an impressive average of 8.23.

Keeper Chris Youldon is still on the injury list, but, other than that, Sunderland will be at full strength against a Tynemouth team that includes Durham player Mark Wood for the first time as he begins his recuperation from an injury that will probably prevent him bowling just yet. Josh Koen returns from University to strengthen the home team’s seam attack, while Richie Straughan is drafted in to open the batting.

Durham Academy found Preston Avenue to their liking last week, and they have enjoyed a bright start to their campaign. The accent has been placed very firmly on youth this year, and they have three batsmen in the top 15 run-scorers list, all aged 18 or under.

A settled team travels to Grangefield to take on a Stockton side who have found run-scoring a problem so far, although their attack has a much sharper edge this year, with Richard Waite and Jamie Harrison the key performers.

In Saturday’s other games, Andrew Elliott replaces Gareth Dunn in the South Shields team which entertains Hetton Lyons, Mark Lockey comes into the Gateshead Fell side to meet Newcastle, and unchanged South North host Benwell Hill.

Benwell Hill are the visitors to Ashbrooke on Sunday when Sunderland hope to finally complete their first round national cup
 
This weeks Echo preview:

Spirits high as Sunderland eye more progress
Published on Thursday 17 May 2012 12:30


SUNDERLAND have well and truly put to bed their opening-day batting horrors and could be in the mood to cause a few nightmares for opponents after surging 19 points clear at the top of the Dukes North East Premier League.


Just a few short weeks ago, the Wearsiders slumped to 49-7 before the weather intervened to save them, and the elements also had a say in last week’s match at Tynemouth, but with dramatically different results.

The first innings was reduced to 34 overs after a delayed start and, unsurprisingly, when the hosts won the toss they asked Sunderland to bat – a decision they quickly came to regret as it became the proverbial batting rags to riches story for the visitors.

Dan Shurben put on a spectacular show as he crushed the home attack, smashing 144 from just 101 balls, with South African professional Patrick Botha conceding 67 runs from his nine overs. It was then over to the deadly duo of Kieran Waterson and Chris Rushworth, who once again combined to bowl out opponents whose minds had become fixed on a draw.

Sunderland now have the chance to consolidate their lead as they enjoy the home comforts of Ashbrooke when they play Stockton on Saturday, the only real doubt in selection terms being the availability of Durham bowler Rushworth with a CB40 match scheduled for The Oval.

But that could be balanced out by the fact that County duty is also an issue for the visitors, with quickie Jamie Harrison doing well on his senior Durham debut last Sunday.

Sunderland’s only other change is that Chris Youldon should be fit to resume his keeping duties, having played as an “outfielder” last week.

As well as hitting the top last week, Sunderland also advanced to the second round of the national club cup courtesy of a bowl-out win over Benwell Hill after the re-scheduled match was abandoned due to the waterlogged ground at Ashbrooke.

They now go straight into second round action on Sunday when their new-found confidence is set to be fully tested at South North.

Hetton Lyons’ promising start to the season came to a juddering halt with defeat at South Shields last week, and they now have to face champions South North without the services of one of their leading batsmen, Shaun Birbeck, who is due to have a knee operation tomorrow.

South North are at full strength.

Durham Academy are back at the Emirates ICG on Saturday, with South Shields likely to provide a test for the youngsters.

The Shieldsmen have won two games on the trot, a welcome change after their struggles of 2011, and they select from the same squad of 13 who were successful against the Lyons last time out. So far, the Academy have been injury free and able to maintain a settled line-up.

In Saturday’s other games, Chester-le-Street are at Benwell Hill, the only doubt for them being over Scott Borthwick’s availability, Blaydon face an unchanged Gateshead Fell, and the bottom two clash at Preston Avenue, with hosts Tynemouth expecting to include the returning Ivo Hobson and Rory Cox against Newcastle.
 
Wins for Sunderland, Blaydon, South North and Chester yesterday.
Tynemouth-Newcastle and Academy-Shields were both drawn.

Current table:

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T20 competition starts this Friday.8-)
 
Last edited:
Pringle a big miss for Lyons’ test
Published on Thursday 24 May 2012 11:00


HETTON Lyons’ bright start to the Dukes North East Premier League season has faltered in the last couple of weeks and they now face injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s trip to Chester-le-Street.


Two defeats in the last two matches have taken the gloss off a start which saw them in the upper reaches of the table after a victory over Stockton and a winning draw against Tynemouth.

But just when they needed their full complement of players to face a team as strong as the Cestrians, there are uncertainties over several key players.

Definitely out is Ryan Pringle, who was the North East player of the year in 2011. Pringle brings all-round skills to the Lyons party and he is once again featuring in both the batting and bowling rankings at this early stage of the season.

But a side strain that he has been carrying for a while, and which has prevented him from bowling in recent games, hasn’t cleared as hoped and he has been ordered to take complete rest for the next seven days to try to finally sort the problem.

There are also injury doubts over ex-Durham men Shaun Birbeck, who underwent an operation on his knee last week, and John Tindale.

Birbeck had a cartilage removed and a “flush out” and it will be touch and go as to whether he will make this weekend, while skipper Tindale pulled a thigh muscle in the last game and this, combined with a back problem, also makes him a doubt for Ropery Lane.

With Gary Adey unavailable, Hetton’s resources will be stretched, particularly as they have three games in three days with the Chester match sandwiched between a T20 tie tomorrow and a Justsport Trophy game on Sunday.

Both Birbeck and Tindale will defer a decision on whether they can play until tomorrow to allow themselves the best possible chance of being cleared to play.

Chester have no such worries, having a full squad at their disposal, and may even get the chance to hand Scott Borthwick his debut as he did not travel with the Durham squad to Taunton this week.

Chris Rushworth did head south, although he wasn’t in the team, so league leaders Sunderland hope he may make the dash back to take part in their game at South Shields and put them at full strength as they seek to build on their 10-point advantage at the head of the table.

Shields have made a positive start, already having two wins under their belts, and they would love to be able to include their Durham man, Gordon Muchall, but again they have to await news on his availability.

Elsewhere, Durham Academy have a daunting trip to South North, while Gateshead Fell meet Tynemouth, Stockton host Newcastle and Benwell Hill head to Blaydon.

The T20 competition starts tomorrow with the first round of group matches which feature Sunderland at home to Blaydon, Chester-le-Street entertaining Tynemouth, Hetton Lyons hosting Stockton and Durham Academy at Gateshead Fell
 
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Highlights of Sunderlands win at south shields yesterday.
 
Ashbrooke men ready for a crunch month
Published on Thursday 31 May 2012 12:00


IT’S crunch time for Sunderland as they face up to their biggest challenges of the Dukes North East Premier League season over the next couple of weeks.


The Wearsiders began the campaign back in April with a poor performance against Durham Academy, but, after getting that quickly out of their system, they have notched up four consecutive victories in May.

Each one has shown a growing confidence about their cricket that suggests this is their best chance of honours since they won the championship back in the Premier Leagie’s inaugural season in 2000.

But June presents a new challenge. Skipper Dan Shurben explained: “I couldn’t have asked for much more at this stage in the league, but the next fortnight is crucial and will determine how our season may pan out.

“We have South North this week and Chester away next week. But we are in good form and hope to keep our momentum going.”

Saturday’s match against the champions is at Ashbrooke and the good news for home supporters is that the leaders will have a full-strength side in the field, with Chris Rushworth being confirmed as available.

South North have unusually shown some frailties this year, with two defeats in their opening six games, but it would be unwise to underestimate their squad and they, too, have their best team out for this one.

On-form Blaydon present the biggest threat to Sunderland’s leadership and they are in the mood to exploit Hetton Lyons’ injury woes when they travel south on Saturday.

There is some good news for Lyons in that Shaun Birbeck and Gary Adey will definitely return for this one, but there remain significant doubts over whether Ryan Pringle and skipper John Tindale will make it.

Blaydon will give broken elbow victim Chris Varley his first league outing after he came through a couple of cup matches with flying colours.

Chester-le-Street are the “away” team when they welcome the Durham Academy to Ropery Lane on Saturday, and home comforts could prove important as they look to continue a run of three successive league victories.

Fraser Campbell has now left to play his cricket in London and Chester skipper Quentin Hughes will not know about Scott Borthwick until later in the week.

Alan Mustard and Chris Martin both scored well for the seconds last week and are in contention for first-team slots.

Benwell Hill entertain fellow strugglers Gateshead Fell, with the unusual scenario of two professional brothers facing each other, with the home team’s Zohaib Khan set for sibling rivalry with Fell’s Shoaib. Ollie Durrell and Tim Raglan are drafted into Fell’s team.

Mid-table South Shields are yet to name their team for the trip to Newcastle, while Tynemouth take on Stockton, who are likely to miss Durham’s latest pace discovery, Jamie Harrison, because of county commitments.

The next round of T20 ties takes place tomorrow, with Sunderland at Benwell Hill, Chester entertaining Hetton Lyons, South Shields hosting South North and Durham Academy at Tynemouth.
 
We tied with Benwell Hill in the T20 tonight.

Big game tomorrow, unfortunately despite what the Echo says, we are without Rushworth. Sky T&W are with us again however, and one of our players is getting mic'ed up during the game.
 
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