Northern Rock North East Premier League

Jun 21 2008 The Journal

THERE is little doubting the match of the day in the Northern Rock North East Premier League – and it doesn’t involve any of the top teams.

Benwell Hill make the short trip to Jesmond this morning to take on Newcastle in a game which could have profound implications for each side. While there was no team seeking promotion to the NEPL in 2007 the likelihood is that will not be the case this time around, so finishing bottom carries with it a very real threat of relegation.

Newcastle, despite halting their disastrous run of defeats last week, still couldn’t force a win and it was only Benwell Hill’s late collapse at Blaydon that stopped a wider gap developing than the current 13 points that separate them.

Former Hill captain and Minor Counties player Phil Nicholson is as surprised as many at his team’s struggles this season. “Overall, it’s disappointing obviously,” he said. “We believe we have a talented bunch of players who have not really performed yet. Several of the lost games have been very close and only Sunderland have thumped us. Having said that we could do with a couple of wins soon. As a group we need to play tougher cricket for longer to turn promising positions into wins.”

Nicholson, a native of Jesmond, obviously has a soft spot for the place – his personal best score of 134 was made at the ground in 1999. For Hill, Graeme Race returns after missing last week with an ankle injury, and Nicholson will keep wicket again after recovering from a niggling finger injury.

Elsewhere, Chester-le-Street have a big weekend in front of them as they take on two of their main rivals for honours. Today they entertain Sunderland at Ropery Lane knowing they need to match league leaders South Northumberland blow for blow to remain in touch in the title race. Tomorrow they face South North at Gosforth in the Cockspur Cup group semi-final.

And the Cestrians go into this frenetic double with a full squad, the only slight doubt surrounding Luke Evans who is reported as having suffered a foot problem whilst playing for Durham seconds during the week. Sunderland have Ian Stevenson back – he has been sidelined by a knee injury picked up in a cup game – but if he doesn’t make it Ross Hughes will continue to deputise.

South Shields will be missing Oliver Stedman through injury and second-team keeper Chris Rainbow is drafted in, while visitors Blaydon are unchanged.

Durham Academy expect to name an unchanged team to face South Northumberland at the Racecourse. Jimmy Miller misses for the leaders, but Stephen Humble and Richard Brook are back.

Gateshead Fell are boosted by the return of Will Gidman for their match at Stockton, and Michael Cairns and Charlie Hammond are also in, and it’s all change at Tynemouth where Ben Debnam and Matthew Summers return, and Matthew Brown and Phil Morse also play in the home game against Norton. Garry Park is expected to play for the Teessiders, while Kenny Gresham will have a late fitness test on a broken toe.

CHRIS WEST