Something has to give as top two sides clash

Jul 4 2009 The Journal

North East Premier League

THE scene is set for a gladiatorial contest at Roseworth Terrace this morning where the two dominant teams in the Duke’s NEPL meet.

Leaders South Northumberland take on the team just one place and 13 points below them in the table, Chester-le-Street. The pair are already more than 50 points in front of the rest of the field, and they carry the only two remaining unbeaten records, the Bulls’ stretching back 14 months to May 2008.

And the visitors will not be short of confidence. Having dumped South North out of the national knockout cup in emphatic fashion a few short weeks ago, they are now through to the last 16 of that competition after beating Scarborough last Sunday. But the Gosforth outfit do have an excellent league record against the Cestrians over the years and will not concede ground easily.

The home team will have to get by without the valuable services of spinner Richard Brook, but have opted to beef up their batting by including promising youngster James Carding. The visitors have named a full-strength line-up.

South Shields’ defeat at Ropery Lane last week has left them with a bit of a mountain to climb if they are to get back in the title race, although today’s home match against a flagging Newcastle team, who haven’t won since the opening day of the season, could present an opportunity to get back on track.

But Shields do have absentees with Aussie Adam Coyte having returned home after suffering a bout of homesickness, whilst Phil Bell is in sunnier climes and Nick Quinn is on a football tour. Matthew Muchall is also a doubt with a shoulder injury and will be subjected to a late fitness test. Michael Dunn is available again, Martin Quinn replaces his brother Nick, and Oliver Stedman is back from his holidays.