SHERBURN PILING THE PRESSURE ON PELTON
BUFFS UNDER THE COSH IN SEARCH FOR A THIRD SUCCESSIVE PREMIER DIVISION TITLE
Pelton RAOB, champions in three of the last four seasons, face a big battle in the run to secure their third successive Premier Division championship.
Buffs lead the way with 33 points from 12 games, but unbeaten Sherburn Village, sitting in second spot with a game in hand, are only four points adrift.
There are still plenty of matches to fit in, with Sherburn, after 11 games, only halfway through their programme.
Newton Aycliffe Huntsman, fourth at the moment and the only team to have beaten table-toppers Pelton, look good for a top-three finish, with just two losses in their 10 matches.
Ouston Cherry Tree currently sit third, but they only have four matches to play.
At the bottom, Washington Cross Keys prop up the table with just seven points from 13 games, a point behind Ferryhill Dynamoes and two adrift of Ferryhill Celtic.
It remains a two-way fight for the First Division title, and looks sure to go to the wire between Burnside WMC and Durham County.
Leaders Burnside have won 11 and drawn one of their 12 games, with 34 points on the board, while second-top County have a match in hand and are four points behind.
Fifth-top Hilda Park, two points behind third-placed Houghton Wild Boar All-Stars but with five games in hand, look the best bet to finish third. Coxhoe Red Lion are in trouble in bottom spot, with five points from 10 games so far.
Ouston Juniors currently lead the way in Division Two, with 31 points on the board.
But the title battle looks likely to be between East Rainton and Dubmire WMC.
Rainton are unbeaten after eight games, with 22 points won so far, in fourth place, three points behind Dubmire, who have been defeated just once.
Rainton still have 18 games to go, while Dubmire have 16.
Chester Garden Farm RAR, with 19 games still to play, cannot be counted out, despite being in eighth place and having lost twice, but they face a mammoth task.
Three sides are separated by just a point at the bottom, withHoughtonChiltonLodge and Bowburn on eight points apiece, while Sedgefield SC are one point better off.
Hetton Social Club top the table in Division Four thanks to 11 wins and two draws in their 15 matches so far.
Unbeaten Newton Aycliffe Navy Club, with eight wins and a draw in their nine games, are the clear favourites to land the championship, despite being in fifth place, 10 points off top spot.
Aycliffe, though, have 15 games to fit in, in what is bound to be a hectic run-in.
Gilesgate Woodman Inn, in fourth, must have a good chance of promotion, with 26 points, sitting behind Ferryhill Community Hub (33) and Durham Rangers (29) but with games in hand.