Peterlee, Dawdon fired up for classic semi-final

Peterlee Catholic Club will hope to get the green light for this weekend’s Durham County Sunday Cup semi-final against league rivals Dawdon Welfare Park.

The tie, postponed because of the snow last week, is scheduled to be played at Horden Welfare Park, with a 10.30am kick-off.

The winners of the eagerly-awaited clash will be up against Chilton WMC or Greenside in the final of the prestigious competition.

Last week’s wipe-out adds to an already hectic run-in for league clubs.

In the Premier Division, Peterlee Catholic Club still have 11 league matches to play.

Peterlee Helford United top the table with 20 points from 10 matches, one ahead of defending champions Dawdon Welfare Park, who have a vastly superior goal difference but have played 11 games, with five still to play.

Easington Lane WMC could well be favourites for the title, despite being in their first season in the top flight. They are third, two points behind Helford with two games in hand, and it is not inconceivable that fourthtop Horden CW Supporters and Peterlee Catholic could feature in the title race, given their big fixture backlogs. Shotton Comrades and Easington Welfare fill the bottom two spots, with four points apiece, with plenty of matches in which to lift themselves out of trouble.

Easington CIU and Seaham Marlborough are joint top of Division One on 21 points from eight games and look sure to have a two-way fight for the title. Horden Cricket Club are third, two points behind, but only have three matches to play, while the top two have eight apiece.

Wingate Howden are bottom, with four points from seven matches, two behind Trimdon Royal Oaks with two games in hand, and six adrift of Seaham Parkside, with five games in hand.

There are also two sides lev- el on 21 points at the top of Division Two, with Hetton Lyons having a better goal difference and a game in hand on Easington Leather Cap.

Peterlee Hearts are in the hunt, too, just two points behind, with Wingate Grange a further point back. New Seaham Westlea, in seventh, could also have a say, given that they have 10 matches still to play.

Haswell Oddfellows Arms look destined to finish in bottom spot, having secured just one point from their 10 games so far, five behind Murton New Hesledon, who have four games in hand.