LOWLY SILKSWORTH DOWN TO BARE BONES
BIG TASK AHEAD OF DEPLETED SILKSWORTH AWAY TO TABLE-TOPPERS USHAW MOOR
Silksworth are down to the barest of bones for Saturday’s tough Second Division trip to leaders Ushaw Moor.
Silksworth captain Andy Barrass said: “We’re down to the bare bones on Saturday with Robbie Jones, Greg Davison, Gary McAvoy, Mark Forster and Michael Waterson all missing.
“We’ll be needing a few players to step up from the second team to lend a hand!”
Ryhope, in third spot, welcome struggling Peterlee and secretary Alan Mason said: “Skipper Chris Errington is unavailable, so Paul Jenkin deputises for him.
“James Summerside is out and is replaced by Jake Liddle and Johnny Hayes is back in.
“This season, we have lost a few games we should have won, but if you told me that we would be third and still challenging for promotion, at this stage of the season, I would have taken it”
Dawdon, in fifth, welcome Hylton to Green Drive.
Dawdon chairman Gordon Veitch said: “We have done pretty well this season and in general lost to the top four teams, which hasn’t been too good for our promotion prospects.
“However, we will carry on trying and the juniors are doing well at the club, with the club in general looking healthy.”
Second-bottom Murton are just 10 points ahead of Silksworth, and travel to Langley Park knowing that points are crucial at this stage of the season, in their fight against relegation.
They have a difficult runin, so this game could be pivotal for them.
Hunwick expect to field a strong team at home to Littletown.
Home chairman John Pratt said: “It’ll be a difficult game, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Littletown’s head of cricket development, Gregg Arundel, said: “Last week’s batting hero and captain, Dan Pearson, is unavailable.
“He will be replaced by vice-captain Bryan Conlon, who comes in to captain the side. Matthew Nixon also returns, taking the place of Spencer Oliver.
“Hunwick beat us in a very tight game earlier in the season, so we’ll be looking for a bit of revenge and to beat them on their own turf!”
Second-top Evenwood travel to Boldon CA.
Secretary Luke Bannister said: “The two Teesdales are back in the squad this weekend, while Andy Rowell is away. It’ll be a tricky game, we’ll try and win it, but we’ll have to see how it goes, as we don’t know what Boldon CA’s pitch is like.”
In Division One, depleted leaders Easington travel to bottom club Mainsforth, who have enjoyed an upsurge in form lately.
Easington secretary Peter Booth said: “Jason Moses and Jordan Wilson will be missing from the team this weekend. We hope to keep up our good run of form and increase our lead at the top of the table.”
Mainsforth chairman Tony Johns said: “We’ve had two good results recently and need to build on that. Things are looking up and we need to keep going.”
Crook, in second place, go to Marsden. Secretary Alan Stewart said: “Josh Holmes is still out injured, and he is expected to be out for a few weeks with a back injury.
“Hopefully David Embleton, who played last Saturday withakneeinjuryandscored highly, should be OK to play, but he will be unlikely to be able to bowl at full pace.
“The rest of the team should be unchanged.”
Third-placed Esh Winning, welcome Philadelphia and secretary Brian Gott said: “The team will be unchanged from last week.
“It’s such a competitive league, there are no easy games – if there were, Philadelphia wouldn’t be one of them. After a fantastic win against Tudhoe last weekend, we hope to string a few more good results together.”
Phili have just one absentee in Paul Hollinshead and Michael Hall is likely to deputise again and they are celebrating after winning the Frank Lees Cup Final, with a decisive victory over Tudhoe last Sunday.
Chairman Malcolm Pratt said: “Until we lost to Hetton Lyons on Tuesday night to end our interest in the Hedworth Williamson Cup, the first team had not lost in a knockout competition this season.”
Tudhoe, in fourth, travel to fifth-top Seaham Park with an unchanged team.
Chairman Stephen Thexton said: “It’s always a good competitive game against Seaham and we are looking forward to the game.”
Park vice-captain Michael McNicholas said: “John Sample and I are on holiday this week, and Umar and Shoaib Akhtar will be working.
“Stepping in will be Bradley Robinson, David Lowes, Chris Allan, and Anthony Moorhead. The league is pretty much over now, so we’ll just try to win each game and finish as high as we possibly can.”
Whiteleas & Harton visit Durham City and, following a comprehensive win against Marsden last weekend, just five points separate the two clubs.
Nathan Ullah again leads Leas, with captain Andrew Potts still unavailable.
Ullah said: “David Arrowsmith (work) and Lewis Surtees (injured hand) are both also unavailable, but we are boosted by the return of key batsmen, Owen Peterson. Andrew Davies also returns to the side and will be called upon to bowl in the crucial middle overs.”
Horden welcome Bill Quay and visiting secretary, Chris Little said: “Mick Orridge returns from his holiday and replaces Liam Brophy.”