Backworth in a bid for five straight wins

NORTHUMBERLAND LEAGUE

BLUE Flames, with only one win in their last four, play host tomorrow to Premier Division leaders Backworth, who go into the match are on the back of five successive victories.

Backworth are still without opener Ben Sutton but Chris Liddle and Dan Crow return.

Both last weekends hat-trick heroes, Mark Minto and Andrew Horner, will look to continue their exploits against strong-looking batting line-ups.

Blagdon Park, 25 points off the leaders, entertain Warkworth tomorrow.

Bottom club Warkworth won for the first time last weekend, moving them level on points with Berwick.

The hosts will want to keep their unbeaten home record intact and they have already beaten two of the title favourites Backworth and Whickham.

Third-placed Blyth also aim to stay with the leaders as they welcome Corbridge, who are yet to win on their travels this season.

Last season’s strugglers Blyth are only a maximum-point victory behind Backworth.

Blyth welcome back Andy Kemp, Gary Quinn and Andy Clark, with Cameron Walker and Gary Cotterill also coming in, as they look to maintain their good early-season form.

However, work commitments rule out opener Will Asher and spin bowler Surj Singh, while Chandra Purma is also unavailable.

With a quarter of the season completed, Ashington Rugby’s title hopes are already quickly diminishing and they need a victory at Stobswood to move into the chasing pack.

Languishing in the bottom half, last year’s runners-up are boosted by the return of Dean Greaves and Scott Maddison.

Like Corbridge, Ashington Rugby will be looking to secure their first away success of the season.

Cramlington will attempt to pull away from the drop zone as they host mid-table Whickham.

Cramlington have lost their last three fixtures after a good start, leaving them near the bottom.

Whickham would move into the chasing pack should they secure their third successive victory.

Berwick, who have lost their last five and sit level on points with Warkworth at the bottom, travel to Chopwell to face GEM’s.