Debnam’s sights on finishing in top four
DUKES NORTH EAST PREMIER LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
BEN DEBNAM put a frustrating start to the season behind him to target a top-four finish for Tynemouth this summer.
The Preston Road outfit had to settle for a winning draw in their opening fixture with Whitburn last weekend.
However, captain Debnam saw enough in that performance to convince him brighter days lie ahead for the coast club.
He said: “I was a bit disappointed with our seventh-placed finish last summer – it did not feel like a successful season.
“Saturday felt more like a loss than a winning draw but we did OK considering we were without some of our regular seam bowlers.
“However, we have a good core of homegrown players who now have a lot of NEPL experience.
“In addition we have recruited well with the arrival of Scottish internationals Mike Jones and Mark Watt and we will soon have our overseas player Wesley Edja joining us.
“Wesley is a seamer and lowerorder batsman from Cape Town in South Africa and he is just waiting for his permit to come through.
“There is good reason to be positive about the season and I believe we can secure a top-four finish.”
Teenager Jones joined the club from Ormskirk CC in Liverpool and has already made a huge impression at Tynemouth – scoring a magnificent century on his debut last weekend.
Debnam added: “Mike’s innings was great to watch and he scored more runs than the entire Whtburn side – that shows what he can do.
“He is an exciting prospect and Durham have offered him an Academy deal – he will play for us when his Durham commitments allow.”
Watt is only 21 but has already played more than 40 games for Scotland and taken more than 50 wickets.
He will both play and coach as part of his role at Tynemouth.
Debnam’s men visit Newcastle tomorrow while champions South Northumberland face a tricky test at Benwell Hill.
TOMORROW’S FIXTURES: Benwell Hill v South Northumberland, Durham Cricket Academy v Felling, Eppleton v Sacriston, Newcastle v Tynemouth, Stockton v Hetton Lyons, Whitburn v Chester-le- Street.