Lyons tamed but still hope to roar to glory
N/EAST PREMIER LEAGUE
JARVIS Clay believes this year’s Premier Division title race is wide open – but hopes his Hetton Lyons side will be right in the mix come September, writes TONY HODGSON.
After five rounds of matches, champions South Northumberland hold a slender five-point lead over Chester-le-Street.
Whitburn are a further nine points adrift in third and Tynemouth fourth.
Clay’s Lyons lost ground when they lost to Whitburn by three wickets on Saturday – but still harbour hopes of a championship challenge.
Captain Clay said: “The battle for honours will be wide open this year to be honest – any team can take points off anyone else.
“It is still early in the season. There is a lot of cricket to play and anything can happen – and the weather will probably play a part as well.
“South Northumberland are always strong, so are Chester-leStreet, Whitburn will be up there – hopefully so will we.”
Clay is enjoying his third successive summer as Lyons captain in his tenth season with the Lilywhite Terrace club.
He is looking for improvements on last season – when the Wearsiders finished sixth – and also hopes to recapture his prolific form of 2017.
Clay amassed 795 league runs – the second highest in the Premier Division and the most by a non-overseas player.
The wicketkeeper-batsman added: “I have not started the season in the best of form but hopefully things will pick up as the weeks go by.”
The Lyons were tamed by devastating bowling from Kieron Waterson (4-13) and Matthew Muchall (3-17) as they were dismssed for just 96 – Whitburn 97-7 in reply.
South North, meanwhile, comfortably prevailed by 97 runs at home to neighbours Newcastle.
The champions posted 247-8 – Liam Trevaskis top-scoring with 77 – and then Jonny Wightman took 5-26 to restrict Newcastle to 150-9.
Chester-le-Street saw off Sacriston by 112 runs.
Benwell Hill beat Stockton by 94 runs, Felling lost by 101 runs at home to Tynemouth and Eppleton drew with the Durham Cricket Academy.