Hetton make light work of South Hylton to lead the way in Earl Cup
Round two of the Earl Cup was completed with new leaders reaching the summit.
Hetton Workmen’s 6-0 (72-26) home win over South Hylton maintained their unbeaten start and in doing so moved to the top of the pile.
Holders Barnes Park were beaten 6-0 (54-31) at Roker Marine, while Seaham Town made it two wins out of two when beating Houghton Dairy Lane A 5½-½ (47-31).
After their opening loss, Silksworth Pumas bounced back with a 5-1 home win over North Biddick (53-43).
In Division Two, Usworth are the early pacesetters after a 5-1 (57-40) local derby win over Washington made it a second win of the season.
Ryhope have had a few tough years, but it’s nice to see them on the up with a hardfought 4½-1½ (43-36) win over Sunderland.
Houghton Town beat Thompson Park 5-1 (42-35) and there was a thriller at Whitburn as they played out a draw against Hylton Colliery Welfare 40-40, the visitors edged the points 3½-2½.
The Swan Cup gets underway this week, and holders Seaham Town host newly promoted Hylton Colliery Welfare, Dairy Lane host Silksworth Pumas.
Last season's Division Two champions open at home to Barnes Park, while Roker Marine are at home to North Biddick. In Division Two, Pemberton missed out on promotion last season by half a point, and they open up their campaign away at relegated Hetton Workmen's.
The other relegated team New Herrington travel to Washington, the only other game features Houghton Town at home to Thompson Park.
In the Harold Howey Division Two, it has been agreed that Whitburn B will replace South Hetton, who sadly dropped out. The Division Two campaign gets underway on Thursday, and the two relegated teams, Houghton Town and Washington B, go head to head.
The Northern Counties Muras double header will take place at Blackhall Welfare on May 25. The format has been changed and instead of a six-rink event, counties will enter three rink squads, both Durham and Northumberland have took the opportunity to enter two squads alongside a squad from Lancashire and Yorkshire.
The six squads will be split into two groups of three playing 15-end round robin games with the winners of the groups meeting in a final. If squads from the same county reach the final then the trophy would just be presented to that county with no final.