Tynemouth chief relishes start of campaign
TYNEMOUTH travel to Benwell Hill tomorrow in the Dukes North East Premier League Premier Division with chairman Graham Hallam in confident mood.
He said: “The team is well prepared for the new season and we have added all-rounder Sam Dinning to the squad.
“The club finished in their highest position for 10 years, in third place, in a highly competitive league last season.”
Captain Ben Debnam added: “The side we have is maturing and our young players between 19 and 25 have all played around four to five seasons together - and perhaps last year did not reflect how well we played in finishing third.”
Benwell Hill have signed Craig Wallace and Gavin Main for the 2017 season.
Wallace is an explosive opening bat who has represented Scotland in seven one-day internationals.
He joins from Forfarshire Cricket Club and will provide impetus at the top of the order.
Seamer Main, 21, will bring a much-needed cutting edge to the bowling attack.
Newcastle host Eppleton and Director of Cricket Doug Hudson said: “I am hoping we can go one better than last year.
“In have come Australian Joshua Phillipe and Cameron Steel from Durham, Sam Roseby from Gateshead Fell and Alistair Appleby from Durham.”
Eppleton secretary John Smithson said: “We will be competitive after our first season in the Premiership last season.
“We have added South African Jandre Earsmus as our professional, a quick bowler and hardhitting batsman who will make a big difference for us this season.”
South Northumberland take on Stockton at Roseworth Terrace and have strengthened their squad with new skipper Adam Cragg coming in as well as former Durham all-rounder Calum MacLeod.
Felling welcome the Durham Cricket Academy at High Heworth Lane in their first season in the Premier Division.
Felling’s Barry Norman said: “We have kept the nucleus of the squad and added Craig Stephenson from Seaham Harbour and Freddie Simon from Durham.”
Champions Chester-leStreet open their campaign and defence of the title at home to Whitburn and captain John Coxon said: “We are raring to go and have kept the majority of the squad together.
“We have added Kyle Davis from Eppleton, who will open the batting, and also Mark Hickey from Durham while Andy Fothergill will keep wicket for the early part of the season.”
Whitburn captain Dan Shurben said: “We are looking to be positive and improve on last year.” TOMORROW’S NEPL FIXTURES: Felling v Durham Cricket Academy, Benwell Hill v Tynemouth, Chester-le-Street v Whitburn, Hetton Lyons v South Shields, South North v Stockton, Newcastle v Eppleton.