A BIG weekend beckons for NYSD followers, with the League Fifteens Finals sandwiched between a crucial double header of league matches, with the traditional full Bank Holiday programme.

It's the 11th anniversary of the short-format game, sponsored by Teesside University and renowned as a major coloured clothing competition in UK club cricket.

Billingham Synthonia are the host club for the first time and with four finals to be staged, it will be a day of non-stop action from 9.30 on Sunday morning, when the junior teams of Richmondshire and Whitby are put in the spotlight.

Maltby and Wolviston lock horns in the Division Two final, after which Marton and Richmondshire go head to head for the Division One Trophy. The showpiece Premier Division final scheduled for a 5pm start, will feature Great Ayton and Seaton Carew.

Set against the vast experience of the Villagers, who will be making a remarkable eighth final appearance in nine years – they've won it three times – it will be the first time for Seaton at this stage. Nevertheless, they have big-time cup experience, having won the Macmillan competition last season. Both teams will be at full strength, with Ayton’s Joe Marsay back after missing the previous day's league match. Stuart Lobb returns for Seaton.

Before and after the Fifteens, the spotlight will be turned back onto the league in which the top five clubs, including Great Ayton, are separated by just 43 points and there's still the matter of which two clubs will be relegated.

Barnard Castle lead the way, are back to full-strength with Richard Borrowdale returning for games with Normanby Hall today and Darlington on Monday.

Darlington are third and at home to Norton on Saturday without Alec Simpson who is playing for Durham Academy, but returns for Monday in place of Sam Hardy; Jack Vickerman also returns against Barney.

Marske in second place, play Seaton and Guisborough with Chris Lince, Tom Irwin and Charlie Helm returning for both games.

Normanby Hall, in desperate need of a win, have Chris Witherley missing both league games against Barnard Castle and Middlesbrough, Chris Trillo returns today, but Chris Veazey is missing, along with Dom Leech on North of England Under 17 duty; Veazey is back for Monday. Youngster Adam Beaumont is available for both.

Billingham Synthonia are without Adam Greenwell, but Mark Price makes his first senior game of season against Guisborough on Saturday and Norton on Monday.

Richmondshire are unchanged, but have one less game than the other four challengers for the championship and one more bad result could rule them out of the running. They play at Hartlepool on Saturday, but have a blank Bank Holiday.

A derby win for Stokesley over Great Ayton on Monday, could see them safe from relegation. Late arrival Darren Hill has returned to Australia after nursing the injury to his bowling arm.

Great Ayton play Middlesbrough on Saturday and are missing Joe Marsay, but he returns for Sunday's Finals day and against Stokesley for the derby on Monday.

In Division One, Marton still lead the way, but only by two points, with four matches to go and they are at home to Great Ayton, while second-placed Bishop Auckland travel to Whitby.