AFTER changing their captain amid an indifferent start to the season, Hartlepool have added to their bowling attack in an attempt to turn around their fortunes.

They meet another team in the bottom five today, when Darlington visit Park Drive.

Former Durham and Kent paceman Mark Davies has been transferred from Billingham Synthonia. He represented Durham on 220 occasions and also played for England Lions and England U19.

Secretary Michael Gough snr said: “Mark brings a wealth of experience to our club and with us having a young team, he will be very welcome to pass on his knowledge.

“His all-round cricket skills will strengthen our team and he is very much up for challenge.’’

Davies replaces Tom Gavin who is unavailable and James Piper is in for Brad Frank.

Darlington official Garry Moody said: “After our first league win of season against Marton last weekend, and success against Seaton Carew in the Kerridge Cup, we hope for more of the same. We make one change with the unavailable Ollie King, being replaced by Callum Lethbridge.”

Stokesley will be wanting to keep in touch with the leading pack, when they entertain Seaton Carew at Broughton Road. The North Yorkshire outfit have had a mixed start to the season, winning three, losing two and drawing one, from their first six games.

Secretary Mark Smith said: “Following two victories last weekend, match-winner Michael Howe is away this weekend, but Tom Preece returns following an injury. We are looking for an improvement with the bat, despite two victories at the weekend to support the bowlers.

“Aussie Daniel Chillingworth is bowling well with 12 wickets in the last three games and Srikant Wagh took six wickets in the Kerridge Cup game last Monday.”

Seaton had a terrific 25-point win last weekend at home to Richmondshire and welcome back David Braithwaite and Stuart Lobb from holiday, but Alan Tebbett is unavailable.

Middlesbrough have lost their last two league games following a promising start to the season and they host leaders Great Ayton at Acklam Park.

Skipper Leigh Beaumont said has Joe Gaudie in for the unavailable Richard Knaggs, while Great Ayton make one change, with Mark Lewis back in for Thomas Leng.

Barnard Castle in fourth, host in-form and third-placed Thornaby, to Vere Road.

Barney skipper James Quinn said: “We are unchanged and looking to bounce back after a disappointing batting display against Great Ayton last week, we felt we had missed a big opportunity and we want put in another positive performance at home.”

Thornaby have one change from last week’s win at Hartlepool. Lewis Beaumont is in for James Roberts. Beaumont, 16, will be making his first team debut in the Premier League and has already had plenty of runs under his belt in the second team.”

Skipper Paul Allen said: “If results had gone our way last weekend, we could have been top of the table after a convincing victory at Hartlepool.

“Confidence is sky high after such a great start, with some stand out performances by Lewis Harper and Jeremy Boyle last weekend. We won’t be getting carried away with this and anticipate a tough game against Barnard Castle.”

Two clubs in the bottom five, who have made indifferent starts to the season meet up, as Marton entertain Bishop Auckland.

Marton skipper Alex Wardell said: “We make one change from last weekend, with Matthew Connelly back from injury, so young Jack Leadbitter will drop down to the seconds.

“It has been a disappointing start to our season and we are struggling to put an all-round performance together, but this is a big game for the club, with Bishop’s fighting down at the bottom with ourselves.”

Bishops have a full strength squad for the first time this season and Jack Conway is back from injury to face his old club. Nigel Turner and Gary Burlinson, return from holiday.

Richmondshire, in second, were the last team to lose their unbeaten record in the league when they lost at Seaton Carew last weekend.

They are at home to Marske three changes, as Sam Wood, Josh Dowson and Sam Winter return to replace Owen Kelly, James Kelly and Craig Swainston.

Marske skipper Lee Hodgson said: “We make two changes to last week’s team, with Tom Hales and Lewis Myers coming in for the unavailable Tom Urwin and Gary Lynch. After a very good win last week against an in-form Middlesbrough, we expect another tough game after they suffered their first defeat of the season last week, so they will be looking to bounce back.’’