Cestrians concentrate on wrapping up league title (From The Northern Echo)

Cestrians concentrate on wrapping up league title

10:59am Saturday 24th July 2010 in

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STUNG by their elimination from both national competitions Chester-le-Street begin the countdown to domestic glory in the Dukes NEPL with a home game against bottom club Tynemouth today.

The Cestrians lost their national club crown earlier in the season, being eliminated by arch rivals South North, and last Sunday the Bulls repeated the treatment in the league T20 finals which act as a qualification vehicle for the Cockspur National T20 Cup.

But Chester still have everything to play for with a league and cup double very much in the frame. They play the Academy in the Banks Salver final in a few week’s time, but before then they will have a clear mind to focus fully on league business, starting this morning at Ropery Lane against their struggling opponents.

They go into this match without skipper Quentin Hughes, although both Graeme Cessford and Liam Simpson should be available this week. Adam Nairn retains his first team spot handed to him after he set the second team alight with more than 500 runs.

Tynemouth followed two successive wins with an agonising two runs defeat against relegation rivals Stockton last week, so their recent form has been pretty good, and they have captain Graeme Hallam back at the helm to steady their nerves.

As in the cup competitions South North are the biggest threat to Chester’s title ambitions and they are once again unchanged as they await the arrival of derby rivals Benwell Hill.

After missing the last two matches due to family commitments seamer Craig Smith returns to the Hill line-up to face his former colleagues, and other than the long term injury to Sachin Brar this puts Benwell at full strength.

Stockton were ecstatic when they ran out Tynemouth’s last man to secure that dramatically close victory last week, and they enjoy home advantage again today when they take on the Durham Academy. Jon Rickard returns to the Teessiders’ line-up, although Dave Seymour is unavailable.

Despite playing some outstanding cricket in the last month or so South Shields are not out of the relegation woods yet and they are delighted to welcome back Whitley Bay footballer Phil Bell to the team that entertains Hetton Lyons, although they still await news of 174-run man Gordon Muchall’s availability.

The Lyons stick with the team that defeated Sunderland last week.

That defeat was the Wearsiders fifth in a row, and from a position of strength when they were right up amongst the leading pack, the disastrous run has seen them slump into the bottom half of the table.

They are now just 17 points in front of today’s opponents, Newcastle, who are right in the relegation mire.

Seldom, therefore, could the stakes have been higher in a Tyne-Wear derby than today’s game at Jesmond. Sunderland have shown faith in last week’s team, with Chris Rushworth available, but their hosts bring in Mark Cryer and James Matthewson with Ross McLaren likely to be a big miss.

With Kyle Coetzer unavailable through family commitments Ian Hunter makes his long awaited return to the Blaydon side for their match at Gateshead Fell.

Hunter will be playing his first match since the opening day of the season when he split the webbing on his hand.

That injury was followed by a knee problem that restricted him to only one second team game for Derbyshire.

Gateshead have to reckon without Richie Steel, Mark Lockey earning promotion.