News & Reports
South North are yet again the team to beat
THE big question is a simple one
- who can stop the South
Northumberland juggernaut?
On the last day of the 2007 campaign
it looked as though their
stupendous run of championship
successes was about to come to
an end, but in the most staggering
of finishes Sunderland contrived
to miss out on the title by
a single run, handing South
North a phenomenal fifth consecutive
title.
And it is likely that these two
sides will again feature prominently
in this years race.
Ominously, the champions
squad is the same as last year
with the added safety valve that
Nicky Peng will play when needed.
Skipper John Graham insists
that despite doing the double last
time out his side didn't play as
well as they could, which has led
to more intense preparation this
time.
Losing Marc Symington to
Norton was a blow to Sunderland's
2008 aspirations, and with
brother Craig following him out
of the door and Simon Brown retiring
there was a hole to plug.
But the capture of Ashley
Thorpe from Whitburn and Stewart
Walker from Hetton Lyons is
a massive boost - the pair rode
high in both the batting and
bowling averages in the Durham
Senior League in 2007.
A further useful acquisition is
that of Chris Rushworth from
Hylton - the leading wicket taker
in the Durham County League
last year and with Shahid Nazir
back Sunderland will have plenty
of firepower.
Another club with high hopes
are Chester-le-Street who believe
their well balanced side will be
amongst the challengers.
Simon Birtwistle, fifth in the
list of all time NEPL run makers,
has joined from Benwell Hill and
overseas amateur Ty Hopes, an
Australian leg-spinner from
Perth, is another newcomer.
The Cestrian's Durham players
are Luke Evans and Graham
Onions.
The Durham Academy have a
younger squad than normal but
academy manager John Windows
is looking forward to his
young charges earning their
spurs, and believes he has
strength in both the batting and
seam bowling departments.
Wooden spoonists Stockton
have recruited South African
Brendon Adams, who is captain
of Boland in his home
country.
Former Yorkshire Academy
player Harry Anderson
has also joined to offset the loss
of Richard Thomas, and the
Durham attachment is Karl
Turner.
Perennial strugglers Norton
have a stronger squad and are
confident that they can become a
top half side - Marc Symington
has returned home, Peter Howells
will keep wicket and 28 yearold
Kenny Gresham has come
out of premature retirement.
Added to this is new pro
Chanaka Wijesinghe who was
the third highest first-class run
scorer this winter in Sri Lanka,
and also bowls a bit of off-spin.
Durham's Garry Park continues.
South Shields were happy with
their first season in the League,
although they are looking for
more consistency. They stormed
out of the blocks last year, then
dipped considerably before coming
back to form and mid-table respectability.
The welcome return of Jonny
Wightman has delighted Shields
followers and it is expected he
will form a potent spearhead
with Matthew Muchall.
Western Australian Geoff
Cullen, brother of former Shields
batsman Lyndsay, will be the
overseas player, and ex club junior,
Paul Muchall, is the
Durham man.
Another Australian, allrounder
Grant Lindsey from Victoria,
is heading for Tynemouth.
Skipper Graeme Hallam will also
be able to call upon either Gareth
Breese or Moneeb Iqbal as their
Durham contracted player.
Gateshead Fell have lost Nicky
Phillips, but 22-year-old South
African Martin Bekker has been
recruited.
The young star already has
some impressive first-class credentials,
and averages 40 at the
top level. Pete Towner is the new
skipper and he will have either
Will Gidman or Callum Thorp as
his Durham choice.
Blaydon, who finished a creditable
third last time, have
brought in wicketkeeper Graham
Martin from Hetton Lyons, offspinner
Jon Malkin from Castle
Eden and James Baverstock a
batsman from Perth in Australia,
but they will miss Peter Howells
who has joined Norton. Graeme
Bridge will pro and Ben Harmison
and Mark Davies were the allocated
Durham choice, although
it is now understood that Harmison
has signed for Ashington in
the NTSL.
South African Sean Adair, who
plays for Eastern Provinces, is
the new Newcastle professional,
Matt Hynd captains and will
have Gordon Muchall or Mark
Stoneman as his County players.
Another South African, Rob
Frylink from Durban, has an impressive
first-class pedigree and
is expected to bring firepower
with both bat and ball to Benwell
Hill, who will be celebrating
their 125th anniversary. Their
contracted players are Paul
Wiseman and Uzair Mahomed.
11:06am Friday 25th April 2008
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