Dukes ECB NEPL, Readers Durham CL & Go North East NTSL

In the NEPL, leaders Chester-Le-Street in scintillating form (six wins on the trot), make the short trip to Eppleton, who will be scrapping hard to hold on to their premiership status. The hosts need vital points to maintain their cushion over bottom club Gateshead Fell, currently at 32 points.

Skipper John Coxon is in buoyant mood, “We are playing very well at the moment, keeping it simple and everyone is contributing to the winning run. Individuals are taking the responsibility required and when we are up against it in matches, the experienced players step forward and this helps everyone in the team.” Richard Waite returns to the side, but Andrew Bell is away on holiday.

Chester’s near neighbours Hetton Lyons, could do them a favour, if they can carry on their recent form, when they travel to Newcastle in third, without a win in their last three league games and have lost their momentum at the wrong stage of the season.

South North unbeaten in three games and are just 22 points behind the leaders in second place, have a tricky home game with South Shields, who are in fifth. They will be looking to keep the pressure on the leaders, likewise for Tynemouth who are fourth, they welcome Stockton, but are without professional Tahir Khan, who is with his wife for the birth of their child and replacement professional Taufeeq Umar comes straight in to the side.

Whitburn welcome bottom club Gateshead Fell who badly need points. Skipper Ross Carty said, “If we win we will be safe, but we are not complacent at all, we have a decent run in and are looking upwards, not downwards. Fell skipper Mark Lockey said, “We are slowly closing the gap and certainly not panicking, we need a couple of wins though.”

Stockton who are sixth in the league table, travel to Tynemouth in fourth.

In the DCL, Burnopfield have lost their last two games, but still maintain a 57 point advantage as their rivals keep losing! They have three changes with Jimmy Radcliffe, Matty Young and Jack Hughes and Gareth Breese from the club stated, “We have been outplayed in our last two games and need to re-focus, play good cricket and return to winning ways, it’s still in our own hands.”

They entertain Easington and skipper Dane Wilson is looking for improvements from last week. “We were terrible last week and I hope it was just a one-off.”

Dawdon who were really disappointed at their loss to Horden last week, must win at Crook Town to keep the pressure on the leaders, just as Horden must do at Durham City. Crook are in no mood to go down after their draw at Seaham Park last week, but they must play positively.

Seaham Park without a win in three games, travel to Castle Eden who in great form having won their last three games, most notably against Burnopfield last weekend and are unchanged.

In the NTSL, its bottom teams versus top teams again, as leaders Ashington travel to Leadgate, who are just 24 points above the relegation trapdoor. The home side need to accumulate some points in order to push away from the bottom, but the leaders are unbeaten and will be difficult to beat.

Newcastle City with only one win in their last six league games and just 12 points above Annfield Plain who are second bottom, visit Shotley Bridge who will be eager to win to maintain the pressure on the leaders.

Annfield Plain with no win in their last four games, visit Swalwell who sit in third and have won their last four league games.