Dawdon continue their quest for Durham Cricket League title glory with a home game against Crook Town which will no doubt rekindle memories of that staggering match back in late May when the two sides first met.

On that day Dawdon made 198, and Crook reached 198-5 in reply before losing their last five wickets without adding to the score to produce an amazing outcome.

That escape from left Dawdon as leaders, but they now have ground to make up on Esh Winning who have established a 16-point lead at the summit. Mark Ewart, who played an influential part in that astonishing first game, is missing although Dawdon have John Leslie returning from suspension.

Crook, whose skipper Andrew Pratt passed the 1,000 runs milestone for the season last weekend, have two enforced changes with Andrew Robinson on football duty and Neil Davies also missing. The return of William Angus and Josh Holmes eases the problem.

Esh Winning host Hylton, their visitors in the relegation mire. Boldon CA are already as good as down, while Hylton are in the second demotion slot and trail third-bottom Horden by nine points.

Unbeaten Esh have Mark Davison out with a dislocated finger, but with a squad of 12 proven first team players they have the playing reserves to cope.

The League executive face a tough decision when they meet next week as they have to decide on what should happen to the game at Mainsforth that was abandoned halfway through last Saturday following an injury to a Horden player.

The most important thing was that the player was not as seriously injured as at first feared, and has since been given the all clear. However, with Mainsforth in the thick of the title race, and looking favourites to win that game after bowling out Horden for just 120, the decision is complicated by the fact that only one other First Division game was completed on the day, with rain affecting many matches.

Mainsforth will have to put that to the back of their minds when they go to Durham this afternoon as hosts City are just one point behind them and represent a real threat to their unbeaten record.

Durham have vice-skipper Jonny Harding returning to put them at full strength, while the visitors have again to reckon without the services of Rob Chismon, so Mark Snowdon earns an opportunity.

What a game awaits at Ashington this afternoon in the NTSL, where the new leaders entertain the team they knocked off the top spot, Swalwell.

Just six points separate the sides, but if the Colliers could have chosen the day to play the powerful former champions it would have been today as their key opening batsmen, Chris Hewison and Lloyd Anderson are in Mexico for the former’s wedding, while Stephen and Andy Smith are attending the latter’s nuptials.

Shotley Bridge, in second, are also set to be tested as they travel to transformed side Leadgate, last week’s conquerors of Swalwell. Lewis Hall and Gary Johnson are back for the Bridge, but Graham Angus is unavailable, while buoyant Leadgate are unchanged.