South Hetton meet Mainsforth today in the first play-off to determine who will be playing NEPL cricket next season.

The drawn-out saga of whether Esh Winning would be granted automatic promotion as DCL champions finally came to a close late on Wednesday night when the NEPL management committee announced promotion would not be granted.

A statement read: “Following discussions with the club and a ground inspection, the League Management Committee has decided that Esh Winning, winner of the Durham Cricket League, does not currently meet the League and ground criteria for entry into the North East Premier League.

“Esh Winning has confirmed that it will not be able to field a team in the Sunday Second Division in 2016. The NEPL Sunday leagues provide important development opportunities for younger cricketers in line with ECB priorities.

“The Committee also considers that it will be virtually impossible for the Club to achieve Clubmark accreditation before the start of the 2016 season. In addition the Committee has concerns about the standard of the Club’s changing facilities.”

Esh proved outstanding champions on the field of play, winning the DCL title a few weeks ago, and so there is understandable disappointment at the decision.

Fixtures secretary Kevin Carmedy responded to the specific points raised admitting: “We believe the NEPL statement to be neither fair, nor correct.

“We would have Clubmark accreditation in place before the start of the season, and would also have made improvements to our dressing rooms.

“We also said that we would make every effort possible over the coming months to be able to put a team in the Sunday division - the fact that previously a team played their first year in the NEPL with no team in the Sunday division makes this particular element hard to take.

“In terms of ‘development opportunities for younger cricketers’ we believe our record is second to none. Dom Williamson, Karl Turner, Jack Burnham and Danni Hazell all came through our junior teams and went on to play top-level cricket.

“This year alone we have played NEPL clubs on five occasions - and won all five with a basically home grown team. Who has the correct model here? Those NEPL clubs that have one player in their first team from their junior ranks, or a club like us who have nine of our current team that have come through our junior set up?”

The play-off sees the game, which starts at 12.30pm, hosted by South Hetton, with the rules applying being those used in the NEPL’s main league cup competition, the Banks Salver, which is 45 overs per side with bowlers limited to nine overs maximum.

At South Hetton there is undeniable relief at being handed a second chance of survival – they finished 59 points adrift at the foot of the table – while Mainsforth are also grateful for the unexpected opportunity to progress.

Both expect to be at full strength for the most important game of the summer, with Hetton able to include experienced second teamers Andrew Hillas and Steven Massey alongside the returning Rameez Nawaz, and their opponents only doubt being over Rob Chismon’s work commitments.