WITH not one single ball bowled in Division One of the Durham Cricket League all the drama came off the field, with the decision on whether champions Esh Winning will be granted promotion to the NEPL deferred until later this week.

It had originally been indicated that a decision on whether Esh would pass the ground and facilities criteria of the premier league would be made before the start of play on Saturday, but that deadline was pushed back a few days by the NEPL executive, with secretary Gordon Halliday explaining: “I said earlier this week that we hoped to make a decision on whether Esh Winning meet our criteria for entry into the NEPL before Saturday's matches.

“However, in view of the significance of the decision we need to make, it looks like it will be early next week before we can get all the necessary information and the views of all the members of our Management Committee.”

If Esh get the nod then they will replace South Hetton, who finished 59 points adrift at the foot of the NEPL First Division table, however, if their bid is turned down then South Hetton will host a play-off game against Mainsforth this coming Saturday, the match to be played under Banks Salver rules.

Saturday’s wash out ensured Mainsforth would finish second to earn the potential chance of promotion via a play-off, and at the other end of the table the rain also meant Hylton were confirmed as the team to be relegated alongside Boldon CA.

It was already known that Seaham Park and Burnopfield were to be promoted from Division Two, but there was still the little matter of the championship to be decided and, amazingly, with all the other 11 DCL matches abandoned without a ball being bowled, Park’s game at Houghton went ahead with Seaham rushing to victory to win their first league title since 1964 in style.

Hosts Houghton, losing their 22nd match out of 24, were bundled out for 71 in 19.2 overs, Siddharth Chitnis once again the star turn with six for 26 and Michael Walker picking up 3-13. Park then rattled off the runs in double quick time for the loss of just two wickets, fittingly skipper Dave Hanson (14no) at the crease when the title winning hit was made.

The rain had a major impact on affairs in the NTSL where Shotley Bridge were crowned champions for the first time since 2002.

The weather gods were smiling on Shotley as the leaders at the start of the day, Swalwell, suffered the most infuriating of all cricketing fates when their own home game against Ponteland was unable to start after the Derwenthaugh Park ground became waterlogged.

The water was also causing problems at the Bridge, but it turned out to be a Bridge over untroubled waters as the frantic mopping up operations paid handsome dividends, the game against Lanchester eventually getting underway at 3.40pm on a 25 overs per side basis.

And after the waters had been repelled there was no way Shotley were going to mess up. They held the visitors to 148-8 and then rattled off the required runs with 3.5 overs to spare, Lewis Hall (33no) and Stuart Graham (28no) putting the finishing touches to the run chase after Paul Greenwell had cracked 4 fours and 2 sixes in his top scoring 42. For skipper Peter Collingwood the championship brought a fitting close to his cricketing career.

Annfield Plain live to fight another top flight season after Neil Killeen turned in a killer batting performance to destroy Tynedale. In another truncated game former Durham star Killeen smashed 9 fours and 4 sixes on his way to an unbeaten 101, and with the Plain rattling up 164-2 in 25 overs they had enough in the bank to ensure their survival with a 27-run victory.

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