Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League

How times have changed for Stockton who last season finished second from bottom and with just one victory, won fewer games than any other side.

Twelve months on and they visit Gateshead Fell with high hopes of being in pole position by tonight.

"We certainly made a few people sit up and take notice when we beat champions Benwell Hill on the opening day of the season.

"Since then, we have drawn with Chester le Street and last week enjoyed a massive victory over our Norton," enthused official Mike Syson.

Close-season signings have improved the quality of the side but Durham County player Alan Walker continues to provide the back bone.

"We were in some trouble at 100-6 against Norton but Walker and newcomer Rob Atkins enabled us to take the score past the 250 mark before Richard Waite did the business with the ball,'' added Syson.

"It was without doubt one of our best victories for some time and sets us up nicely for the challenge at Gateshead Fell."

With University student Matthew Creese unavailable, another Uni lad Lee Daggett takes over in a strong line-up.

Chester le Street have a two-point lead over Sunderland and Stockton. For their game with Newcastle they expect to have Quentin Hughes resuming. Newcastle are relishing the challenge after losing heavily last weekend.

"Until then, we had made a good start and I am hoping that last week's result was a one off performance.

"It will be a good test for us this week and with Nick Tomlinson and Paul Lyndsay back, we're confident," said skipper Wayne Ritzema.

Despite losing John Atkinson to Tynemouth, Sunderland have assembled a very strong squad and at home to South Northumberland have one of the League's leading bowlers, Adam Applegarth, available.

He has already proved an integral part of a potent attack which boasts West Indian Test star Franklin Rose and former England and Durham County paceman Simon Brown.

South North skipper John Graham reports that James Miller is doubtful with a wrist injury and he awaits news on whether either Neil Killeen or Ian Hunter can play.

Following successive defeats by Durham Academy and Annfield Plain, Philadelphia have this week moved to strengthen.

Neil Hoban, whose brother Graham has captained the side in every game this season because injury has sidelined Andrew Roseberry, has decided to play again although he is not available today.

University students Glen Read and Ben Smyth have joined the Bunker Hill club. Read, a left-arm quickie, captained Sussex Academy before moving to Durham and Smyth plays Premier League cricket in Hampshire.

Roseberry expects to play his first match of the season today at Tynemouth and Ian Potter could also resume after recovering from a hand injury picked up a fortnight ago.

Tynemouth are hoping that John Atkinson will provide stability to their early batting. He made his debut last week but was quickly run out and had little opportunity to impress his new club. John Burn for Karl Spratt is the Seasiders' only change.

Benwell Hill meet Durham Academy at The Racecourse in what could be a closely contested game while Norton, third from bottom, aim to bounce back from last week's heavy defeat when they visit Blaydon. Neither side has yet tasted victory.

Blaydon keep faith with the same XI while Norton replace the unavailable Mattie Brown with Chris Fawcett, who plays in the same team as his brother Anthony.