Norton face up to life without the Symingtons

The Symington name has been synonymous with Norton for many years. Keith played for the club last season and until a couple of years ago was chairman but sons Marc and Craig have decided their immediate future lies up the A19 at Sunderland.

"We're delighted to have the two lads on board,'' enthused Simon Old, who has stood down as captain at Ashbrooke after five seasons.

He added: "Marc, the former Durham County player, was second top in the League averages last season with 834 runs at 52.8 while Craig is an accomplished wicket keeper who will also bolster our batting."

Alan Mustard is the new skipper at Sunderland who have replaced Marlon Black with another West Indian paceman Mervyn Dillon.

Jim Butler has moved to Percy Main but their Durham County allocated player Chris Rushworth will not get the chance to play alongside his brother Lee, who has returned to Hylton.

While Sunderland can look forward to mounting a championship challenge, Norton could be involved in a battle at the other end of the table.

They finished fourth bottom last season and, although comfortably ahead of relegated Philadelphia, will find it difficult to replace the Symingtons.

Neighbours Stockton, on the other hand, can look forward to the new season with a certain degree of confidence.

They were fifth top during 2005 and are boosted by the availability of several players.

Robert Lake and Pierre Jason are back and so is Dorian Hiles who has been playing at Tynedale.

Dean Williams, who has played for Cumbria in the Minor Counties, looks an ideal replacement for the departed Peter Howells and Stewart Kimpton is the club's overseas player.

He is from Ormond CC in Melbourne where Richard Waite played during the winter.Scott Gillespie, Stockton's overseas player last season, is also from the same club.

The team to beat will unquestionably be South Northumberland.

They won the title for a record-breaking third time and also became the first club to complete the double when they defeated Chester- le-Street in the final of the Banks Salver.

Skipper John Graham is enthusiastic regarding his team's chances of making it four on the bounce.

"It gets harder every year since everybody wants to beat the champions but we have a very good all-round side and we will be up there again," he declared.

Brendan Ford, who finished last season at the Gosforth club, has been re-engaged and will open the attack with Stephen Humble while Neil Killeen is the player allocated to South North by Durham County. He is having his benefit year with the County this summer.

"There must be a very good chance of Neil being available for a number of matches. His inclusion would be a real boost and we are all looking forward to having him on board," enthused Graham.

Runners-up Chester-le-Street have lost talented youngster Andrew Smith to Durham Academy but have signed three players.

Chris Barr, an off-spinner and attacking batsman, is over from Australia while Tim Stonoch has come in from Newcastle and Graeme Cessford from Tynedale. Graeme Bridge, who has managed to play a number of games for the Cestrians in recent seasons, remains their Durham player.

Benwell Hill have again gone for a Pakistani as their overseas player. Paceman Yasir Ali, who has played one Test, follows in the footsteps of the hugely successful Shahid Nazir and Taufeeq Umar.

Mark Dale, who has played for Herts in the Minor Counties, is now living in the area and will probably bat at No 3 but Paul Cummings will be playing in the Bradford League.

Gateshead Fell have lost Ian Patterson (Swalwell), Allan Worthy (Blaydon) and Phil Taylor to Burnopfield.

Their numbers are boosted with the acquisition of Craig Smith from Ryhope who previously played at nearby Bill Quay and Peter Towner, a Newcastle University student with Minor Counties experience.

Former Durham player Nicky Phillips is again captain and he could have the services of a current Riverside player, Mark Turner among his options.

Young South African Martin Bekker, an opening bat who also bowls, is a new addition to the squad.

Newcastle were involved in a season-long battle against relegation and have made a number of changes.

Mattie Hynd has taken over as skipper and will miss Tim Stonoch and Joel Hughes but there are six newcomers.

Blair Parlane from New Zealand, Richie Evans (Hartlepool), Ross McLaren (Sacriston), James Davidson (Philadelphia) and university students James Hay and Bob Farenhein are newcomers.

John McReide has indicated that he will be available for the full season.

Tynemouth are quietly confident of maintaining the progress they made during 2005. Paul Muchall, brother of Durham County's Gordon, is back at the club where he started as a junior and Wayne Falla is free to play on a regular basis.

Australian Nick Quinn returns for a second season as does Durham's Dave Barrick, while Northumberland under-17 opener Adam Cragg has joined from Ashington.

Blaydon have departed from the policy they had adopted for more than two decades and will not have an overseas player.

Instead they have signed Allan Worthy, who last season captained Chester le Street before moving to Gateshead Fell.

Stockton's Peter Howells, Marcus Peart from Burnopfield and Stephen Gale (Durham Academy) are other new signings but Ian Somerville has put his bat away, announcing his retirement after scoring in excess of 26,000 runs, a record for the Tyneside club.

It will be interesting to see how Hetton Lyons fare.

They won the Foster's Durham Senior League championship last season to clinch promotion but four of the side have left.

Former players Stuart Walker and Paul Riddle have returned from Philadelphia and other newcomers are Bobby Steel from South Hetton and Luke Cushlow (Blackhall).

The Lyons have had considerable improvements carried out to their outfield during the close season and are not expected to play their first game on the ground until May 27.