Blaydon not quite at the races.

posted by John Winn

As I reported in a posting 'Life with The Lyons' in August, league cricket in the North East of England is facing a dramatic shake up at the end of this season.  The creation of a second division in the NEPL will lead to the closure of three County Durham leagues with hundreds of years of history between them. First to close was The Durham County League which played its last games on September 1st. In its current form this league is a relative newcomer having been formed in 1948.This season's champions and the last ever, were Esh Winning, their fourth top place in eleven years.

This weekend saw the demise of the Durham Coast League where Murton edged out Dawdon for the title. This competition can claim  77 years of history and tradition but older still is the Durham Senior League which was formed in 1891. The last pages in its long story will be turned this Saturday and with Burnmoor needing only one point to finish top they should be crowned as the final champions..

Fifteen clubs from these leagues showed interest in joining the new premier second division and ten have successfully met the criteria and so will form the second division in 2013. The remaining clubs will make up a new Durham league of 26 clubs which will divided into two divisions in 2014.

Meanwhile exciting finishes are the order of the day in the two existing North East Premier leagues and on Saturday Blaydon, who had led the league by several lengths until recently were overtaken in the last few strides by South Northumberland  for their eighth title in ten years. Blaydon's failure to gain an expected victory over Tynemouth cost them what would have been their first title.

 In the other Premier league, the NYSD, there is still one round of matches to be played. Richmond will start on Saturday with just a one point advantage over Darlington following contrating fortunes in the last few overs of the weekend's games. Richmond beat Guisborough by 4 wickets with eight balls to spare while Darlington, who had started the day narrowly in front, could not dislodge the last Barnard Castle pair, despite having nine overs to bowl at them. Both teams are at home, but Richmond appear to have the easier task taking on bottom club Billingham while The Quakers entertain Great Ayton, currently third.

Elsewhere, Reed from Hertfordshire beat Woodhouse Grange in the village cup final at  Lords and the latest score I have from the MCCA Championship  final at Truro is, after a rain affected first day,  Cornwall 257 all out, Buckinghamshire 128 for 6.

Tomorrow will see me at Chester le Street and I am looking forward to meeting with two old friends from Sussex who are travelling north today. Having looked at the week's forecast Thursday looks the best day for a trip to Derby for what will be my eighth 'listed match' of 2012.