New league takes shape

posted by John Winn

In a posting made in February (Thank you, Murton CC, Feb 3rd) I outlined the major changes that were to be introduced this season in the organisation of league cricket in North east England, in particular the creation of a new league. The Durham Cricket league. This infant is the child of three parents, the Durham County, Coast and Senior Leagues and has twenty six members playing each other once this season and splitting into two for 2014.

Matches in the new league began at the end of April and with use having been made of the two bank holidays seven rounds have now been played, enough for a clear leader, Esh Winning, champions of the County League, to emerge and for the bottom two, Crook Town and Silksworth to be well behind the other twenty four. With 30 points available for a win things can change quite quickly but from their defeat by Marsden yesterday Silksworth picked up only two points and they find themselves winless from their seven matches as do three other sides.

It is a favourite saying among football mangers, especially those of struggling outfits, that in their particular league any team can beat any other team. in theory more often than practice I suspect. Looking at yesterday's results it looks as though the DCL is beginning to divide into 'haves' and 'have nots'. Of the thirteen games played yesterday only four ended in draws and in the nine where there was a victory seven of those went to teams who were in the top half of the table before play began. The two sides from the bottom half who came out on top did so against other teams from their half of the table.

Looking ahead to this Saturday's fixtures almost all pit clubs form the top 13 against those from the bottom. Form so far would suggest that results will increase the divide between 'haves' and 'have nots'. Burnmoor who lie second and last season were champions of the Senior League, will entertain Langley Park currently third from bottom and with only one win. If Langley's glass is half empty they may take some comfort from the knowledge that this season they will only face Burnmoor once.