around the leagues

posted by John Winn

With some leagues having completed their programmes and many others finishing this weekend it seemed appropriate to look at some of the ups and downs that have been decided and others where there is still uncertainty.

Since learning of its formation I have made a number of postings covering the new Durham Cricket League which took 26 clubs from three well established leagues and melded them into one division in which they would play each other once. Burnmoor have emerged as champions with Esh Winning finishing as runners up .It was I suppose inevitable that forming a new league by this unusual method would produce considerable disparities in playing records and such has been the case. Take Langley Park CC for example who have finished bottom for although they have 94 points they have won only twice and lost twenty one of their twenty five games. 

For 2014 one division will become two with a 14:12 split operating. Mainsforth CC are the beneficiaries here for by beating Murton last week they ensured fourteenth place and first division cricket next season. Dawdon CC despite winning  two more games than Mainsforth will start 2014 in Division Two.

In the NYSD only two clubs can lift the Premier Division title, Richmond and Darlington. Marton who have led the league at times this season lost to Guisborough last week but could still have a big say in the destination of the title for they visit Richmond on Saturday. Darlington have 16 points to make up on Richmond but there are still two rounds to be played and should Richmond slip up this week a victory for The Quakers at Saltburn could make the final matches on September 21st very interesting.

In the Nidderdale League Saturday will see wickets pitched for the last time this season and dramatic events at Alne last weekend have made it Spofforth's title to lose. Ouseburn went into last weekend's games two points ahead but chasing 202 to win lost their last two wickets with the scores tied to hand the advantage to Spofforth who in defeating Killinghall by three wickets gave themselves a one point lead before Saturday's matches. Ouseburn have a local derby with Goldsborough but Spofforth will feel confident that they can take maximum points from a home match with bottom club Darley thus giving them the title for the first time, having entered the league in 2010. Should the two teams finish level on points the destination of the title will depend on their batting and bowling averages.

In the Minor Counties Championship play off at Wisbech the close of play scores at the end of the second day were Cheshire 372 for 9 and 134 for 1 and Cambridgeshire 296 all out. I referred in yesterday's posting to the outcome of the Village KO at Lord's on Sunday. There is a short video available on the match but it mainly consists of interviews with the two captains. It can be found by googling Cleator Cricket then via the News and Star report.