The rain is the winner!

WEEKEND WASHOUT LEAVES FIXTURE HEADACHE 

The entire Dukes NEPL programme was literally washed away this weekend as torrential rain played havoc with the fixture list.

As well as three Divisions of League cricket, there were also two Banks-sponsored Cup ties and the last sixteen round of the ECB National Knockout Cup.

Chester-le-Street's tie with Northern from Liverpool was called off early on Sunday morning to prevent the team travelling from the North West.

The postponement leaves Chester le Street with a fixture headache as the reserve date for the ECB tie is this coming Sunday, but that clashes with the NEPL's own Twenty20 Finals Day, sponsored by Co-operative Funeralcare.

Discussions are ongoing between the Cestrians, Northern and the ECB to reach a compromise.

The lack of on-field action leaves Chester-le-Street still 29 points clear of Blaydon in Division One, while Sunderland are four points ahead of the Cestrians in Divison Two.

This coming Saturday (23 July) Blaydon play host to South Northumberland, where a win for the home side will add to the 52-point gap currently between Blaydon in second place and South North in third.

Other fixtures are Benwell Hill v Durham Academy, Gateshead Fell v Hetton Lyons, Newcastle v Stockton, Sunderland v Chester-le-Street, Tynemouth v South Shields.

In Division Two next Saturday second placed Chester le Street entertain league leaders Sunderland at Ropery Lane.  Sunderland are four points ahead and have played one fewer game.

Then on Sunday, 24 July, attention moves to Denton Bank home of Benwell Hill CC, as the League hosts their fourth Twenty20 Finals Day.

Sponsored for the second year by Co-operative Funeralcare, the day sees the top four teams from the five-week qualifying round contest two semi finals and a final.

The action at Denton Bank gets underway at 11am with the first semi between South Northumberland and Durham Academy.  Hosts Benwell Hill play Chester le Street at 2pm.  The final is at 5.30pm.

Admission is by programme and priced at £2 adults, £1 concessions.