Moor aim to cash in on Castle absence (From Durham Times)

Moor aim to cash in on Castle absence

12:00am Saturday 21st July 2012 in Sport By Chris West

With the weather allegedly set fair for the next few weeks there is a touch of irony in the fact that leaders Castle Eden are the one team not to have a game today, something that will almost certainly ensure they no longer lead the table by close of play tonight.

With just two points needed to go top Burnmoor must be odds on to do so when they entertain struggling South Hetton.

The Moor will be targeting a major points haul when they tackle second-bottom Hetton, something that would place a different pressure on Castle who, while retaining games in hand, would then be in the position of having to play catch up for the first time this summer.

Burnmoor will be choosing from a squad of 12, with Jimmy Daley expected to be back after missing out last week. Hetton also have a returning player in the shape of skipper Robbie Atherton who replaces Nathan Newton.

Two sides just below the leading pair, Felling and Whitburn, meet head on, both going into the match on the back of excellent performances last time out that re-ignited their title ambitions. Felling have adopted a bold approach in recent weeks and whilst that backfired on one occasion it has also reaped dividends in the form of some high points returns.

Their intentions are to pursue the same attacking philosophy in the coming weeks, but look like having to do so without the services of skipper Chris Taylor who has returned to army duties in Germany for a short while before having to help bolster security at the Olympics. Alex Brown takes Taylor's place.

Whitburn also have to cope with work related absences. Paul Cook, Peter Marshall and Lee Henderson all miss today's game, but skipper Dave Bell is back at the helm, and both Aidan Bannister and second team captain, Craig Henderson, earn call ups.

With the rain hopefully soon to become just an unpleasant memory fourth-placed Horden don't have to worry that they won't have their Brolly with them today.

Youngster Matthew Billyard is handed an opportunity in place of Brian Brolly for the home game against an improving Boldon who, with the return of James Coyne from holiday, are at full strength for the first time this season.

Marsden, who play at Norton, have a number of absentees. Skipper Chris Mann is away, while Patrick Jackson looks like missing the next four or five weeks after splitting his hand open in last week's warm up, an injury that required ten stitches.

James Sneller will captain, while opening bowlers Paul Cassell and Stephen Neilson are back. Chris Fawcett returns for the Teessiders.

Michael Fishwick and Kevin Dixon junior return to put Kimblesworth at full strength for the visit of Durham, while Eppleton are again unchanged for their trip to Bunker Hill where Philadelphia have to reckon without Tom Skilbeck who has decided to return to Sunderland.