Busy times ahead for all in August (From Durham Times)

Busy times ahead for all in August

12:00am Saturday 4th August 2012 in Sport By Chris West

The action is set to come thick and fast in the next few weeks, this weekend featuring a double header of league matches with the weather aborted opening day's programme being re-scheduled to be played tomorrow, and teams then facing another double dose of action in a fortnight's time when the wiped out fixtures of June 16 are played.

And the following Bank Holiday weekend features two games in three days, meaning most sides face seven league matches in August.

And there's also the Armbrister final and T20 finals day to come.

This intense period will test resources, and the first effect of that has been the postponement of the Armbrister final between Burnmoor and Eppleton. That match was lined up for last night, but will now be played next Friday.

The delay allows Burnmoor the chance to concentrate on league commitments, with the match-of-the-season as far as the title is concerned taking place tomorrow when they entertain Castle Eden, part of a crucial home double for the leaders as they entertain Whitburn today.

Burnmoor will be missing Paul Davidson and Owen Lancaster in their opener, although Lancaster plays tomorrow, while Whitburn have to reckon without Neil Johnson for the first game and with Ross Carty still away the return of Lee Henderson and Paul Cook provides relief.

Castle, now 37 points behind Burnmoor, retain two games in hand on the leaders, and begin with a trip to Marsden. They will be missing Alan Unsworth and Keith Bailey for both.

Marsden could provide a tricky obstacle - they have Patrick Jackson recovered from his hand injury, and Connor Elliott returning. Having managed to eke out a draw at Boldon they will be confident.

Watch out for champions Kimblesworth - last week they added the League Cup to last year's title making it a fabulous two seasons at this level for the club. With home games against the bottom two sides to come a maximum points haul would start to make the leaders nervous.

Durham have to reckon without the services of Subhan Christudas for the next month, fears that Shaun Hauxwell would be out for the rest of Philadelphia's season with a serious finger fracture have receded after he deciding to play while injured, and with skipper Robbie Atherton on Olympics security duty for the next couple of weeks South Hetton will be captained by Gary Burlinson.