Halfway house is reached today (From Durham Times)

Halfway house is reached today

12:00am Saturday 23rd June 2012 in Durham Coast League By Chris West

A second double programme is scheduled in this excuse for a summer today, and the two games will take them to the halfway point in terms of games played.

Leaders Murton begin their double with a trip to Hylton, and then follow up with a home game against Boldon CA, and expect to have a full complement of players at their disposal with the return of the Vout brothers, Jordan and Aidan.

Hylton have to reckon without Stephen Lee-Merrington today and Liam Foster tomorrow - John Stokoe and Andrew Kibble come in.

Boldon include the returning David Batty, Owen Gwyn and Brian Conlon for both games, starting with a trip to Seaham Harbour.

Dawdon's derby victory over Harbour last week was a key result in the title race as it lifted the Seaham outfit into second place in the table, just 12 points behind Murton.

And it perhaps signalled a change of fortune as skipper Stephen Gale reflected: "We are fortunate to play on a good drying ground and were pleased to get our game on last week when other teams missed out on playing.

"Murton have been fortunate up to now with the weather and so perhaps it was our turn for a bit of luck.''

But their ground won't come into the equation this weekend as they face two difficult away games at Hylton tomorrow, and first up in-form Easington this afternoon.

Craig Stephenson is missing for the first match, with Tabs Shah stepping in, but returns tomorrow as the title challengers put out their Sunday best.

Seaham Park had to sit and watch as their fierce rivals leapfrogged them in the table last week, and they also face two away days starting at Bill Quay and finishing at Ryhope.

The Park have some selection dilemmas with Alex Ludlow and Kamran Mansoor possibly missing both matches through work commitments, and Uzair Afaq definitely out.

There are also concerns over Farukh Iqbal (knees) and a decision on his inclusion will hinge on a late fitness test. With several uncertainties team announcements have been deferred.

Silksworth have to reckon without several players on both days, and under-18 bowlers Kieran Laws and Stuart Middlemiss have put themselves in contention for promotion after some impressive displays at second team level. They begin at Peterlee, and then host the Harbour.

With Connor Dickinson, Billy Willetts and Dave Garraghan back this week Peterlee have the core of their first team in place on both days, while the Harbour show just one change with Adam Fairley returning.