Title race is an open one (From Durham Times)

Title race is an open one

8:00am Saturday 28th July 2012 in Durham Coast League By Chris West

Dawdon's dramatic victory over leaders Murton last week has opened up the title race, with just 13 points now separating the top three, but it could have been so different with the table-toppers looking poised at one time to deliver a fatal blow to their challenger's title chances.

Dawdon skipper Stephen Gale reflected on the ups and downs of a remarkable afternoon: "Obviously in such a big game it's vital to get off to a good start, so it was an even better win having been reduced to eight for four batting first. To eventually score 106 given our perilous start was beyond our expectations.

"When we went out to field, we really had our tails up and the bowlers were magnificent, not letting up at all.

"We backed them up with some superb fielding and really cranked the pressure up. We thought that we had made a competitive score but to bowl the leaders out for 28 was incredible.

"It has set everything up for a great run in, and with us just six points behind Murton, and Easington on our shirt tails, it's going to be an exciting climax to the title race.''

Jamie Greenwood returns to the Dawdon side to put them at full strength for the trip to Bill Quay, while Murton will have key man John Sample, who missed last week's disaster, returning alongside Richard Lowes at Ryhope. Their hosts show one change with Micky Thorpe replacing Michael Howe.

Third-placed Easington expect to be unchanged when they entertain Boldon CA, but the same can't be said for the visitors who had their own dramatic story to tell about last week when they secured their first victory of the season.

CA skipper Lee Jackson was the hero, making a match-winning 32 not out batting at number eight to secure his side a two-wicket win over Hylton - but he shouldn't really have been there as he was suspended and also played with a broken leg.

With Boldon suffering severe player shortages the league uniquely agreed to delay the beginning of a 21-day ban, and Jackson went on to win the game despite suffering problems with his leg while batting.

He hobbled off home and woke the next morning in agony.

A trip to the hospital revealed he had a hairline fracture of the heel and he is now in a plaster cast up to his knee. The cast will come off just around the time his 21-day ban will be completed.

He won't be playing at Easington today, but with Tommy Nixon, Brian Conlon, Owen Gwyn and Gary Critchley all available again the player shortage problem appears over.