Big guns set for three successive meetings (From Durham Times)

Big guns set for three successive meetings

8:00am Saturday 7th July 2012 in News By Chris West

Castle Eden meet Burnmoor in a real battle of the heavyweights today, this game scheduled as the second of three planned meetings between the leading pair in four days.

Castle galloped into a big lead in the early stages of the campaign, but Burnmoor have whittled away at that advantage and there are now 13 points separating the sides.

Both harbour ambitions of pulling off the treble. The semi-final of the Armbrister was washed off last night, and Monday brings the semi of the League Cup, again featuring the two top dogs.

This hectic programme also has the added twist that there are a further set of league fixtures tomorrow to contend with.

Moor were delighted by the form shown by debutant Matthew Sampson-Barnes last week, and last season's leading league run scorer looks like a classy addition to an already strong squad.

He will feature again this weekend with the only change being the recall of James Waller in place of the unavailable Owen Lancaster. Moor complete their league double with a home game against in-form Durham City tomorrow.

Castle Eden are back to full strength for planned marathon with key all-rounder Alan Unsworth back in the fold. After home comforts against the Moor today, they travel to Bunker Hill tomorrow to take on Philadelphia.

Phili hand a debut to Gary Hewitt who has joined from Coast League Boldon CA. The batsman will take his place alongside Tom Skilbeck who registered his first senior century last time out.

They begin with a trip to Boldon where their hosts have to reckon without the services of Geoff Houmark.

Kimblesworth haven't given up hope of a late surge to retain their title, and with Adam Morton back they will expect to make the most of games against rock bottom Marsden and struggling Boldon.

Marsden have just one game and with Gary Malcolm missing they hand a first-team debut to Paul Carr.

Wins have been like the proverbial buses for Durham - they waited all season for one to come along and then got two on the trot. Before the trip to Burnmoor they host Whitburn, but they can call on Will Dobson and Matthew Whaley after their educational commitments ended for the summer, although Tim Stonock and Paul Moralee are missing.

Callum Jefferson replaces Joe Kennedy in the Eppleton side, Tony Murphy is coast to coast bike riding and his place in the South Hetton line-up is taken by Luke Lang, and Whitburn have plenty of changes to make over the two days.