Shields aiming to halt bad run
THREE months ago, tomorrow's fixture between Newcastle and South Shields at Jesmond would have been considered a banker away win.
Newcastle's results since then have remained poor, while Shields's form has dipped severely to a level akin to that of the relegation-threatened Osborne Avenue side.
Newcastle have a 19-point advantage over bottom side Norton going into tomorrow's final round of fixtures.
Norton have the encouragement of a winnable fixture against Durham Academy at Station Road.
However, they will also be relying on a favour from depleted South Shields.
The necessary good turn will have to be delivered by a young and inexperienced outfit.
Four key players are absent from the Sapphire Engineering-sponsored team's line-up – Danny Shurben misses his third match with a broken finger, Mike Fishwick is working, and Matty Muchall and Oliver Stedman have opted for the oval ball for Westoe and Otley respectively.
In Shurben's absence, Paul Muchall will captain a team that comprises overseas player Rhys May and nine players who have come through the club's junior system.
Chris Nichol has led the second team attack with merit, and makes his first NEPL Division One start of the season.
In form, and a candidate to take the new ball, the youngster has the credentials to perform well at this level.
But Muchall will remember how Kris McShane's spin did the trick with the new ball in the first meeting of the sides in July.
The spinner wheeled through 19.3 superb overs to claim 6-23.
The bowlers who took the 10 wickets to beat Newcastle in the reverse fixture are all present tomorrow, as are the batsmen who put their side in the ascendancy with the bat – Chris Dorothy, Chris Rainbow and Michael Dunn.
Muchall is certain to open the innings, but he will think long and hard about the rest of the batting order.
A big responsibility rests with Muchall and May to occupy the crease for the bulk of the innings, therefore it is likely that the Australian will bat at three.
The Sydney man has shown an admirable ability to bat according to the situation.
Should Muchall be the first drop then May will look to dig in, but if not he will be the natural aggressor, with the skipper as his foil.
Dorothy could be the floating batsman primed to provide the impetus for a late order assault at a time when he can be most effective.
His flirtation with the No3 position is likely to be short-lived, as he struggled against the moving ball at Benwell Hill recently.
Chris Watson is a candidate to open the innings with Muchall, thereby leaving the resourceful Ray McRae to fill his position in the lower middle order to form partnerships with the lusty hitting of the tail.
Crucially, Newcastle hammered Norton by 10 wickets last month (their only win since May 23), and now require 12 points to guarantee safety, which they would probably achieve through a winning draw or better.
Pre-occupation with run rates and gradual points accumulation is a dangerous game though; positive intent to win the fixture is the percentage option, but Newcastle have recorded just three victories all season.
Shields' youngsters, with nothing to lose, must be ready to capitalise on the understandable nervousness in Newcastle's ranks, and any uncertainty in their approach to the match.
Skipper Ross McLaren (30 wickets at 15.8) is the spearhead of Newcastle's attack, but work commitments have limited his NEPL appearances to just 11 this term.
In his absence Newcastle rely on Guy Saxton (25 wickets) to deliver with the ball; their next highest wicket-taker has just 13.
James Irving-Fortescue has been Newcastle's most successful batsman by some distance.
The Wood Terrace side will be keen to expose a vulnerable middle order by seeing the back of him early and preventing Nick Tomlinson from taking root.
South Shields second team's stuttering league campaign finished last weekend, but they still have interest in the John Hodgson Cup.
Tonight they travel to North East Durham side Hunwick in a semi-final tie.
The winners advance to Sunday's final, at a venue yet to be confirmed.
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Weather for South Shields
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
