Whitburn boosted by quartet for home tie with Cestrians

Whitburn are looking forward to getting their Dukes ECB NEPL Premier Division home campaign off to a positive start after capturing a quartet of new players.

Whitburn host Chester-le-Street tomorrow and secretary Dan Quinan said: “We are looking forward to the game and it’s our first at home against very tough opposition.

“Matthew Muchall has signed for the club, alongside Chris McBryde from Durham.

“Phillip Bell has moved into the area and joined the club, and the overseas amateur is Jackson Edmondstone from Australia.”

The Cestrians had a good winning start last weekend and skipper John Coxon said: “Everyone chipped in and contributed to the win.

“I was really impressed with Kyle Davis and George Harrison with their opening stand and continuing where they left off last season.

“Debutants Jake McCann and Liam Burgess also showed they will be a real asset to us this season.”

“We are looking forward to the game and I will be expecting the lads to carry last week’s form into the game, plus we have Liam Simpson back from holiday.

“Whitburn are always a competitive team, particularly at home but we will be going into the game full of confidence, looking to put in another good display.”

Boldon are unchanged as they head to Castle Eden for their First Division fixture.

Skipper Chris Ellison said: “It’s the same team as last week except Barry McCarthy, the club’s Durham registered player, who has been made unavailable and will be replaced by Philip Shakespeare, a like for like change, with both being bowlers.”

Washington welcome South Shields and skipper Ash Thorpe has two new additions to his team, he said: “Michael Nunn, from Seaham Harbour, and Scott Latimer, who has been playing in Yorkshire are the new arrivals, while Daniel Woolston returns from Masham.

“The rest of the squad is as usual and we are looking forward to the first game this week, having been scheduled to tackle Seaham Harbour last week.”

South Shields have signed Rupesh Borade as their overseas amateur, having had him at the club for a few years, originally from an orphanage in India, who has now found a family back home.

Chairman Jim Elliott said: “We have lost a few players and have decided to promote from within and trust our younger players this season and we are looking to get back into the Premier League.”

In the Readers Durham Cricket League Division One, Marsden are at home to Seaham Park and secretary James Sneller said: “We are really looking forward to the start of the season and retained all the players from last season.

“We have signed David Lowther, an experienced batsman from Philadelphia, and everyone in the club is feeling positive about the season ahead.”

Meanwhile, in Division Two, Boldon CA host Hunwick.