THE undefeated 2008 champions of the Wellstream Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League are bidding to make it a hat-trick of title successes when they kick-start their new campaign today.

Swalwell appeared almost invincible last term but face an immediate test of their 2009 credentials when they travel to Sacriston to take on a side expected to be one of their main challengers this time around.

The champions have lost Marcus Peart to Burnopfield, and Gavin Taylor has retired, but with the arrival of Gary Johnson from Lintz, skipper Paul Dumighan feels his squad carries the same overall strength as last year.

Sacriston will be led by Ian Jones, and if he is able to call on Durham’s Gordon Muchall regularly his team will certainly ruffle some feathers.

Bryan Potts (Kimblesworth) is the other new arrival.

Runners-up last time out, Shotley Bridge look to have recruited well - with Stuart Graham arriving from Tynedale as ‘pro’ and Graeme Angus joining from Benwell & Walbottle. In a reminder of a soggy 2008 Bridge host Sunderland in the carried over Justsport Trophy final tomorrow (2pm start), but before that they travel to Ashington this afternoon to take on a home side delighted by the return of Simon Prudhoe.

Annfield Plain, like many other clubs, have been caught up in the paperwork nightmare that is the new managed migration system, but hope to eventually bring Indian first-classer Anoop Pai to the NTSL. Whilst Graham Brinton has joined Lanchester, all-rounder Philip Donnelly returns to the fray after missing the last two years.

Plain entertain Lintz today, who will be led by Michael Edmunds. With Johnson gone, and Paul Lumley in Australia for the season, Lintz will continue to put faith in their conveyor belt of excellent youngsters.

Leadgate have new blood in Stephen Smith from Chopwell, however, going in the opposite direction are Lee Innes and David Anderson, whilst today’s opponents, Tynedale, have engaged Barry Stewart from Tynemouth, as well as welcoming back Joe Barber from Corbridge.

Annual escapologists Benwell & Walbottle bring in Kamran Mansoor and Shahnaz Halaldeen from Newcastle City, but as well as the departed Angus they will miss Naz Rashid who has retired.

They take on newly promoted Morpeth who have ex-South North and Warkworth man Matthew Hall as their only addition to an otherwise settled squad.

The other top flight new boys, Percy Main, have record breaking Mohtashim Ali back for his fourth season, although Dimitry Nihalraj has returned to Sri Lanka. They take on Ryton today who still await paperwork clearance for new Sri Lankan professional Ikram Abdeen. Paul Watson (Stocksfield) and David Bailey (Blaydon) are two additional recruits, but Richard Brooks will miss the season due to Army commitments.