A SEVERE case of stage fright afflicted the student batsmen yesterday as the curtain went up on Durham University's first-class life.

On an utterly cheerless day at the Riverside, the Durham University Centre of Cricketing Excellence seemed a wild misnomer as they were dismissed for 67.

In mitigation, it should be remembered that Surrey capitulated for 104 and 85 on the Chester-le-Street ground in April last year on a pitch which had seen rather less moisture than this one.

It was either a minor miracle or a testament to the skills of the groundstaff that a whole day's play was possible. Whether it was entirely wise - in front of little more than 100 muffled spectators - could be questioned both on the grounds of climatic conditions and the benefits to both sides.

Durham used to start their season by visiting The Parks to play Oxford University, who in 1994 were all out for 73, which until yesterday was the lowest first-class total against Durham.

Three years later current captain Jon Lewis made 210 not out against Oxford, at which point David Boon decided they should seek more meaningful pre-season work in future.

The Australian's famous moustache would doubtless have bristled at the sight of this mismatch as Lewis guided Durham to 134 for one at the close.

The impression that it was men against boys was reinforced by most of the students looking vertically challenged alongside their 6ft 10in opener Will Jefferson.

He made 50 for Essex in the Sunday League on this ground last season and was the only student yesterday who looked capable of putting bat to ball.

It was 57 minutes before another batsman scored a run after Jefferson's opening partner Michael Brown faced 36 balls without scoring and skipper Matthew Banes was bowled third ball by Neil Killeen.

Jefferson had four fours in his 22, but the only other boundary came when No 10 James Bruce aimed to drive James Brinkley and edged wide of the slips.

Bruce made 14 not out, left-hander James Rowe scored ten, and eight batsmen mustered nine runs between them.

The university boast that in the past 25 years they have produced almost 40 first-class cricketers. The fact is that most of them were already attached to county staffs and needed considerable exposure to working with their full-time colleagues after the end of term before they made an impact.

While the current crop have the benefit of a professional approach at the university under the guidance of Graeme Fowler, it would still have been a daunting prospect to be pitched into a first-class contest with no worthwhile outdoor practice behind them.

They will improve, but will need to do so considerably to justify the ECB's gamble in giving them first-class status - a decision which contradicts Durham County's own policy of preferring local lads with more limited career opportunities.

The students chose to bat against an attack from which Simon Brown was omitted to allow James Brinkley to resurrect a first-class career cut short by injury at Worcestershire four years ago.

Unfortunately, the 27-year-old Scotland-born, Australia-raised seamer was the weak link in the attack, taking one for 25 in nine overs when the overall scoring rate was 1.35 an over.

Steve Harmison bowled with more control than at the end of last season, without being unduly threatening on the sluggish surface, and it was when he was rested and Killeen switched ends that the rot set in.

The score had reached 18 without loss when Killeen's second ball from the Lumley End had Brown caught at forward short leg by Nicky Peng.

Banes' off stump was rattled three balls later, then Jefferson was smartly taken by Peng off bat and pad.

Conditions were ideal for Killeen and Paul Collingwood, whose bowling is always likely to be at its most effective in early season. He took full advantage with a spell of two for two in ten overs, while former Sussex and Essex all-rounder Danny Law marked his debut by polishing off the innings with two wickets in three balls.

With the help of a direct hit at the non-striker's end by Jimmy Daley from point, 48 for four became 50 for eight before Bruce prospered.

Durham bowled 29 overs in the first two hours, three short of the rate they will require in the championship. If that became 20 overs over the course of a full game they would stand to lose five points under the new regulations.

The day's first spin was introduced when Kent left-armer Rob Ferley came on in the 12th over of the reply and the score had reached 50 when he struck in his seventh over.

Michael Gough had played some handsome straight drives off the seamers, but in attempting to sweep the spinner he was lbw for 22.

Lewis's only scares came when a leading edge flew close to mid-off and when he advanced to reach 50 with a lofted drive which just cleared deep mid-on.

There were ten fours in his unbeaten 61 and Daley kept him untroubled company in reaching 30 not out.