The Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League is starting to take shape as clubs play their fifth league games of the season today.
Northallerton have roared out of the blocks and are the only club to have a perfect record. Led by Liam Botham there appears to be a cutting edge to their game and they will be confident of extending their record when they play struggling Normanby Hall.
The game of the day is at Marton who sit just four points behind the leaders with overseas professional Imran Tahir showing outstanding form last weekend.
They may also be on the verge of signing an English professional, although he will not be available for the big clash with Guisborough, who lie fourth after three consecutive wins.
Bishop Auckland also have three wins under their belt, and this without the services of their overseas star, Amol Muzumdar, whom they expect to be playing at Kingsway today against Redcar. The Seasiders have only one change of personnel, with Andy Hassack replacing Steven Robson.
Middlesbrough have overcome their opening day defeat and recorded three wins since. They are home to Darlington who are missing the injured Neil Pratt.
Marske have slipped since their opening two wins but keep an unchanged side for the visit of Hartlepool.
Riaz Afridi hit form last Monday when he cracked a century from 54 balls and then grabbed six wickets so Great Ayton will be looking for more of the same when Blackhall visit Leven Park, the visitors without key batsman Tony Booth.
Saltburn will be desperate for the points to lift them out of the bottom slot when they play Richmondshire who miss Andy Dade through injury.
In the Northern Rock North East Premier League, only two teams have 100 per cent records with just two games gone.
South Shields travel to Stockton with a slender one point advantage at the top, and given the two sides respective form they must be confident of maintaining their pulsating start. Shields miss Alan Stephenson but could call on Mitch Claydon if county duties permit. Similarly Stockton may have Mark Davies in the side, but have three absentees in Richard Thomas, Robert Webster and Farooq Din - James Ward and Dorian Hiles step up.
Fifth plays fourth at Ashbrooke where Sunderland meet Newcastle. The home team have run into a rich seam of form that promises much for the rest of the season, particularly given the immediate impact made by Test star Shahid Nazir. The visitors got their season going with a win last weekend but miss Gary Saxton today, Mark Turnbull is in.
Benwell Hill will be looking to their home game with Norton to provide a notch in the win column after two draws, and are able to name an unchanged side. Norton have Danny Nowell replacing Ben Duncan.
Chester-le-Street play an unchanged Gateshead Fell side who only have seven points from their opening games. The hosts bringing in Tim Stonack for David Wilson. Tynemouth face a Durham Academy team who have found runs plentiful but have lacked a cutting edge with the ball.
In the Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League just two clubs have unblemished records.
Surprise leaders Lintz have pulled off some great wins in their opening matches and go into their home match against Annfield Plain full of confidence. For the home side David Nevin returns in place of Nathan Clennell.
Swalwell sit ominously in second place following their massive, in psychological terms, victory at Tynemouth last week and they will be expecting their unchanged team to enhance that record at home to Benwell & Walbottle.
Sacriston also have a settled side for the visit of Newcastle City. Morpeth have Chris Horner back after injury for their game at Shotley Bridge and Percy Main go to Leadgate with Chris Parker available again.
Two teams stand clear in the Foster's Durham Senior League. Burnmoor have produced two powerful displays and will be expecting their settled side to continue in this vein when they entertain a Seaham Harbour team who have Adam Young and Simon Brown available. Whitburn, impressive in their opening matches, miss Andrew Turns who is replaced by Paul Cook for the visit of Felling.
Hetton Lyons go to Horden with Steve Errington back and the home team missing the injured Adrian Hedley. Philadelphia look to build on last week's win when an unchanged Eppleton visit.
Young left-arm spinner Adam McGuire comes into the home side to balance the attack.
Marsden expect to have David Wills back for the visit of Boldon, while South Hetton take on Durham City in a match taking on additional significance because of the respective positions of the two sides in the early season table.
In the Reader's Durham County League, Esh Winning and Evenwood share an early season lead in the table, although Kimblesworth and Tudhoe sit just seven points adrift of the top two with a game in hand.
In the game that catches the eye, Evenwood have a chance to widen the gap when they meet Tudhoe on home soil, while Esh Winning face a tricky home encounter with Crook Town, and Kimblesworth take on an Etherley side who have lost three out of their first four.
In the 3D Durham Coast League, Easington, who have a two from two record, sit out today's programme. Murton have played one, won one and go to an unchanged Boldon CA today who have started brightly.
With Easington not playing there will be hopes from Bill Quay, away to Silksworth, and Castle Eden, home to Washington, that they can move into pole position against sides that have not made the best of starts.
Ryhope will be looking to home advantage to provide the edge against what looks like being a severely depleted Dawdon side.
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