Before a ball was bowled Norton were being written off, but six games into the season they have created a record and are fourth from top, still unbeaten.

The loss of the Symington brothers, Marc and Craig, to Sunderland had the pessimists predicting a relegation dogfight, but the opposite has happened and the Teessiders could be in pole position by tonight.

On Monday they dismissed Hetton Lyons for only 39 - the lowest score recorded since the league was formed seven years ago.

The result will have further improved confidence ahead of this morning's game at Tynemouth, who have opened up a narrow lead at the top.

Although several players have made important contributions, it is Gary Park who has really taken the eye and he hit his second century of the season in last Saturday's victory at Sunderland.

The opening attack of Jonathan Kean and Anthony Fawcett are both into double figures and spinner Sumit Puri has also made a good start.

Today, Norton show one change as Anthony Bowler cannot make the journey and Lee Dalby has been brought in to keep wicket.

Tynemouth, never out of the bottom three in the first five years of the competition, finished eighth last time and have surprised even themselves at the success they have achieved this season.

It is the first time since the 1960s that they have led a league and chairman Russell Perry is confident it is no flash in the pan.

"We beat Durham Academy for the first time in seven seasons last Saturday before seeing off Stockton,'' he said. "We have a young side playing very positive cricket and Preston Avenue is buzzing.

"These might be early days and I'm not suggesting we are going to win the league, but one thing's for certain, we'll not be struggling at the bottom as we did for six years.''

The Seasiders show one alteration with the returning Ben Debnam coming in for Andrew Smith.

In contrast to their neighbours, Stockton have made an inauspicious start and are one of only two teams yet to win.

They visit Newcastle with Richard Thomas coming in for Simon Davison while the Tynesiders miss Jonathan McCredie, but Keith Brown has returned from holiday.

Things can only get better for Hetton Lyons, who have found the transition from the Foster's Durham Senior League extremely difficult.

Embarrassed at Norton on Monday, they could find it a little easier today against out-of-sorts Sunderland, who are fourth from the basement with just one win from six.

Gary Adey has chosen to drop into the second XI where he will have more opportunity to bowl and his replacement in the Lyons' line-up is Andrew Summerbell, signed from neighbours Eppleton.

Sunderland have struggled to put runs on the board and they are without opener Freddie Napier, but his first-wicket partner Simon Old returns.

Skipper Alan Mustard, who missed last Saturday's fixture, was among the runs on Monday and, with Mervyn Dillon in form with bat and ball, he is hopeful, starting today, that his side's season will take off.

Chester-le-Street anticipate fielding their strongest line-up for the attractive fixture with neighbours Durham Academy at Ropery Lane, while there is another derby at Gosforth between South Northumberland and Benwell Hill.

Richard Brook is unavailable so David Harbottle is named in the South North side while the Hill welcome the return of early-order batsman Simon Birtwisle.