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IT’S the most important weekend of the season for both Hartlepool and Stokesley with the opportunity, when they play their game in hand tomorrow, to make up substantial ground on the two teams who currently head the table.

Stokesley currently lie third, 22 points adrift of Richmondshire and Barnard Castle, while Hartlepool are a further five points back in fifth spot. But making up the ground is certainly not going to be easy as their weekend starts with a head on clash at the SCG today, before both head off to play derby matches tomorrow.

The teams have already met twice this summer, with Stokesley easily winning the league encounter and then Hartlepool extracting revenge in a Kerridge Cup tie, but the prize on offer to today’s winner is a realistic tilt at the title. In terms of their Sunday games then, based on league positions, they should both be favourites to gain victories, but the form book tends to go out of window in local skirmishes.

Hartlepool go to Seaton Carew with their hosts struggling desperately at the foot of the table, but certain to give everything in a little neighbourly tussle in front of a big crowd. And there won’t be any fewer watching the match at Leven Park where Great Ayton will prove as fiercely competitive as ever in a game that’s impossible to call despite Ayton’s modest league form.

In terms of teams then Pool welcome back Dave Seymour, the ex-Stockton batsman beefing up a line-up that is still a little shell-shocked following their Kerridge semi-final collapse at Richmond in mid-week, while Stokesley will once again have to reckon without Mikey Howe, with a decision on his replacement deferred.

Meanwhile Great Ayton were dealt a blow when their young pace bowler, Joe Marsay, the 2014 North East young player of the year, badly gashed his heel when standing on glass in the dressing room last week, an injury that will sideline him for a fortnight. With David Grainge also doubtful because his wife is due to give birth, Matthew Tanfield is drafted in to the side with Sam Harper on standby.

It’s a pretty big home double for Ayton as they start their weekend with a Leven Park game against high flyers Barnard Castle, and for this one John Grainge is also missing due to work commitments, so Henry Shelton keeps wicket. Barney include Richard Borrowdale after some impressive performances for the second team.

Seaton are also at home on both days, with Middlesbrough the visitors to Hornby Park today. Coincidentally, Boro are level with tomorrow’s opponents Hartlepool on points, and they will be looking for a maximum return to ensure they are in the title mix when the dust settles on the league table on Sunday night. Adil Ditta and Mike Cook both return to put them back to full strength.

It’s been a pretty tough week for Redcar in their battle to stay out of the bottom two. Having recently lost leading batsman Tom Urwin to relegation rivals Marton, they have been dealt two more blows with the news that Chris Veasey is set to return to his former club, and Neil Russell is unlikely to appear for them again this season.

The two players only arrived from Marton during the close season, and with just ten points now separating the sides as they battle to keep clear of the second relegation slot, there is supreme irony in the fact that they meet head on this afternoon at Redcar.

Veazey will not be playing in this one as the necessary paperwork hasn’t been completed in time, but there will be one significant change with skipper Chris Simpson having stood down from captaincy duties due to work commitments, and Alex Wardell taking over the role until the end of the season. He may have to play this game without Faisal Hussain, which could be crucial given that spin can dominate at Redcar.

The Seasiders do include Sam Berry, who has returned to the club after a brief spell with Normanby Hall, and Mitchell Brown will take over the glove duties vacated by Veasey. With Steve Hutchinson back offshore Jonathan Cooper, the clubs top run scorer at all levels this summer, is handed an opportunity.

In Division One Billingham are on course for a double. Having won the league cup with a Haith victory at Acklam Park on Tuesday they take a 22 point lead to Fountains Garth where they meet a struggling Guisborough team who are fighting to keep their heads above the relegation waters. Second-placed Whitby make the long haul to Richmond for what will be a tough game against opponents who are just one place below them in the table.