CONTINUING the trend of promoting youth up the ranks, teenagers will get plenty of opportunities in Stocksfield Cricket Club's first team.

For they are currently going through something of an injury crisis, prompting the promotion of 13-year-old Luke Doneathy and 15-year-old Jonny Tobin into this weekend's opener at Bates Cottages.

Opening batting duo Alex Brown and Steven Henderson are both long term absentees, as is Matt Bewick, while Sam Mannion has joined Tynedale.

Captain Dan Whiley dislocated his shoulder playing rugby three weeks ago, but is planning to off the pain in time to start.

But Stocksfield have won admirers for bringing local youngsters through, particular highlights in recent years being the development of Rob Thirlwell and James Doneathy, as well as Mannion.

So the club had no qualms in introducing the younger Doneathy brother and Tobin into the high standard of the Northumberland and Tyneside Senior Cricket League.

Whiley said: "It is a big step up for them but I'm confident they will be ok as they've got a good pre-season in the winter nets and I've been impressed as they've got bags of potential between them.

"We've got young, experienced players in James and Rob who are another year stronger and can only get better, so we're feeling good going into this year."

Promoted as champions of Northumberland Cricket League, Stocksfield challenged at the top for most of the season before dropping off in the run-in.

Whiley said: "We were in with a shout with eight games to go but we lost two which ruled us out, and I think we maybe lost focus.

"Losing the amount of players through injury, I think this season will be a big challenge but I don't see why we can't be competing at the end of the year.

"I think it will be an exciting year, not just for us but the four senior teams at Stocksfield, as the youngsters gain more experience."