CLUBS in the Darlington Building Society North Yorkshire and South Durham Premier Cricket League head into the first crucial Bank Holiday progamme with a number still sweating on the first appearance of their overseas professional.

Life is complicated these days where work permits, visas, and money laden Twenty20 competitions are concerned and Darlington, Northallerton, Great Ayton, Richmondshire and Billingham have all had to make do and mend so far this season.

At Feethams the wait will go on a little longer as their Indian signing is not due until next week, by which time he will have missed four league matches. The Quakers travel to Bishop Auckland on Saturday and then face Northallerton at Darlington on Monday.

Bishops have their own problems, as their star player of the opening games, Richard Hawthorne, has suddenly departed to play for Swalwell in the NTSL. He has already been in the wickets and runs and will undoubtedly leave a big hole - his replacement for the two weekend home games has yet to be announced.

Will he or won't he?

Northallerton may have Shreynas Khanolkar in town for their home clash with Guisborough - but then again they may not.

What is known is that David Wake will play in both games in place of the unavailable Mark Cowell.

For Richmond there is better news as Sharni Dissanayake is expected to arrive in time for their matches, and they also have Chris Layfield and Jamie Stead back in the side.

Another expected arrival this week is the formidable Riaz Afridi - he should be here for Great Ayton's big fixtures when they take on leaders Normanby Hall at Leven Park and follow up with a trip to Acklam Park to face the champions. Stephen Pennock is also free to play and, rather quaintly, replaces his father in the team. His father can't understand how!

Billingham's wait is over and they will be relieved to see Sri Lankan Nisal Randika turning out as they face Middlesbrough and then Guisborough. Skipper Dave Fairley also returns to bolster the Synners.

Tony Booth steps out of a two game mini-retirement to keep wicket for Blackhall who have a home derby against Hartlepool, followed by a trip to an unchanged Marton.

Pace bowler Callum Prosser debuts for Hartlepool, with Isran Hussain and Peter Rhoden also stepping up for the missing Ian Palmer, Ian Jackson and Danny Shurmer. After the little local affair it's back to Park Drive on Monday to face Richmond.

As ever, the revolving door at Marske keeps on spinning - they have another four changes this weekend - but crucially Steve Chapman is back. Overnight accommodation was nearly booked for the Seasiders double away days to Richmond and Bishop Auckland.

Middlesbrough hope to have Durham player Mitch Claydon for their games, while buoyant Normanby Hall have Dave Cross in the side as they look to consolidate their great start to the season - after the match at Ayton they face Redcar at home. Tim Hood will make a rare league appearance for Redcar in Monday's game.

While other clubs wait nervously on the arrival of their pro, Normanby appear to have found a real gem. A maiden hundred last weekend turned the spotlight on new professional, Duminda Perera and lifted the Hall to nose-bleed territory with their second victory in two outings, this one against newly-promoted Billingham Synthonia.

The Sri Lankan all-rounder reached his ton from 140 balls with 12 fours and four sixes but it needed a great deal of patient support from his bowling partner, Keith Martin, who came to the wicket on 137-9 when Perera was some way from his target.

Together they faced 15 overs to put on 47 more runs with former Synner Martin contributing just three.

Then the partnership showed off their bowling skills to destroy the hopes of the Synners making a decent start on their return after two seasons in the lower division.

Martin (5-19) and Perera (3- 10) had them back in the pavilion for just 51 runs after Chris Witherley (2-13) started the collapse.

At Richmond, Mike Layfield (69) and James Clarkson (52) featured in an opening stand of 128 - one of the best in recent seasons - against Blackhall and looked like giving the home side a formidable second victory. But the Colliers hit back with professionals, Warren Swan (4-48) and Masood Mirza (3-54) grabbing their seven wickets as only another 28 runs were scored. Richmondshire ran out of overs with 13 runs still needed.

Their drawn finish put them in second place as early frontrunners jointly with Guisborough, who enjoyed a hardearned win against Bishop Auckland.

Ryan Murray (59) and Neil Russell (38 not out) led the Priory club to a four wicket success after new professional, Greg Todd (4-44) and Stuart Mackay (4-36) had shared 26 overs to restrict Bishops to 142. It didn't stop Richard Hawthorne, who had just returned to the club, albeit fleetingly, maintaining his great form with another 70 runs.

The wicket at Hartlepool's Park Drive, where Redcar were visitors, seemed to hold early perils for batsmen from both sides. The Seasiders, batting first, slumped to 57-9 before tail-enders, Mick McCabe (35) and John Davis (23 not out) staged a comeback to reach 110. Ian Palmer (4-29) and Ian Jackson (3-22) did most of the damage.

Then Pool found themselves in almost as big a mess with three wickets down for just eight runs and five batsmen gone for only 23. They recovered to win by two wickets with Chris Harrison (57 not out) leading the fightback.

Middlesbrough broke their duck after defeat on the opening day by sending Northallerton, now beaten twice, to the wrong end of the league table. It was Chetnya Nanda (7-49) who had Allerton in all sorts of trouble before James Lowe (74 not out) made sure of the 148 runs needed to win.

Great Ayton and Marton enjoyed an absorbing battle with Ayton just coming out on top, after it looked like they were in for a leather chasing afternoon.

The hosts were 70 without loss when debutant Ian West was introduced to the attack and he celebrated in style with five wickets, including the top four, which totally undermined the innings. With David Grainge grabbing four, Marton fell short of a winning score, bowled out for 126. Only Martin Hood (60) hit form.

Ayton had an opening stand of 75, with Chris Batchelor (34) and Grainge (33), starring but Marton grabbed five quick wickets to put themselves back in the frame, before Anthony Doyle saw the Villagers through to a four wicket success.

Marske enjoyed the day's biggest victory - by eight wickets - against Darlington. Professional Rob Nicol's unbeaten 60 from 87 balls with 11 fours came after the Quakers managed just 108.

Teenager, Jonathan Pickard (3- 23), impressed for Marske.

In Division One, relegated Saltburn's hopes of starting the new season with a morale boosting win were thwarted by Guisborough's second string, and Stokesley hammered the fancied Seaton Carew.

But favourites Thornaby had a ten-wicket success over Darlington RA in which Luke Metcalfe destroyed the Railwaymen with 7-12, and Barnard Castle set their own marker down with a win over Darlington that makes them the early season pace-setters