Rugby: Sunderland handed familiar first-day trip to Hartlepool, while Houghton get Winlaton opener
The Ashbrooke side finished seventh last term, thanks to an impressive surge in the second half of the season, when several youngsters were given the chance to shine.
The new season starts on Saturday, September 1 with a visit to Mayfield Park to take on Hartlepool, who were fourth in 2017-18.
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Hide AdSunderland lost 26-20 at Hartlepool in their first match last season, but gained revenge with a 28-22 home triumph.
The campaign finishes with a home game against Hartlepool on April 13.
Sunderland will have to stage their first home match, against North Shields on September 8, away from Ashbrooke, because of cricket commitments.
The Ashbrooke men have two derbies against newly-promoted Houghton to look forward to.
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Hide AdThe old rivals meet at Dairy Lane on November 17, with the return on March 9.
Houghton, who enjoyed an excellent Division Three campaign last season, start away to Winlaton Vulcans, before hosting Ryton on September 8.
Their annual home match during Houghton Feast celebrations come on October 13, with South Shields the visitors, Shields were champions of Division Three last term, finishing three wins better off than runners-up Houghton.
In Division Three, Seaham are at home to Seaton Carew on opening day, before visiting Blyth the following week.
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Hide AdThey lost 61-12 at home to Seaton last season, but pushed hard in the away return, going down 12-8.
Durham City, pipped as runners-up in Division One last season, are away to Ponteland, who narrowly escaped the drop, on September 1.
City stormed to two big wins over Ponteland in 2017-18, running out 64-5 winners on home turf and 48-5 away.
Durham’s first match at Hollow Drift, the following weekend, sees Whitby head north.
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Hide AdHorden and Peterlee, who finished fifth last term, begin at home to Barnard Castle, who ended fourth, with seven more wins than the Colliers.
Barney won 29-17 away to Horden last season, and it was even closer in the second meeting, with the Colliers edged out 19-17.
The Eden Lane-based side are away to Northern in their second game.
Durham visit Horden on September 29 and host their county rivals on January 19.
2018-19 FIXTURES
SUNDERLAND
Durham/Northumberland Two
Sep 1 Hartlepool
Sep 8 NORTH SHIELDS
Sep 15 South Shields
Sep 22 ASHINGTON
Sep 29 Sedgefield
Oct 13 DARLINGTON
Oct 20 Whitley Bay Rockcliff
Oct 27 Gosforth
Nov 3 REDCAR
Nov 17 Houghton
Nov 24 WINLATON VULCANS
Dec 1 Ryton
Dec 8 BISHOP AUCKLAND
Dec 15 North Shields
Jan 5 SOUTH SHIELDS
Jan 12 Ashington
Jan 19 SEDGEFIELD
Jan 26 Darlington
Feb 9 WHITLEY BAY ROCKCLIFF
Feb 16 GOSFORTH
Mar 2 Redcar
Mar 9 HOUGHTON
Mar 23 Winlaton Vulcans
Mar 30 RYTON
Apr 6 Bishop Auckland
Apr 13 HARTLEPOOL
HOUGHTON
Durham/Northumberland Two
Sep 1 Winlaton Vulcans
Sep 8 RYTON
Sep 15 Bishop Auckland
Sep 22 HARTLEPOOL
Sep 29 North Shields
Oct 13 SOUTH SHIELDS
Oct 20 Ashington
Oct 27 SEDGEFIELD
Nov 3 Darlington
Nov 17 SUNDERLAND
Nov 24 Gosforth
Dec 1 REDCAR
Dec 8 Whitley Bay Rockcliff
Dec 15 Ryton
Jan 5 BISHOP AUCKLAND
Jan 12 Hartlepool
Jan 19 NORTH SHIELDS
Jan 26 South Shields
Feb 9 ASHINGTON
Feb 16 Sedgefield
Mar 2 DARLINGTON
Mar 9 Sunderland
Mar 23 GOSFORTH
Mar 30 Redcar
Apr 6 WHITLEY BAY ROCKCLIFF
Apr 13 WINLATON VULCANS
SEAHAM
Durham/Northumberland Three
Sep 1 SEATON CAREW
Sep 8 Blyth
Sep 22 WALLSEND
Sep 29 RICHMONDSHIRE
Oct 13 Seghill
Oct 20 YARM
Oct 27 Newton Aycliffe
Nov 3 JARROVIANS
Nov 17 Chester-le-Street
Dec 1 WEST HARTLEPOOL TDSOB
Dec 8 Prudhoe & Stocksfield
Dec 15 BLYTH
Jan 5 Wallsend
Jan 12 Richmondshire
Jan 26 SEGHILL
Feb 9 Yarm
Feb 16 NEWTON AYCLIFFE
Mar 2 Jarrovians
Mar 9 CHESTER-LE-STREET
Mar 23 West Hartlepool TDSOB
Apr 6 PRUDHOE & STOCKSFIELD
Apr 13 Seaton Carew
DURHAM CITY
Durham/Northumberland One
Sep 1 Ponteland
Sep 8 WHITBY
Sep 15 Barnard Castle
Sep 22 ACKLAM
Sep 29 Horden & Peterlee
Oct 13 Gateshead
Oct 20 NOVOCASTRIANS
Oct 27 South Shields Westoe
Nov 3 HARTLEPOOL ROVERS
Nov 17 Northern
Nov 24 MEDICALS
Dec 1 West Hartlepool
Dec 8 STOCKTON
Dec 15 Whitby
Jan 5 BARNARD CASTLE
Jan 12 Acklam
Jan 19 HORDEN & PETERLEE
Jan 26 GATESHEAD
Feb 9 Novocastrians
Feb 16 SOUTH SHIELDS WESTOE
Mar 2 Hartlepool Rovers
Mar 9 NORTHERN
Mar 23 Medicals
Mar 30 WEST HARTLEPOOL
Apr 6 Stockton
Apr 13 PONTELAND
HORDEN & PETERLEE
Durham/Northumberland One
Sep 1 BARNARD CASTLE
Sep 8 Northern
Sep 15 ACKLAM
Sep 22 Medicals
Sep 29 DURHAM CITY
Oct 13 West Hartlepool
Oct 20 GATESHEAD
Oct 27 Stockton
Nov 3 NOVOCASTRIANS
Nov 17 Ponteland
Nov 2 SOUTH SHIELDS WESTOE
Dec 1 Whitby
Dec 8 HARTLEPOOL ROVERS
Dec 15 NORTHERN
Jan 5 Acklam
Jan 12 MEDICALS
Jan 19 Durham City
Jan 26 WEST HARTLEPOOL
Feb 9 Gateshead
Feb 16 STOCKTON
Mar 2 Novocastrians
Mar 9 PONTELAND
Mar 23 South Shields Westoe
Mar 30 WHITBY
Apr 6 Hartlepool Rovers
Apr 13 Barnard Castle