It will be a family affair for Stockton and Northern Districts on Saturday with the Seagulls fielding three sets of brothers in the same first grade XI.
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More than half the side against hosts Wallsend will be made up of siblings - Nick and Daniel Foster, Tyson and James Beatty as well as the Whitty twins, Ben and Matt.
"It's unusual to have three sets of brothers all together," Stockton, Newcastle and NSW Country captain Nick Foster said.
"I'm sure it would have happened before somewhere [in Newcastle first grade], maybe even recently."
With a 130-year history it's unclear whether or not this marks a first for the Newcastle District Cricket Association top competition, however, it's a rare occurrence nonetheless.
Some of the current brothers playing first grade together are: Sam and Matt Webber (Hamilton-Wickham), Shannon and Aaron Bills (Wests), Andrew and Matt Somerville (Toronto), Asher and Nathan Robins (Waratah-Mayfield).
Previous sibling combinations in the top XI include: Matt and Josh Trappel (Hamwicks), Rod and Steve Mace (Charlestown), Steve and Murray Christie (Waratah), David and Peter Willis (Cardiff-Boolaroo), Colin and Alan Elliott (Wallsend), Harry and Lance Hodges (Stockton), Walter jnr, Alan and Milton Bramble (Merewether).
Terry and Neil Crittenden lined up against one another, including the 2007-08 final, for Stockton and Merewether respectively.
