Newton Aycliffe’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, had to dig deep to earn, what had earlier seemed, an unlikey draw at home to third in the table Yarm 1sts on Saturday 6th September in the NYSD 3rd division. Yarm elected to bat first and scored a respectable 160 for 6 from their allotted 40 overs, despite some good bowling from Leo Mercy (sponsored by Yvonne and Bob Wood), who finished with 2 for 15 from a very tidy ten overs and Matty Greaves (2 for 51 from ten overs). In reply, the ever reliable opener Tez Smit, helped get the home side off to a decent start scoring 33 from 36 balls, but Aycliffe still slipped to worrying 88 for 9 with 11 overs still remaining. However, a defiant unbroken tenth wicket partnership of 22 by Leo Mercy (13 not out off 58 balls) and Ben Howard (10 not out off 29 balls) saw their side safely to stumps in a tense finale to earn an unlikely draw for the hosts.
The following Saturday (13th September) Aycliffe’s first team travelled to already relegated Thornaby 2nd XI for the final game of the season and came away with an excellent 41 run victory. Electing to bat first, Aycliffe made a respectable 160 all out after 39.2 overs. Leon Patel top scored for Aycliffe with a steely 42 off 72 balls and his excellent innings included four boundaries, other major contributions came from Tez Smit (29 off 42 balls) and Ramzan Hussain (16 off 20 balls). In reply, Aycliffe’s Ben Howard bowled brilliantly, taking 3 for 26 from his ten over spell to help reduce Thornaby to 57 for 5. With the homeside digging in for a draw, the introduction of spinner Tom Dearden had an immediate effect as he took the last three wickets for just three runs to help Aycliffe to victory with 4.1 overs remaining.
Aycliffe’s first team finished their season in a creditable fourth place in the NYSD third division table with 299 points from 22 games played.
On Saturday 6th September, Aycliffe’s 2nd team were well beaten by 167 runs away at Yarm 2nd XI in the NYSD 4th division. Yarm were asked to bat first and scored a huge 240 for 4 declared after just 34 overs, despite some good bowling by Jon Tait (2 for 58), Shashank Garg (2 for 50) and Will Moffatt (1 for 53). In reply, 15 year old Will Moffatt top scored with a senior best 22 runs off 35 balls, Dan Weldon hit 16 off 23 balls and Matty French chipped in with 10 off 40 balls, as Aycliffe were bowled out for just 73 after 23 overs.
The following weekend Aycliffe’s 2nd team lost at home to Bishop Auckland 2nd XI by just four wickets in a much improved performance in their final game of the season. Aycliffe were asked to bat first and were bowled out for just 84 after 28.3 overs. Veteran Tony Travis (sponsored by John Wardle) top scored with 20 off 31 balls, Matty Thompson smashed a quickfire 19 off just 7 balls and opener Matty French chipped in with 11 off 33 balls. In reply, the visitors also struggled to score runs thanks to some superb bowling by Jon Tait, who finished with career best figures of 4 for 28. 15 year old Tom Norman (2 for 28) also bowled well, but they couldn’t stop Bishop from reaching their winning target after 21.5 overs and with four wickets in hand.
Photo: Tony Travis who top scored for the 2nd team v Bishop Auckland.