Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team team sponsored by Franks The Flooring Store had to settle for a draw away at Wolviston 1st XI after rain disrupted their NYSD 2nd division match. The home side elected to bat first and scored 137 for 7 from their 50 overs with John Cavanagh (sponsored by CVO Fire) again taking the man of the match award with a tight spell of 3 for 21 from 13 overs.
Fast bowler Sean Morgan supported well taking 3 for 44 from 11 overs. In reply Aycliffe had to score an unlikely 138 from just 12 overs and opening batsman Michael led a gallant attempt, smashing the bowling around the ground for a quickfire 31. Three more wickets fell quickly and the Aycliffe innings eventually closed at 65 for 4 to earn a draw.
The 2nd team game against Wolviston 2nd XI in the NYSD 3rd division was also rain affected and that game also finished in a draw.
The visitors were asked to bat first and scored a huge 265 all from 49.3 overs. Mark Davies, who played first class cricket for Durham last year, unsurprisingly scored a big century against a very young Aycliffe bowling attack. The pick of the bowlers was 16 year old leg spinner Patrick Howe who took a career best 6 for 46 and 18 year old Tom Wickins took 3 for 66.
In reply Aycliffe batted well and reached a respectable 106 for 6 at close of play thanks to good contributions from Neil Bancroft (19 not out), Adam Gittins (19 runs) and John Wardle (13 runs).
The u15’s team (photo above) got their season off to a great start with a comfortable win by 8 wickets at home to Mainsforth. The visitors decided to bat first and were restricted to just 62 for 7 from their 20 overs. In reply opener Dan Bowmer (13 runs) got the Aycliffe innings off to a solid start and then an unbeaten 23 from Adam Lamb and 15 not out from Arran Taylor saw their side to victory after just 11.3 overs
The clubs under 13’s team lost at home to Richmond in persistent drizzle, but despite the weather there was a good performance from Kieran Shingler who took a wicket during Richmond’s innings and then top scored with 10 not out in Aycliffe’s reply.