Newton Aycliffe’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, put in an excellent performance to win by five wickets away at league leaders Stokesley 2nd XI on Saturday 16th August in the NYSD 3rd division. Choosing to bowl first proved a good decision as Aycliffe restricted the home side to 188 for 8 from their allotted 40 overs. Ben Howard took the honours with the ball, finishing with a seasonal best 5 for 30 from his superb ten over spell. In reply, a brilliant 3rd wicket partnership of 145 between Chris Palmer (sponsored by Vanila Design & Print), who scored 82 off 108 balls, extending his club record aggregate runs total past the 12,000 mark in the process and Jai Sander (42 off 69 balls), was the back bone of the innings as Aycliffe reached their victory target after 36.3 overs.
The first team continued their recent good form with a nail biting two wicket victory at home to Guisborough 2nd XI. The visitors were asked to bat first and were bowled out for 118 after 37.1 overs thanks to some good bowling by Matty Greaves (sponsored by Britannia Fire), who took 3 for 22, Will Dearden (2 for 18), Ben Howard (2 for 20) and Leo Mercy (2 for 29). In reply, Aycliffe lost wickets at regular intervals, but good innings by 16 year old Will Dearden, who top scored with 25 off 55 balls, Jai Sander (22 off 33 balls) and Leon Patel (20 off 35 balls) kept their side in the game. A late unbeaten 14 off 11 balls by a cool headed Ramzan Hussain, was enough to give Aycliffe a tense win after 33.2 overs. The first team now sit in fourth place in the 3rd division of the NYSD with only three games left to play this season.
The first team travelled to play relegation threatened Blackhall 1st XI on Saturday 30th August and were comprehensively beaten by eight wickets. Asked to bat first, Aycliffe scored a respectable 194 for 9 from 40 overs. Opening batsman Tez Smit again top scored for Aycliffe, this time reaching 53 off 73 balls and his seventh half century of the season included eight boundaries and he was supported well by Chris Palmer (41 off 48 balls) and Tom Dearden (28 off 32 balls). In reply, the homeside eased to victory with more than 7 overs and 8 wickets in hand. The first team now sit in fourth place in the 3rd division of the NYSD with only two games left to play this season.
On Saturday 16th August, Aycliffe’s 2nd team put in a good performance to earn a battling draw at home to Marske 2nds in the NYSD 4th division. The visitors chose to bat first and piled up an imposing 233 for 5 from their 40 overs despite some good bowling by 15 year old Tom Norman (3 for 49) and 14 year old Addison Jones (1 for 38). In reply, openers Matt French (52 off 105 balls) and 14 year old Trent Telford (49 off 83 balls) put on 106 for the first wicket. When they were both dismissed, Adam Shaw continued the good work scoring an entertaining unbeaten 21 off 11 balls, as Aycliffe reached a respectable 169 for 7 at stumps to claim a well deserved draw.
The following weekend, Aycliffe’s 2nd team lost, away at Wolviston by eight wickets, but the game will be remembered for some excellent individual performances by a couple of promising Aycliffe youngsters. Opening batsman Trent Telford, unluckily out for 49 the previous game, made amends when the 14 year old carried his bat for an excellent career best unbeaten 52 off 110 balls, including four boundaries. 14 year Freddie Lawler also hit a career best score when he finished with a superb unbeaten 72 off 78 balls and his innings included nine boundaries and a six as Aycliffe totalled a respectable 163 for 3 from their allotted 40 overs. In reply, the homeside eased to their victory target after 32 overs, with 13 year old Miles Telford marking his senior debut for Aycliffe by taking one of the only two Wolviston wickets to fall, capping a memorable day for the two young Telford brothers.
On the bank holiday Monday, Aycliffe 2nds travelled to Northallerton 2nd XI and were defeated by 87 runs in game played in very hot conditions. Captain Dan Weldon (sponsored by Midland Structural Services) led from the front putting in an excellent all round performance with both bat and ball. During the homesides innings, Weldon bowled superbly in the scorching heat to finish with 3 for 25 from his eight over spell as Northallerton declared on 200 for 9 after 38.5 overs. Then, when Aycliffe replied, he scored 25 off 19 balls and included six boundaries. Special mention must also go to Leon Patel, who finished with his career best figures of 4 for 45 from 8.5 overs, and to Adam Shaw, who top scored in the Aycliffe reply and was desperately unlucky not to get a deserved first half century when he was left stranded on 49 not out off 42 balls and his career best innings included eight boundaries and a six. 15 year old Will Moffatt also batted well, chipping in with 12 off 17 balls, as Aycliffe were bowled out for 113 after 25.5 overs.
Aycliffe’s 2nd team lost by seven wickets at home to Bedale 2nds on Saturday 30th August, but the game will be remembered because, for the first time in the club’s history, a mother and son, Amanda Norman and her 15 year old son Tom, both played together in the same senior team. Tom Norman (sponsored by Rite People) marked the unique occasion by producing some excellent bowling to finish with senior career best figures of 3 for 27 from his five over spell. Special mention must go to 13 year old Jack Collingwood, who made his senior debut in the 2nd team game and also to captain Dan Weldon, who played his 250th senior game for the club in the same match.
Photo: Cricket Club Secretary, Lee Weldon, congratulating his son Daniel after he completed his 250th senior game for Aycliffe.