Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, continued their winless start to the season with a 100 run defeat away at Stokesley 2nd XI who currently sit bottom of the NYSD 2nd division table. The home side opted to bat first and scored an impregnable 279 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. Luke Telford (sponsored by Mal and Jean Pattinson) deserves credit for bowling a marathon 15 overs in such difficult circumstances, finishing with the respectable figures of 3 for 58 and he received good support from James Layfield-Carroll (2 for 33) and Adam Gittins (2 for 50). In reply, a number of Aycliffe batsman made good starts, but unfortunately none of them went on to convert it into the much needed bigger score. Captain Chris Palmer top scored with 25 off 34 balls and other contributions came from George Slatcher (22 off 37 balls), Luke Telford (21 off 25 balls) and Dan Weldon (17 off 22 balls) as their side were eventually bowled out for 179 from 38 overs.
The 2nd team had a difficult afternoon when they hosted promotion hopefuls Billingham Synthonia 2nd XI and were well beaten by 124 runs in their NYSD 4th division game. The visitors opted to bat first and piled up a match winning 229 for 3 declared after 34 overs. In reply, 15 year old Aycliffe stand in captain Tom Dearden (sponsored by Kevin Burton) top scored with a patient score of 23 from 80 balls. The only other batsmen to reach double figures were Jai Sander (14 runs from 45 balls), Adam Shaw (14 runs from 14 balls) and Harrison Pearson (13 runs from 22 balls) as Aycliffe were eventually bowled out for 105 after 36.4 overs.
The u17’s began their season with a battling performance at home to Hartlepool in the NYSD cup and were eventually beaten by just 8 runs. The visitors batted first and scored 116 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs with Owen Smith (2 for 16) and Ramzan Hussain (2 for 19) the pick of the bowlers. In reply, Aycliffe were struggling at 45 for 5 despite some resistance from Matty Greaves (15 runs) and Jai Sander (13 runs). However the tail fought back superbly and a club record 8th wicket partnership of 36 between Daniel Heaton, who top scored with 19 runs and Leo Stout 11 runs, and a quickfire 13 from Adam Shaw, nearly won it for Aycliffe in a tense finale, but they were eventually bowled out for 108 with just 3 balls of the innings remaining.
The club’s u15’s team put in another superb performance, this time to beat Darlington at home by 100 runs in the NYACC and setting a new u15’s club record for the largest victory margin. Batting first Aycliffe scored a huge 191 for 3 in their allotted 20 overs and this was another u15’s club record for the highest innings total thanks to some brilliant batting by captain Tom Dearden (53 retired off 34 balls), Harrison Pearson (50 retired off 30 balls) and an unbeaten 29 off 19 balls by Leo Stout. In reply, the visitors were restricted to 91 for 3 from 20 overs with Tom Norman, Dan Heaton and Leo Stout each taking one wicket.
On Sunday, 15th May, the club hosted its first senior ladies cricket festival of the season involving teams from Newton Aycliffe, Castle Eden, Sacriston, Sunderland and two teams from Beamish Cricket Clubs. The event was a big success and all the players had a very enjoyable afternoon.
If any ladies are interested in cricket and fancy playing the game, at either junior or senior level, regardless of ability, then please do not hesitate to contact our Club’s Ladies Cricket Manager, Tina Greaves, on 07917 694055, who will be happy to help.
Photo: Group photo of all the players who took part in the Newton Aycliffe CC Ladies Cricket Festival.