Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, were well beaten away at bottom of the table Blackhall 1st XI by seven wickets in the NYSD 2nd division. Aycliffe were asked to bat first and were thankful to captain Sam Telford’s (sponsored by The Fairhursts) brilliant innings to give their total some substance. The opener almost single handedly carried the Aycliffe batting, scoring a superb 87 from 80 balls including ten boundaries and two sixes before he was last man out and the only other players to reach double figures were Luke Telford (14 from 13 balls) and Dan Weldon (12 from 13 balls). Credit must also go to number 11 batsman James Layfield-Carroll (9 not out) who together with Sam Telford put on 70 runs for the tenth wicket before the visitors were eventually bowled out for a below par 167 after 31.1 overs. In reply, Blackhall easily reached their winning target after 30.5 overs and for the loss of three wickets.
Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s young 2nd XI also lost by seven wickets at home to Preston 1st XI in the NYSD 4th division, but in different circumstances to the first team. Choosing to bat first, Aycliffe scored what seemingly appeared to be an impregnable score of 213 for 9 from their allotted 40 overs thanks to in-form Leon Patel, who top scored with 44 from 51 balls, an unbeaten 43 from 61 balls by Nathan Stokeld and a useful 27 from 18 balls by captain Jimmy Newton. However, Preston had other ideas and new Pakistani import Tehseen Zubair smashed the Aycliffe bowling to all parts of the ground hitting 11 boundaries and nine sixes to finish unbeaten on 127 from just 66 balls as the visitors coasted home to victory after 34.1 overs. In amongst the carnage, 15 year old Leo Stout (sponsored by Tindale Deli) and 14 year old Will Dearden both managed to emerge from the onslaught with creditable bowling figures of 2 for 18 and 1 for 22 respectively. This game may also stay long in the memory after all the players and many spectators had to literally dive for cover to avoid a huge swarm of bees which briefly engulfed the cricket ground during the first innings.
The U17’s were beaten by eight wickets away at Norton in the semi-final of the NYSD Junior knock out cup. Electing to bat first Aycliffe batted well and scored a respectable 121 for 3 in their allotted 20 overs. Opener Tom Dearden continued his excellent form this season when he top scored with 32 off 42 balls and other good contributions came from Leon Patel (27 off 29 balls) and an unbeaten 28 off just 23 balls by Dan Heaton (sponsored by Ian Hatty Hannant). In reply, the homeside easily reached their winning target after only 16 overs with Leo Stout and Dan Heaton taking a wicket apiece for Aycliffe.
Aycliffe’s U11’s made it back to back victories when they came out on top by 64 runs at home to Rockliffe Park in the NYACC League. Eight year old Harvey Palmer was the pick of the bowlers taking 3 for 8 and both Gracie Hayman (2 for 5) and Daniel Collett (2 for 6) bowled well for the homeside. Daniel Collett (sponsored by Baltic Apprenticeships) then completed an excellent individual performance when he top scored in the Aycliffe innings with an unbeaten 15 and Phoebe Sproat was also amongst the runs scoring 12.
Newton Aycliffe’s senior ladies team made it two wins out of two when they comprehensively won away at Beamish and East Stanley CC by 71 runs in the Durham Women’s Cricket League. Aycliffe were asked to bat first and scored 104 for 1 in their allotted 16 overs with Ashley Kell, Sarah Bitnell and Tina Masterman all retiring after passing 25 runs. In reply, the homeside were skittled for just 33 after 15.5 overs with Ashley Kell (4 for 7), Anneliese Myers (2 for 3) and Tina Masterman (2 for 7) taking the honours with the ball for Aycliffe.
The club’s U11’s girls kept up their 100% start to the season, this time defeating Raby Castle at home by 51 runs in the Durham Girls Junior League. There were good performances with the ball by Gracie Hayman (2 for 6) and Evie Dean who bowled two maidens to help restrict the visitors total. When Aycliffe batted, they got off to a solid start when openers Carys Myers and Hope Thomson put on a partnership of 32 runs, which help set up their team’s third win in a row.
Photo: The victorious Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club U11’s girls team who remain unbeaten this season.