Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team team sponsored by Franks The Flooring Store were well beaten by five wickets away at fast improving Whitby 2nd XI in the 2nd division of the NYSD.
After being asked to bat first, Aycliffe looked to have set the home side a challenging target as they reached 207 for 9 from their allotted 50 overs with John Cavanagh top scoring with 42, Luke Telford (40 runs) and Colin Myers (27 runs). In reply Michael Howe’s 3 for 38 and Cavanagh’s 2 for 61 were in vain as the homeside eased to victory after 45 overs.
The second team lost at home to second in the table Norton by 59 runs in the NYSD 3rd division. Asked to bat first, Norton piled on the runs scoring 214 for 6 declared after 44.2 overs, despite a couple of wickets each from both James Brown and Danny Weldon. In reply Aycliffe batted well with Ben Nicholson (sponsored by Unison) scoring an excellent 44 including seven boundaries and Adam Gittins (22 runs) getting the innings off to a good start at 57 for 1.
Danny Weldon continued the momentum smashing a quick fire 26, including a boundary and a huge six, but the target proved too great and despite some more big hitting late in the innings from John Wardle (17 runs) and an unbeaten 17 from James Skerrett, Aycliffe were dismissed for a respectable 155 after 42 overs.
The u18s were beaten at home to Bishop Auckland by 53 runs. The visitors totalled 146 for 5 in their 20 overs despite some good bowling from both Adam Lamb (2 for 22) and Sam Dobinson (2 for 33). In reply Aycliffe were bowled out for 93 from 20 overs, with Arran Taylor and Dan Bowmer both scoring 15 and James Skerrett hitting 14.
The u15’s team had an excellent 75 run away victory at Crook thanks to excellent half centuries from both Arran Taylor and Jack Lowery as the pair set a u15’s club record for a second wicket partnership of 104. Batting first Aycliffe scored an impressive 138 for 3 in their 20 overs with Taylor retiring out for 51 and the same score for Lowery, which was his 3rd half century of the season. In reply Crook were restricted to 63 for 5 from their 20 overs.
The under 13’s had a much improved all round performance away at Sedgefield, but still lost by 22 runs. The homeside scored 119 for 5 in their 20 overs, with Matty Greaves, Tom Cayless, Leo Mercy and Josh Weldon all taking one wicket. In reply, captain Lucas Pilling hit a brilliant 31 (retired) to get the innings off to a great start. Josh Weldon also batted well in his first game of the season scoring 16 and despite an excellent unbeaten 20 from Joe Bowsher at the end of the innings, Aycliffe fell just short scoring 97-5 in their 20 overs.
The u11’s team lost away at Hartlepool but there were good individual performances with the bat from both Matty Greaves and Rob Hillman and Nathan Slater bowled well for Aycliffe.