Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team team, sponsored by Franks The Flooring Store had a disastrous weekend losing both their league games to fellow promotion rivals Darlington and Barnard Castle. On the Saturday the 1sts lost away at Darlington by 9 wickets with Chris Palmer’s patient 38 the only bright spot as Aycliffe were skittled for just 86.
On Bank Holiday Monday, the first team had a much improved performance, but still lost at home to league leaders Barnard Castle by 4 wickets in the 2nd division of the NYSD. Asked to bat first, Aycliffe were thankful to a brilliant innings from opener Luke Telford, who scored a season’s best 80, as they were bowled out for a below par 163 after 29.1 overs.
The visitors eased to victory after 39 overs despite some good bowling from Colin Myers (4 for 35) to further strengthen their position at the top of the table. The possibility of a 2nd consecutive promotion has now all but disappeared for Aycliffe as they sit in 7th place in the table, 41 points behind the promotion places with only 4 games to go.
The 2nd team battled hard to earn a deserved draw in their home game against Bishop Auckland in the 3rd division of the NYSD. The visitors were in dominant form with the bat racking up a huge 250 for 6 declared after 43.1 overs despite some good bowling from both Darryn Bancroft (2 for 22) and Jack Slatcher (2 for 30). A superb unbeaten 47 from Aycliffe’s Danny Weldon and an equally good unbeaten 26 from Jack Slatcher helped to see their side safely to stumps and thwart Bishops in their quest for victory.
On Bank Holiday Monday, the 2nd team had a fantastic 5 wicket victory away at Yarm 2nds. The home side were asked to bat first and were restricted to 146 for 7 from their allotted 50 overs thanks to tight bowling from Jack Slatcher (4 for 36). In reply opening batsman Darryn Bancroft top scored with a season’s best 68 and with useful support from captain Adam Gittins (24 not out) and then Slatcher (18 not out), Aycliffe reached their winning target with 5 wickets and 3.2 overs in hand.
The U15’s team made it through to the league cup final for the first time in their short history when they defeated Burnmoor at home in the semi-final by 34 runs. Batting first Aycliffe scored an imposing 93 for 4 in their allotted 15 overs thanks to good innings from both Adam Lamb (34 runs) and Daniel Bowmer (33 not out).
The visitors were bowled out for just 60 after 13.3 overs with George Slatcher the pick of the Aycliffe bowlers taking 3 for 17 from his 3 overs and there was good support from Nathan Parry who took 2 wickets for just 3 runs. Aycliffe’s under 15’s entertain their Sunderland counterparts in the final next Monday 1st September at the Sports Club.