Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring opened the new season with a disappointing 86 run defeat at home to Wolviston 1st XI in the NYSD 2nd division. The visitors were asked to bat first and on an excellent batting strip scored a challenging 200 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs with Sean Morgan the pick of the bowlers taking 3 for 25. In reply some Aycliffe batsmen made good starts, but none were able to go on and produce a big innings.
Michael Howe top scored with 24, Luke Telford scored 22 and new captain Adam Gittins chipped in with 17 as the home side were eventually dismissed for just 114 after 45.4 overs. A very young second team containing nine juniors, travelled to Blackhall 2nd XI in the NYSD 4th division and put in a tremendous display and were unlucky to come away with a four wicket defeat. Batting first Aycliffe scored a respectable 102 all out after 33.1 overs. Dylan Tribley top scored with a fluent 21 and he was given great support by new captain Stephen Sweeney (19 runs) and Joe Haines (17 runs).
Special mention must go to our under 13’s captain Harry Wright, who was one of three juniors making their debuts at senior level, was given the man of the match award for his excellent innings of 11 runs. In reply the Aycliffe youngsters bowled superbly with George Slatcher (3 for 27), Ryan Patrick (2 for 13) and Dylan Tribley (1 for 34) reducing Blackhall to a perilous 42 for 6. However the experienced home side batsmen eventually steered their side home to a four wicket victory after 29.1 overs.
The club’s u13’s team began their season with a ten wicket defeat at home to Stockton. Batting first Aycliffe scored 60 for 5 from their 16 overs with captain Harry Wright top scoring with 11 runs. In reply, the visitors batted in the rain and duly reached their winning target after 6.4 overs. Our u11’s were beaten by 62 runs away at Hartlepool but there was some encouraging performances from the Aycliffe youngsters, with Daniel Heaton hitting his best ever score with 11 runs and Ollie Coulter also batted well scoring 8 runs. There was some good bowling by Brandon Grant, Will Dearden and Harrison Pearson who each took a wicket, also a great run out by Adam Shaw and an encouraging debut by Oliver Paylor.
