Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store were well beaten at home by 70 runs to promotion favourites Barnard Castle 2nd XI in the NYSD 2nd division. The visitors elected to bat first and scored an impressive 258 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs, despite good bowling from Michael Howe and Luke Telford, who both picked up a couple of wickets. In reply, all rounder Michael Howe got Aycliffe’s innings off to a blistering start smashing 54 from just 45 balls, including 11 boundaries. However a steady fall of wickets followed Howe’s dismissal and saw the homeside eventually bowled out for 188 from 43.2 overs despite a tremendous rearguard action from both Subhan Christudas, who scored an unbeaten 60 from 66 balls, including 12 boundaries and Sean Morgan who hit a fighting 21 from 40 balls. Our  u17’s team earned a tie in a dramatic game at home to Barnard Castle u17’s in the NYSD junior league. The visitors chose to bat first and were dismissed for 106 after 19.3 overs thanks to good bowling from Lucas Pilling (2 for 13) and Harry Wright (2 for 25) and helped by three excellent catches by captain Ryan Patrick. In reply Aycliffe were in a winning position at 89 for 2 thanks to Arran Taylor (36 from 40 balls) and Ryan Patrick (32 from 23 balls), but a mini collapse left them needing seven runs to win from the last over and Will Varley managed to get six in a tense finale to finish 12 not out and leave Aycliffe’s innings on 106 for 7 after 20 overs. The u13’s were defeated by 7 wickets at home to Billingham Synthonia u13’s in a below par performance. Batting first Aycliffe were restricted to 53 for 8 from their allotted 20 overs with only Matty Greaves reaching double figures when he scored 11 runs. In reply the visitors hurried to victory after just 8.1 overs for the loss of 3 wickets. There were no games this week for the 2nd’s, u15’s or u11’s teams.