Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, continued their recent hot form with their fourth league win in a row when they comfortably beat Bedale firsts at home by six wickets in the NYSD 2nd Division.

Electing to bowl first proved an inspired decision by Aycliffe captain Sam Telford as the visitors were skittled for just 105 after 35 overs thanks to a superb bowling performance by Jack Slatcher who finished his 13 overs with 6 for 29 and James Layfield-Carroll who chipped in with 3 for 22.

In reply, opener Sam Telford smashed the Bedale bowling all over the field scoring a typically aggressive 57 from only 44 balls faced and his explosive innings included three boundaries and five huge sixes. Michael Howe (sponsored by Yvonne and Bob Wood) also batted well, scoring an unbeaten 22 from 27 balls as Aycliffe romped to victory with more than 45 overs in hand. This win moves Aycliffe’s first team up to 5th in the league table, the highest position of the season so far with 212 points from 16 games played.

The U15’s won an exciting game by just four wickets away at Seaton Carew in the NYACC League. Electing to bowl first Aycliffe restricted the home side to 71 for 8 from their 20 overs thanks to some tight bowling from both Ian Robson (2-13) and Matty Greaves (2-13) and a couple of run outs by Adam Shaw and Harrison Pearson. In reply, Aycliffe battled hard with David Robinson (15 not out), Danny Wakes (13 runs) and Charlie Cayless (10 runs) leading the way as the visitors reached their winning target in a tense finale with only 5 balls in hand.

The U13’s put in a spirited performance at home to league runners up Hartlepool but still lost by eight wickets in the NYACC League. Aycliffe elected to bat first and scored a respectable 87 for 5 in their 20 overs thanks to an excellent unbeaten innings of 30 from 35 balls by captain Thomas Dearden and a valuable late order innings of 9 not out by Harry Brumwell. In reply the visitors eased to a comfortable victory after 15.1 overs despite Aycliffe’s Alfie Spensley and Will Dearden each taking a wicket.

A very young U11’s performed with credit away at Stockton in their last game of the season, but were still defeated by 30 runs. There were good individual performances with the bat from Aycliffe players Joe Nield, who top scored with an unbeaten 20 and Ollie Paylor who finished 12 not out. Special mention must go to both 8 year old Trent Telford who kept wicket and 7 year old debutant Seb Pennington-Foster, who both played well for Aycliffe.

Photo: Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s U15’s team after their victory away at Seaton Carew.