For the second year running the start of the cricket season was postponed due to the wet weather throughout the winter, which left ground staff with an impossible task of trying to get pitches prepared and dry enough to start.
Most leagues, throughout the country, decided to postpone the first weekend of cricket, with the North Yorkshire and South Durham League following suit. The first weekend’s games will now be played later in the season.
Because of this Newton Aycliffe First Team will now start on Saturday 27th April when they host Barnard Castle Seconds while the Second Team start with a trip to Marske to play their Seconds.
Aycliffe have been denied the presence of three players, who are members of HM Forces, and are all away on tours of duties for the majority of the summer. Young fast bowler, Joey Hayman, has also left the club to play cricket elsewhere. With the need to bolster numbers the club have moved quickly to bring in four players, Ben Howard, Alex Pollard, Matthew Thompson and Charlie Cayless, who has returned to the Club. Fast bowler Ben goes straight into the first team for Saturday’s game while the other three will travel to Marske with the Seconds.
The first game of the season, at Moore Lane, starts at 12.30pm.
Meanwhile last years, all conquering ladies, start the season on Sunday 28th April with a home game against Thirsk Ladies, starting at 2.00pm. After winning three trophies last year, including the inaugural NYSD Ladies 100 competition, the ladies have decided to test themselves against different opposition and have left the Durham League, which they have won for the last two years, to join the Hambleton League.
Aycliffe will again have junior teams playing at all age levels from under 9 through to under 17 with the junior season starting in early May. They will also be running the highly successful All Stars Cricket sessions starting on Thursday 30th May.
Anybody who would like any further information about Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club can visit the club’s website page at newtonaycliffe.play-cricket.com or contact Club Secretary, Lee Weldon, on 07759 754959.