Match Reports

Monday 3rd June 2002

Newcastle 1st XI vs Gateshead Fell (Home)

A wet start to the day... Due to heavy rain on the Sunday there was a lot of moisture on the ground on the Monday morning which ruled out a prompt start. Lesser men than the imperious Neil Wake would have shaken hands and taken the five points. We stuck it out and managed a 3pm start with the overs being reduced to 38 against 31.

The Fell won the toss and unsurprisingly chose to bowl first.

Wayne 'anyone need any kit' Ritzema and Scott 'I've got a warrant card leave me alone' Kay got us off to a steady start before the dopey Aussie chopped one on from Lugsden. Ritzy was next to fall before Jim 'OAP' Mathewson got stuck into the Fell attack. Fells leg-spinner whom they call the squirrel removed the county new-boy Matt Hynd.

Ritzy re-enacts his bouncer from Quentin Hughes bowling underarm on Saturday! A village incident again hit the first XI with OAP Mathewson missplacing his zimmer and injuring himself on 49 in the process of top edging a sweep for 6. 'Fast twitch fibres' Ritzy came out to run for him, but the very next ball Ritzy managed to run the helpless OAP out. The fantasy league jury is still out and we await to see how many fantasy points Ritzy will be reduced by.

The capacity crowd that had assembled on this Bank Holiday were given the treat of seeing Mark 'he's the man' Turnbull thrust up the order and unleashing an array of aggressive strokes. His first ball from Lugsey, who went for 70 off 10 overs, was dispatched into the stands and he proceeded to smash 18 not out from only five balls. The David Gower-esque Will 'averages' Allen continued his fine run of form as he stroked his way to 29 not out, joining in with the mayhem with a cover driven six.

Newcastle's innings closed on 164-6 from their 38 overs. Newcastle knew that they had two big wickets to get to ensure that we would not be defeated and would give us a great chance of victory. The skipper and man of the match Mark Turnbull both bowled excellent opening spells with Mark returning fine figures of 11 overs 3-23. Wakey picked up the other wicket and was unlucky not to pick up a couple more.

The Fell finished on 135-4 in their 31 overs claiming a winning draw by 1 run, their Aussie pro Mark South scoring 59 not out.

Newcastle 2nd XI vs Gateshead Fell (Away)

Two changes from the team on Saturday with Ed going to a BBQ (!!!!!!!!!) and Humble spending time with Humble junior. In came Chris Welch and Justin Rourke.

After about 90 mins delay due to an uncovered wicket after the torrential thunder storms on Sunday, and their groundsman even cutting a wicket to order (which turned out to be softer than Kenny's belly) we lost the toss and were asked to bat on a pitch that can only be described as resembling a soggy wheatabix!...a saturated mud bath was not what we needed.

Having been reduced to 15-3 from 12 overs, then 25-5 from 23 overs, we managed a pathetic 54 all out from 40 overs. Only Robson with 24 and Pearson with 11 managed to get double figures, with 5 ugly ducklings on the score sheet, but we wont embarrass them (COOK, WELCH, ROE, COLLINS and ROURKE). Vist 'duck corner' to see them and their useless mates!

Three sad ducks!

After the wicket dried out and the sun came out, the pitch suddenly became easier to play. Despite the most blatant LB Geoffrey turned down and some guy who just teed off from day 1, the Fell managed to get 55 for the loss of two (both to Robson).

Shame there were no female streakers at this game..........