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Match Reports

Sunday 28th July 2002

Newcastle 2nd XI vs Stockton (Jesmond) Banks Bowl League Cup Final, 45 overs

Another stinking hot day in Jesmond, with most people just rehydrating after shedding 4 stone from the previous day. A strong team allowed us the luxury of not being bothered if we won or lost the toss, which we lost and were kindly inserted (something Ports would die for in his present condition).

Having made a slow but assured start, we reached sixty without loss before loosing Rodney and the Village (fully recovered from his larry-itus). Clarky followed soon, being yorked by their ringer (who had opened for the first team the previous day and dismissed messers Hynd and Wake). Kingers then took the attack to Stockton smashing 36 at a strike rate of 120.0, including smurting their SLA for 3 consecutive fours from his first three deliveries - how to smash a young lads confidence in one foul swoop! By this stage we were looking quite good, spurred on by the consistent poor chat from their young boy of a keeper, heonlyhasfourteeth, whose verbal diorreah had continued from the previous day. His antics continued to annoy and frustrate his own team, whilst we laughed and heckled from the pavilion. The Legend and Shaun then put on a good partnership of 50+ before 'chaz me up' Collinsy went for one too many and was clean bowled by their skipper. By this time Kenny had marched on handsomely to a well deserved and chanceless 50. The skipper joined Kenny and put on another 50 partnership before Andy was bowled for 21, Kenny ended up on 73* and Cookie was 3* as we reached 244-5 from our 45 overs - a steady score!

Stockton started their chase of the Newcastle total poorly when they lost their opener with only 1 run when Cowansy castled him with one that kept a tad low. One thing we knew we would have to do was to field well and bowl tightly. Despite our team talk at half time highlighting the fact that we couldn't bowl wides, we still managed to bowl 29 of the beggars. Our fielding however was top draw with 2 superb catches being held. First was by the inspirational skipper who flung himself to the left after Collinsy had bowled a wide long hop to their bearded opener. The other was by Clarky, again another diving catch at long on to remove their dangerous Pieman who had bludgeoned 66 the previous day. They never really got into the game and were always chasing a run a ball from about 30 overs to go! Tight bowling kept them down to needing 80 from the last 10 overs, with 3 wickets left. In came their mouthy keepa who was welcomed with clenched fists. Even the vampire despised him, with his top drawer chat of "I could be the first umpire caught sledging" - However the piece de resistance came in the final few overs needing a runs per ball - their spinner pushed the ball down to the evergreen legend no 2, Ashley Giles, who swooped and picked the ball up in one motion and made a direct hit to Kenny's end with the guy 5 yards short - absolutely top drawer and you can see from the photos the enjoyment he took in that dismissal. The skippa then cleaned up the tail with 2 wickets as Stockton were bowled out for 223 in the final over. Robbo ended up with 2-20, Kingers and his medium dibblers took 2-59, Michael 'Potential' Cowans 2-48, Collins 1-49 and Ports 1-39.

A top day had by all and congratulations to everybody associated with the club and the second team - a great team performance. Of course a few celebratory drinks were had in the bar afterwards, but unfortunately Shaun cannot take his drink as well as he once could and was caught 'worring his slurds' after 6 snakeys!

Newcastle CC is sponsored by Billabong Bar in Jesmond.