Match Reports

Saturday 26th April 2003

Newcastle 1st XI vs South Northumberland (Away)

Image: Baz's fav sleeping place. A new season and new hope. According to “cow corner” the relegation contenders met the favorites for the title, but on the day there was very little to choose between the two sides. Newcastle handed debuts to South North old boy Nick Tomlinson, Aussie Ryan Philimore, and Durham contracted player Gordan Muchall. After a full warm up, much the glee of ‘Angry’ Alex, stand-in skipper Ritzy lost the toss and was invited to bat on a pitch that appeared a touch green, with South North’s new West Indian pro Reon King looking to impress on debut.

Newcastle got off to a steady start before losing opener Matt Hynd for 17, bringing together Gordan Muchall and Ritzy. These two accumulated runs nicely with both players playing some lovely shots, Ritzy demonstrating his guns by pumping the ball through extra cover on several occasions. However Ritzy fell just before the lunch interval for an excellent 56, but Newcastle were the happier team, reaching the luncheon at 128-2. Gordon fell shortly after lunch for a classy 59, but Ryan, batting for the first time in England, and Nick, against his old club, batted on. Nick made 21 before being LBW to a ball that the bowler even suggested had pitched outside leg stump. However, Ryan settled in nicely and he played some lovely cover drives and appeared most comfortable against the extra pace of King Reon. He was joined by Big Will, and the pair set about posting an impressive score. Ryan was eventually out for 76 and Will for 42 from what became the final ball of the innings, Newcastle declaring at 278-6 in 64 overs. An excellent all round batting performance, every batter contributing to an impressive total.

Image: "right for runs!" In the field, Newcastle got off to the best possible start with a fired up Angry getting our nemesis Jimmy Miller out LBW first ball. Angry continued the good work and bowled with lively pace, but our old failing came back to haunt us when firstly Scott Kay … I mean Ryan … dropped Chris Hewison in the slips, and then James Bailey dropped a tough chance at fine leg. However, in between these chances, Angry removed the opposition captain John Graham, having just been upper-cut for six over third man. At tea South North were 70 –2, after which Ryan and Gordon took over with the ball, bowling to a tight field, and preventing South North from gaining any momentum in their innings. The fight was on for the winning draw, but James Bailey removed Adam Heather and then ‘the best gloveman in the North of England and Western Australia’ took a quality one handed snare to remove a disgruntled Martin Speight. However Hewison, having passed his century, was still imposing with the bat, threatening to punish our dropped chances, but a good piece of fielding by Gordan Muchall ran him out and the game was swinging back towards Newcastle. Despite another drop by Ryan and some decent hitting by their middle order, incessant rain brought a premature end to the game, Newcastle being 9 runs ahead of the rate holding on to a winning draw.

Overall the Newcastle team were well happy with some excellent batting and some good bowling, only letting themselves down by some poor catching. However this can, and will, be rectified through some hard work in practice. So against one of the strongest sides we equipped ourselves well and gave the much acclaimed opposition a real fright. All of the new Newcastle players settled in well, with Gordan Muchall impressing in all aspects of play and through his professional attitude in the field he helped raise the spirit of the side.

Image: Ritzy batting fluently

The social season also got off to a good start and a brief description of night’s events follows, in no particular order and with names withheld, to protect the innocent and also the not so innocent..!

Drinking games, chunder in the toilets before leaving Jesmond, beer, team bus, 14 people on the lash, plenty of shots played, Mal Meningers, 6 runs, sleeping outside the toilets, casino, home at 4.45 am with no keys, dwarf women, more beer, vodka, Jim Beam, sleeping on the bar, beer, blisters, injured ankles, desperate Dan and…did I mention beer?

Lets hope today was the start of the most successful season yet for Newcastle CC!

Newcastle 2nd XI vs South Northumberland (Home)

The season starts once more for the Robson Army with a comfortable win against a South North team that resembled a kinder garden except for a few old faces. With a few people coming and going from last years squad; Shaun Collins has returned to Wallsend, Michael Cowans si beevering away in the library preparing for his exams in the coming 6 weeks, James Bailey has been deservedly promoted to the first XI, and Tim Cartwright has returned to London. New members of the squad included Dave Covell, another villager, and the return of Hattie Jacques for his first touch of leather in over 18 months!

Having had a good build up pre-season, Newcastle went into the game full of confidence. Having lost the toss and been inserted, Rowdy and Village got us off to a steady start, Rowdy in particular being very positive. They put on over 50 for the first wicket before Hurfs cut a short ball straight to point for 18. Rowdy the tried to lick the first ball of the spinner's spell, and was caught at slip. This brought Alistair Kingsley Bugle McGarrigle to the crease to join Clarky. These two guys batted excellently, keeping the runs coming at a regular rate, taking advantage of the generous bowling. By this time, both openers had been spotted dragging ropes in the direction of the Tyne Bridge! Clarkey fell two short of what would have been a deserved half century when he lifted a short one straight into the bowlers hands. Kingers and Ports (after the quick loss of Kook and, first duck corner member of the season Hattie) then added some quick runs before Kingers fell for a well made 76. Legend then fell for 32 and the tallest skipper in the league then scored 28 not out (including a pull for six runs - something he wants to carry on regularly, but in the fantasy league which chaz-me-up Chaz Roe is collating). Newcastle declared on 253-6 from 53 overs.

With Big Dave Slicingtons not opening the bowling due to an operation 6 weeks prior to the match, the two new members of the RBA, Jacquesy and Covell took the new cherry. Both produced excellent spells to reduce the North to 29-4 at one stage. Both bowled 10 over spells before being replace by the ever dependable Anil Humble and Kingers, Kingers struggling through 3 overs, not showing the same level of skill with his bowling as on display with his batting earlier. Nick then removed their number six with a fine catch by Larry S***hands, before the skipper ripped out the SN middle order and tail with a spell of 4-20 from a mere five overs. To end the game in a fitting manner, and secure a fine opening victory, Village then took at go-go-gadget-arm style catch.

A very deserved and rewarding victory against one of the stronger teams in the league.

Congratulations to Kingers who had a day to remember; top scoring with 76, a win on the Scottish Gold Cup, and taking an early lead in the fantasy league with a cheeky 6 runs, hotly persued by the young filthy Aussie Ryan with 5!