Newton Aycliffe’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, were well beaten by eight wickets away at Marton 2nd XI in the NYSD second division. Choosing to bat first, Aycliffe were handily placed at 125 for 4 and looked set for a promising total thanks to an excellent innings by Chris Palmer (sponsored by AccScents Aromas), who top scored with 54 off 103 balls, including eight boundaries with other useful contributions coming from the Dearden brothers, 15 year old Will (25 off 57 balls) and 17 year old Tom (23 off 53 balls). Aycliffe then suffered a familiar collapse losing their last six wickets for just 12 runs to finish on 137 all out after 45.4 overs. In reply, the homeside coasted to a comfortable victory after 25.1 overs with captain James Layfield-Carroll taking the only two Marton wickets to fall. With only three games to go, Aycliffe now seem certain to be relegated to division three after 11 seasons in division two.
The club’s second team put in a terrific performance at home to top of the table Rockliffe Park 2nd XI in the NYSD 4th division and had to be satisfied with a draw after falling just nine runs short of producing the biggest upset of the day. Aycliffe chose to bowl first and restricted the visitors to 157 for 4 from their allotted 40 overs with Leo Mercy (2 for 42), Leon Patel (1 for 25) and Matty Greaves (1 for 31) sharing the wickets. In reply, Aycliffe got off to a good start thanks to opener Patrick Howe, who hit his second consecutive half century, finishing with an excellent 66 from 97 balls, including nine boundaries and Leo Mercy, who supported him well scoring 27 off 77 balls. With the chance of victory in their sights, Aycliffe upped the tempo and despite a run a ball 13 by Matty Greaves, a robust 21 from 22 balls by Adam Shaw and an unbeaten 12 off 21 balls by Leon Patel, Aycliffe’s innings eventually closed on 149 for 5 after their allotted 40 overs.
The results from Saturday’s games meant that the 2nd team again played the team at the top of the table in their game on Bank Holiday Monday when they hosted new league leaders Billingham Synthonia 2nd XI in a real hum-dinger of a game. The visitors chose to bat first and were dismissed for just 111 after 32.5 overs thanks to some excellent bowling by Ramzan Hussain (3 for 26), Matty Greaves (2 for 13) and Jai Sander (2 for 22). In reply, Aycliffe got off to a good start with opener Patrick Howe continuing his good form with 29 off 50 balls taking his side to 47 for 1. Aycliffe then lost four wickets for 14 runs before captain Dan Weldon smashed 20 off 22 balls to put his side back in the game at 85 for 5 and needing only 28 to win. Leon Patel batted superbly and held the innings together but in an incredibly tense finale, he was the last man out for a gallant 15 off 42 balls as Aycliffe fell to an agonising defeat by just one run. Despite losing by the narrowest of margins, it was an outstanding performance by the 2nd team against the division’s top team, especially as all 11 players in the Aycliffe team had uniquely all come through the club’s junior set up.
Aycliffe’s U11’s were well beaten by 155 runs in a one sided game away at Northallerton in their final game of the season in the NYACC League. Nine year old captain Harvey Palmer, again emerged with credit after a good all round display, firstly taking 2 for 28 with the ball and then top scoring with 10 runs off 14 balls in the Aycliffe innings.
Photo: Leon Patel holding on to a catch for the 2nd team.