Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, put in an excellent performance to beat Saltburn 2nd XI to gain their first win of the season in the NYSD 2nd division. Aycliffe won the toss and elected to bat first and were in trouble at 76 for 6 despite the efforts of Joe Haines (19 runs) and Luke Telford (18 runs). However, a club record 7th wicket partnership of 101 between captain Adam Randall (sponsored by DTS Joinery) and vice captain Michael Howe, put Aycliffe right back into the game. Randall top scored with an eye catching 79 off 80 balls, including eight boundaries and five huge sixes and Howe scored his season’s best 68 off 72 balls with seven boundaries and one six, which helped to push their team’s score to 230 all out from 44.1 overs. In reply the visitors battled hard, but were eventually dismissed for 181 after 45 overs thanks to some good bowling from George Slatcher (3 for 24), Luke Telford (3 for 59) and Jack Slatcher (2 for 27). This game was sponsored by Unison.
The club’s young second team continued their promising start to the season with a well earned draw away at Blackhall 2nd XI in the NYSD 4th division. After being asked to bat first, Aycliffe scored an impressive 166 for 8 in their allotted 40 overs. Ryan Patrick (sponsored by A Star Bathrooms) was in brilliant form for Aycliffe top scoring with a career best 71 from 69 balls faced, including eight boundaries and a six. Other notable contributions came from Matty French, with a career best score of 28 and Thomas Dearden, who chipped in with 17 runs. In reply, the homeside held out for a draw, finishing their allotted 40 overs on 126 for 8 despite some excellent bowling by Sean Morgan, whose ten over spell yielded the respectable figures of 4 for 21.
The club’s u11’s played their first league of the season away at Seaton Carew and were beaten by 32 runs despite good performances with the bat by Will Moffat (13 runs) and Trent Telford (11 runs). Special mention must go to 6 year old debutant Harvey Palmer, the third generation from the Palmer family to represent Newton Aycliffe at cricket, who had a day to remember taking two wickets for seven runs during the homeside innings and then finishing undefeated with one not out when he batted.
Newton Aycliffe Senior Ladies managed to beat the weather and play their first game of the season at home to Sedgefield but unfortunately they lost a good game by just 15 runs. This fledgling team have come a long way in such a short space of time and, despite this defeat, the excellent team spirit amongst the ladies was clearly evident. Well done to all the team members and coaches.
Photo: 6 year old debutant Harvey Palmer, the third generation of the Palmer family to represent Newton Aycliffe at cricket.
Well done young man.
