Newton Aycliffe’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, had their game, away at Hartlepool 2nd XI, postponed after heavy overnight rain made the ground unplayable.
The club’s second team, playing their first game of the season, could only earn a winning draw, despite dominating their home game against Northallerton 2nd XI in the NYSD 4th division. New captain Dan Weldon won the toss and chose to bat first, despite the bowler friendly cloudy conditions. However, his side still piled up the runs scoring an impressive 227 for 7 in their allotted 40 overs thanks in part to a brilliant 2nd team club record 6th wicket partnership of 93 between James Layfield-Carroll and 15 year old Will Dearden (sponsored by Community Spirit). Layfield-Carroll, who was a late call up, smashed the bowling to all parts of the ground finishing his career best innings with 66 runs from just 38 balls and included seven huge sixes and a couple of fours. Dearden also reached his senior career best score of 61 off 85 balls with eight boundaries and a six. Earlier in the game, Aycliffe were wobbling at 24 for 3 when Dan Weldon came to the crease and he helped steady the innings, hitting 35 off 38 balls, including three boundaries and two massive sixes.
In reply, Dan Weldon (2 for 25), Patrick Howe (2 for 31), Will Dearden (1 for 10) and James Layfield-Carroll (1 for 25) all bowled well for the home side, but Northallerton never really attempted to go for the win and decided early in their innings to dig in for the draw and they duly finished their 40 overs on 119 for 6.
The 2nd XI played their second league game of the bank holiday weekend and were beaten by six wickets, away at top of the table Rockliffe Park 2nd XI. After being asked to bat first, Aycliffe struggled to get any momentum into their innings and were thankful to Matty Greaves (sponsored by Athena Sports Academy and Britannia Fire), who top scored with 39 off 62 balls, Leon Patel (29 off 69 balls) and Terence Smit (14 off 29 balls) for helping the visitors to reach 125 for 9 in their 40 overs. In reply, Rockliffe also found scoring runs difficult and despite some good bowling from Leo Stout (2 for 24), the homeside eventually crawled over the winning line for the loss of four wickets with just eight balls of the game remaining.
The club’s U15’s team got their season off to a great start with a thumping 70 run victory at home to Seaton Carew in the NYACC League. After being asked to bat first, Aycliffe scored a challenging 128 for 7 from their 20 overs thanks to good innings from Freddie Lawler (31 not out from 43 balls), Will Dearden (28 off 33 balls) and Liam Scott (11 off 16 balls). In reply, the visitors were dismissed for just 58 off 17 overs with Will Dearden the pick of the bowlers taking 4 wickets for 5 runs. Jack Collingwood, Liam Scott and Tom also bowled well, each taking two wickets.
The U13’s lost their first game of the season by 27 runs away at a very strong Darlington in the NYACC, but there were some encouraging individual performances from our youngsters. Jack Collingwood and Addison Jones each took a wicket when Darlington batted and then Trent Telford top scored with an unbeaten 30 and Freddie Lawler chipped in with 17 runs and Jonah Harrop with 16 not out when Aycliffe replied.
The U11’s performed really well, but were still beaten by 22 runs away at Rockliffe Park in the NYACC League. Carys Myers top scored for Aycliffe with 9 not out off 12 balls and, when the homeside batted, Harvey Palmer, Gracie Hayman, Carys Myers and Lydia Myers all chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Newton Aycliffe Ladies team finally began their season at home to Hutton Rudby, but, unfortunately, heavy rained forced the game to be abandoned after just 4 overs.
Photo: Our victorious U15’s team, with team manager Leon Patel, after their convincing home win against Seaton Carew.