Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, were surprisingly beaten away at struggling Northallerton 1st XI in the NYSD 2nd division. Aycliffe suffered a blow when Luke Telford badly injured his ankle before the game and so they had to play with ten men. Stand in captain Adam Randall chose to bowl first and it looked a good decision as the homeside were bowled out for just 139 after 48.4 overs thanks to some excellent bowling from Lewis Gimple (sponsored by Beaumont Ground Maintenance), who took 5 for 39 and Jack Slatcher who chipped in with 3 for 18. However, Aycliffe’s batting was dreadful and they were skittled for a very disappointing 89 after 25.1 overs with only James Layfield-Carroll (20 runs), Dan Craggs (14 runs) and Michael Howe (10 runs) and reaching double figures.
The 2nd team’s season long unbeaten run came to an abrupt end when they lost by 154 runs at home to league leaders Stockton 2nd XI in the NYSD 4th division. The visitors were asked to bat first and raked up an impressive 227 for 3 declared after 33 overs. 13 year old Leo Mercy was the pick of the bowlers taking 2 for 49 and James Brown took 1 for 60. In reply Aycliffe were bowled out for 73 after 29.4 overs, despite good innings from Joe Haines (22 runs) and Dave Richardson (15 runs).
The u15’s played well, but were still beaten by 29 runs away at Hartlepool in the NYACC league. The homeside were asked to bat first and scored 114 for 2 in their 20 overs. In reply Aycliffe were restricted to 85 for 9 in their 20 overs thanks to Leo Mercy (17 runs), Jai Sander (15 runs), Thomas Dearden (12 runs) and David Robinson (12 runs).
The u13’s lost at home to Norton by 19 runs on an awful night for cricket with drizzle and a cold wind making conditions difficult for the youngsters on both sides. Norton however chose to bat first and scored 84 for 4 in their 16 overs and in reply, Aycliffe were restricted to 65 for 5 with Thomas Dearden top scoring with a fluent 19 runs.
Two nights later, the u13’s played Norton again, this time away in the league and were defeated by 51 runs. Chasing an improbable target of 124 for victory, Aycliffe batted well to finish their 20 overs on 72 for 4 thanks to an excellent innings of 28 by Harrison Pearson and ten runs from Dan Heaton.
Our u12’s played really well but were still beaten by just five runs away at Maltby in a cracking game. Dan Heaton had an excellent all round game, taking two wickets in the Maltby innings and then when Aycliffe batted, he top scored with an unbeaten 23. Credit must go to Oliver Paylor and Adam Shaw, who also batted well for the visitors scoring 12 not out and 9 not out respectively.
The u11’s team lost at home to Hartlepool by 67 runs but there were still some good innings by Aycliffe’s Will Dearden, who top scored with 15 and Alfie Spensley, who batted equally as well to score 12 runs.
Photo: 13 year old Leo Mercy who bowled well for the 2nd team at home to Stockton.
