1st XI
After a difficult first half to the season, the 1st team bounced back winning the last 6 league games and winning the last 8 in all competitions. The strong end to the season meant that we finished 5th in the NEPL Premier Division and we also reached the final of the Northumberland Smithson’s Cup (the final will be played next season). Captain Jacques du Toit had another strong season with the bat scoring 646 league runs (Avg. 43) and topped scored with a magnificent 124 against Tynemouth back in April. Alex Simpson in his first year at the club, had a very good season scoring 512 league runs and taking 18 league wickets (Avg.17.83).
Michael Richardson, our Durham player in just the 4 games he played scored 236 runs (Avg. 118) and scored a scintillating 114 against Hetton Lyons, in a game which was arguable one of our best results of the season. Hetton Lyons batted first scoring 262/5 in 53 overs. In reply, we chased down the total in 53.1 overs, 263/4 (Richardson 114, du Toit 66* & Simpson 40*). This was the first win in our run of 6 consecutive league wins.
Oli McGee was the star man with the ball, taking 51 league wickets (Avg. 13.80), and was second in the league for most wickets taken in the season. Oli also contributed 361 league runs, and fell agonisingly close to his maiden hundred, when he scored 99 at Jesmond against Durham Academy. Callum Harding and Ben Quirk took 31 and 23 league wickets retrospectively.
2nd XI
The second team finished 5th in NEPL division 2, despite having 4 games being abandoned. Captain Rob Walker finished with the most runs, scoring 385 league runs. Stephen Pinnington with 356 runs (Avg. 44.5) and James Carr 308 league runs in only 9 innings. With the ball, Rob Howarth took 28 league wickets, Keith Brown 20 wkts and Adam Woolley 18 wkts.
3rd XI
It was a tough season for the Saturday 3rd XI playing for the first time in the Northumberland Tyneside Cricket League Division 6 South. They managed 5 wins and finished 8th in the league. Captain Piran Reitze did a great job in captaining the side on and off the field and was thanked for all his efforts at the presentation night last Saturday. Piran, led the batters scoring an impressive 301 runs in 8 innings (Avg. 60.15). There were some good performances from the juniors with Isaac Howells taking 4 for 2 against Corbridge including a hat trick!
Academy
The Academy side playing in NEPL Sunday Division 1 had a great year finishing 3rd in the league and reached the final of Banks Cup, where they were eventually beaten by a strong South Northumberland side. It was great to see the number of juniors who played in this side and making valuable contributions. U15 Matty Brown scored 208 league runs (Avg. 52) and fellow U15, Frankie Cook scored 177 league runs. Captain Ali Poll scored 355 runs, including hitting a splendid 110 against Blaydon in July.
U13 Alistair Gibson took the most league wickets for the side with 13, which included a fantastic 5/35 against Washington in June. He also had a fantastic Banks Cup semi-final taking 4 for 2 from 4 overs including a hat trick. He was well supported in the league, with Frankie Cook taking 12 wkts (best of 6/16 against South Shields); Ali Poll 9 wkts and Gregor Pearce 8 wkts.
Player of the Year awards – Presented on Saturday 8th Sep 2018 by Director of Cricket Phil Hudson
1st XI – Oli McGee
2nd XI – Rob Howarth
3rd XI – Piran Reitze
Academy – Alistair Poll
