1864'S GAIN DOMINANT WIN AT HEXHAM LEAZES

4th Sep 2022

      West Tyne League Division 1, Sat 3^rd Sept 2022, 1864 v Hexham Leazes (a)

SNCC 1864 191-5 (40o) Oliver Clark 39, Belinda Wewalage 60, Guy Johnson 42, George McConnell 30: Alex Brown 0-41, Tom Mawson 1-52, Andrew McCormick 1-11, Bryn Davies 0-33, Lucas Holmes 1-13, Ross Davies 1-29.

Hexham Leazes 126ao (33o) Andrew Webster 27, Richard Root 24, Tom Mawson 28: Patrick Hatcher 3-14, Alan Roskilly 2-17, Trudy Johnson 0-20,  David Cragg 1-24, Will Young 2-24, George Gray 0-6, Albie McPate 2-16.

SNCC 1864 won by 68 runs - 20 points, Hexham Leazes 5.

A fourth consecutive league win against a full strength, 4^th placed, home team was achieved with only 3 over 18 years old, everyone batting, bowling & fielding with great conviction. 

The home side invited the 1864's to bat. The wicket was dry, the outfield showed some signs of moisture. Clark & Wewalage faced the seam of Brown & Mawson. A steady start on a wicket with some pace & bounce saw the total at 25 after 5 overs, 4x4.

This blossomed into the highest opening partnership of the season. Oliver rotating & steering to third man better than hitherto & Belinda taking opportunities to score. 58 after 10 overs, the last of which saw Belinda strike 3x4 in consecutive deliveries off Mawson. He reached a deserved 50, (9x4 1x6) in the 14^th over. One run out chance for the home team, when both batters were at the same end, was not taken & the 1^st wicket partnership had reached 99 in the 20^th when Belinda 60, (65b, 10x4, 1x6) swung at McCormick's gentle off spin & was bowled.

Guy Johnson & Oliver were watchful, one straight 6 to Guy apart, as the slow bowling duo of McCormick & Bryn Davies continued to bowl little loose. The total had reached 120 in the 29^th when Oliver's good 39 (89b,4x4) but over optimistic call for a run, straight to short extra, was rightly rejected by Guy & he was run out, 120-2.

Trudy (0) lasted two balls before she played a little early to give a catch to mid off from Holmes's spin at the same score. George McConnell then made a good impression playing a controlled & confident innings of 30, sweeping the spinners well. The pair had added 59 for the 4^th wicket when first George 30 (27b, 5x4) top edged a sweep to be caught by a tumbling Bryn Davies, 179-4 & then Guy 42 (45b, 4x4, 2x6) was held at long off, 188-5 in the 39th.

Patrick (3*) & George Gray (1*) concluded the innings at 191-5 after the 40 overs permitted. Defendable, although the expectation was that the Hexham Leazes batting strength would be formidable.

In reply at 28-5 after 7 overs, on this occasion the home team strength was not in evidence as the 1864's were inspired. The powerful, left handed Holmes (13) struck 3x4 but in the third over, Patrick straightened one to hit middle & leg, 15-1.

David Cragg's entry for this year's Champagne Moment award occurred in over 4.  Davies lofted Alan Roskilly towards mid off & David, back pedalling down the hill, took a catch over his head & tumbled backwards clinging on, to raise a hand in triumph whilst flat on his back with legs in the air, technical merit cinq point, artistic impression dix point ! 

20-2 & at the same score two balls later, Patrick found a good, full delivery to nip back & bowl Brown (0). This became 24-4 in the 6^th as opener Kingman (7) was caught by Trudy at mid on off Alan. 28 -5 in the 7^th as Fitton (4) was lbw to a slower one from Patrick. The fielding was sharp, Alan had 6 wickets for the County earlier in the week & was bowling nicely.

Relative serenity returned as Webster & Root rebuilt. A partnership of 42 saw the total rise to 70 as Trudy had a 5 over spell in tandem with David Cragg & it was the sla of David that enticed Webster (27) to loft to cover where Patrick took the catch above his head in the 20th, 70-6.

This became 79 -7 in the 23^rd when Griffiths (8) having taken 2x4 off Will Young succumbed, lofting Will to mid on where Trudy obliged. In the 27^th Root (24) who had batted from over 6, lofted Will to cover where Patrick again took the catch above his head, 97-8. U15's George Gray (0-6) & Albie McPate (2-16) bowled the last 4 overs tidily.

 Mawson (28) saw his expansive drive off Albie caught by Patrick, again at cover, 9 down & in the 33^rd Bryn Davies (9) was held at long on by Oliver off Albie. A comprehensive victory over a strong team which  secures 6^th place in Division 1 with the prospect of going up the table in the remaining, tough, 2 games: Sat 10^th Sept v Haydon Bridge (h - Greenside) & Sat 17th Sept v Haltwhistle (h - South North).

The belief in the team seems tangible, progress is being made by young players as confidence rises & game awareness improves, with commitment undoubted & evident. Do join us for the last two games to cheer them on.

Duncan.