BULLS BOUNCE BACK !! VICTORY OVER UNDEFEATED EPPLETON OPENS UP 20 POINT LEAD AT TOP OF PREMIER DIVISION

17th Jun 2019

After the deluge during the week two games didn't start & only two reached a conclusion on Saturday 15th June as rain affected late afternoon. So we are indebted to Groundsman Craig Thompson & assistant Liam Dodgson whose assiduous covering of the square enabled the game to start on time at 1200.

Eppleton 77ao (37.3o Gary Burlinson 25* Connor Whitelock 11: Sean Tindale 4-25, Jonny Wightman 3-17, Lee Crozier 2-16, Michael Craigs 1-17)

SNCC 80-6         (23.2o: Simon Birtwisle 15, Chris Hewison 14, Sean Tindale 18, Parth Mannikar 10*: Josh Coughlin 2-23. Xavier Owen 3-34, Andrew Ebdale 1-1)

SN 22 points Eppleton 2.

Parth Mannikar made his 2019 wicket keeping debut as Rob Peyton enjoyed Caribbean sunshine. The forecast was for rain in late afternoon so an important toss was won & the visitors were asked to bat. Luke Henderson & Matthew Brown faced the pace of Jonny Wightman & Sean Tindale.

After an opening maiden from Wightman, Henderson (0) failed to control the bounce of Tindale's last ball & lobbed a catch to backward point where Chris Hewsion obliged. This became 6-2 in the 6th over as Sam Dinning edged Tindale to slip where Jacques Du Toit took a low catch to his right with aplomb.

At 10, Brown drove Wightman to backward point where Hewison took his second catch without fuss. 3 runs later Tyler Easton edged Wightman to w/k Mannikar, 13-4 in the 11th. Dean Musther & Connor Whitelock took the score carefully, with an occasional flourish, to 30 in the 17th unchanged, when Musther (7) chipped Wightman to Michael Craigs at square leg.

At the same score Whitelock (11), having survived one difficult chance, was caught by a juggling Birty at second slip, 30-6 in the 18th. Gary Burlinson & Josh Coughlin resisted. Crozier joined the attack in over 23, Michael Craigs three overs later & it was the latter who found Coughlin's outside edge for Mannikar to take his second catch. 47-7.

On the stroke of lunch Crozier's drift confounded a wounded Ebdale who, playing forward, edged to Birty at first slip. 52-8 after 29o. Post lunch, Jack McBeth joined Burlinson & the pair produced a partnership of 23 before McBeth (6) drove Crozier  uppishly to short mid wicket where Adam Cragg took the catch. 74 -9. 3 runs later Owen (1) edged the returning Tindale to Mannikar who took his third catch as smoothly as the first two. Good hands ! Burlinson was left 25*, a determined knock. 77 all out in 37.3o, an effective performance in helpful bowling conditions. 10 catches taken, a couple missed.

Wary of the darkening sky, Simon Birtwisle & Chris Hewison faced Josh Coughlin & Xavier Owen. 23 from 6 overs was positive but then Birty (15) hooked to deep square leg where Easton took the catch. Du Toit (5) showed very positive intent but after only 5 balls pulled Owen high towards mid wicket where Easton again took the catch. 30-2. 

John Graham joined Hewison & the pair added 15 before Hewison's (14) ambitious attempted drive against Owen took an outside edge & w/k Burlinson took the catch. 45-3, one run later Adam Cragg (0) was lbw to a Coughlin yorker & at the same score, Graham (5) perished driving Owen to Ebdale at mid on. Although not wishing a repeat of the Newcastle fixture, this rather frenetic period left the Bulls in trouble at 46-5 after 14 overs & bolstered the visitors belief. The dark grey clouds still hovered menacingly over Town Moor. 

Sean Tindale & Parth Mannikar defended & the latter had some fortune in two dropped catches, one difficult. But steadily they accumulated, on a day when driving was not easy, two cover driven boundaries were highlights. At 58-5 in the 20th, Coughlin's spell finished & McBeth took over from the Grove end. Tindale attacked & 16 were taken, 12 to Tinners, 3 to Parth & a no ball. 74-5, almost there. Two singles were taken & despite Tindale steering Ebdale's leg breaks to Musther at first slip for a match winning 18 (3x4, 28b), McGee (5*) calmed the nerves by driving Owen straight for 4 from the second ball of the 24th over. Mannikar finished 10* from 30b, no one faced more.

A slightly nervy victory but a tribute to younger members who calmly saw us home at 1642. Only 60.5 overs in the game. The predicted rain came shortly afterwards but not heavy as in other places. Only two games were completed in the Premier Division with Burnmoor victorious v Newcastle.

22 points to the Bulls opens up a 20 point gap over Tynemouth after 9/22. Burnmoor are third, a further 6 points adrift. Bouncing back important but things to improve upon. All tough games to come. We must continue.

This week's games: 

  - Wed 19th June     Newcastle City  (h)  1800   Tyneside Charity Bowl round 2.

  - Friday 21st June   Burnopfield       (h)  1800    NEPL T20 Group C 5/5

  - Sat 22nd June       Sacriston            (a)  1200    NEPL Premier Division 10/22.

We hope to see you there.

DDS.