COMPREHENSIVE DEFEAT OF NEWCASTLE LEAVES BULLS 10 POINTS CLEAR

5th Aug 2019

NEPL Premier Division 16/22.

SNCC 198-6 dec (55o: Chris Hewison 24, Jacques Du Toit 64, Rob Peyton 58* Adam Cragg 18: Ross Greenwell 2-49, Daniel McGee 2-25, Alasdair Appleby 1-36,  Ross Sinclair 1-42)

Newcastle 56ao (28o: Ben McGee 15: Sean Tindale 2-15, Lee Crozier 1-13, Oli McGee 5-15, James Ruddick 2-4)

SN win by 142 runs : SN 26 points Newcastle 2.

Newcastle unfortunately lost James Carr in the warm up to a damaged finger, won the toss & asked SN to bat on a humid day at Roseworth Terrace. Simon Birtwisle & Sean Tindale faced the seam of Ross Sinclair & Ross Greenwell.

For the second week running early wickets left the Bulls at 12-3 after only 4 overs. Tindale (4) gloved a lifter from Greenwell to be caught by w/k Kieran Trevaskis in the second over, Birty (4) drove Sinclair & Ben McGee took a good catch low in the gully in over 3 & John Graham (4) edged behind to Trevaskis off Greenwell in the 4th. 

Chris Hewison & Jacques Du Toit rebuilt carefully. 31 after 10 until Du Toit struck 14 off Ben Quirk's first over. A drinks break after 15 overs saw the Bulls at 62-3. From then until the 47th over the slow left arm of Dan McGee & off breaks of Alasdair Appleby bowled splendidly, unchanged on a pitch taking spin, a combined total of 30 overs for 61 & 3 wickets.

Attacking, Hewison (24) was the first, miscuing a legside hit high to be caught at mid on by Quirk off Dan McGee with the score at 71. Adam Cragg & Du Toit took the score steadily to lunch at 107-4 after 32o.

Second ball after lunch Cragg (18) swept Appleby powerfully but straight to deep square leg where Quirk took the catch. 108-5 after 33o. Rob Peyton joined Du Toit (48*) & the latter then took 10 off Appleby's third. Dan McGee continued to bowl with nice flight & a teasing length & he was rewarded at 129 when Du Toit (64, 107b, 136 m, 10 x 4) drove to brother Ben at cover. This was a most responsible innings, perhaps out of character but very valuable in the context of the game.

Peyton had patiently amassed 5 off 40 balls, in support of Du Toit, as spin held sway. In over 48 the opening bowlers returned & with pace on the ball Rob was transformed scoring 53 from his next 37b including two maximums over mid wicket off the returning Quirk & 5 boundaries. Oli McGee scampered (12*) & the pair had put on 69 when the declaration came at the end of the 55th over. Rob 58* (5x4, 2x6, 77b, 79m), his best innings of the season.

Ben McGee & Ross Greenwell faced Sean Tindale & Lee Crozier. With the score at 13 in the 5th, Greenwell (7) edged & was very well caught by Birty off Tindale at second slip, the ball was travelling ! At 16 in the next over Appleby (3) was lbw to Crozier sweeping. At 34 in the 15th Alex Simpson (5) was also lbw to Tindale. 35-3 at tea.

Oli McGee had begun a spell from the Park end & he had visiting skipper Rob Thompson (0) lbw at 35 in the 18th. James Ruddick began his first, league 1st X1 bowling spell from the Grove end & it was he who ended Ben McGee's (15) vigil by bowling him with the score at 41. Kieran Trevaskis (4) then pulled McGee hard to mid wicket where Sean Tindale took a good low catch, 41-6.

James took another wicket with the first ball of his next over yorking Tom Young (0), 42-7. Oli then completed his 5 fer by bowling Sinclair (5), gaining an lbw decision against Quirk (2) & after being on driven nicely for 4 by younger brother Dan (4), bowled him next ball to end with 5-15. Newcastle 56 all out in 28 overs, only one score in double figures. James Ruddick 6-4-4-2, a nice way to start.

An important 26 points keep the Bulls 10 clear of Burnmoor, 20 of Tynemouth, CLS are only 41 adrift, Eppleton 56. A close finish to the Premier Division title race is in prospect with no doubt some twists & turns to come. SN have three of their closest pursuers to play. Ability undoubted but consistency required, we must continue to perform at a high level!

Sat 10th Aug:   SNCC v Burnmoor                 (a)   1200

Sat 17th Aug:   SNCC v Benwell Hill              (a)   1200

Sat 24th Aug:   SNCC v Chester le Street      (h)  1130

Sat 31st Aug:    SNCC v Eppleton                    (a)  1130

6 games to go, all tough ones, your support would be most welcome, we hope to see you there. The September fixtures 7/9 v Sacriston (h) & 14/9 v Felling (a) start at 1115.

DDS.