MIXED WEEKEND FOR BULLS IN PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY FIXTURES

13th Apr 2022

The first matches on grass took a bit of getting used to as the 1's faced a young DCA side on Sat 9th April & the 2's, Morpeth on Sun 10th.

SNCC 197-9 (40 overs) Simon Birtwisle 46r, Sol Bell 30, Rob Peyton 60r, Angus Southern 15: Alfie Taylor Clarke 0-4, Henry Hopkins 2-16.

DCA 198-5 (37.2overs) Charlie Coultard 20, Ross Whitfield 103*, Maxwell Jackson 36: Jonny Wightman 2-25, Calum Fletcher 0-19, Will Harris 2-22, Oli McGee 1-39, Lee Crozier 0-32, Sadiq Khan 0-35, James Ruddick 0-21

DCA won by 5 wickets. The day was cold !! Alfie Taylor Clarke bowled nicely, conceding only 4 runs in 5 overs, as the batsmen got used to the pace & bounce. Birty & Sol's partnership had reached 81 when Sol (30) was bowled. Chris Hewison (8), captain, deputising for the injured Adam Cragg, missed a sweep, Birty on 46, retired & Rob Peyton amassed a timely 60 (54b, 8x4 1x6) before retiring, 56 in partnership with Angus Southern (15) on his 1st X1 debut. In trying to up the rate, wickets were lost & the innings closed on 197-9 after 40 overs. The left handed Academy openers started nicely against the seam attack of Wightman & Fletcher. At 15 Gaffney was lbw to Wightman, at 43 Coultard was caught by James Ruddick in the covers off Will Harris, the latter still searching for rhythm & direction; at 45 Hopkins was caught by w/k Rob Peyton off Oli McGee, at 86 Mustard was very well caught by James Ruddick, running back & over his shoulder at square leg, off Will Harris. There followed a partnership of 83 between Ross Whitfield & Maxwell Jackson, the former in particular punishing anything short or overpitched, as bowlers were searching for fluency on their first outdoor outing. One dropped catch off James Ruddick notwithstanding, the fielding was tidy but Whitfield in full flow sealed the 5 wicket victory in the 38th over with consecutive boundaries, 103* (96b, 12x4 1x6), an excellent knock. Work to do before the first NEPL Premier Division game at Burnopfield on Sat 16th April. May the weather be warmer!

Sunday 10th April 2022 SNCC v Morpeth (h) 1230, 40 overs/side. SNCC 177-9 (40 overs) Angus Southern 36r, Alexander Charnley 27r, Tris Meears-White 25r, Jacob McCord 30r, Sam Ewart 14, Sree Kanakala 14. Morpeth 158-9 (40overs) Gavin Paton 4 wkts, Alan Roskilly 2, Allan Davidson, Sree Kanakala & Ben Hobbs 1 each. SNCC won by 19 runs. Steady batting against both seam & spin saw SN's first 4 batsman retire, Angus Southern 36, Alex Charnley 27, Tris Meears-White 25, Jacob McCord on debut 30. Sam Ewart 14 & Sree Kanalala 14 maintained the momentum as wickets fell towards the end in search of runs. Morpeth began comfortably against the seam of Harris & Davidson & it took the introduction of Gavin Paton from the Park end to trouble the batsmen. At 43-0 a mistimed drive saw Sree Kanakala making ground & diving forward at cover to take a very good catch inches above the turf. Two runs later he repeated the feat, moving in quickly from backward point to dive full length to take another blinder. Catches win matches & with Alan Roskilly picking up two & Ben Hobbs one, both bowling tidily, from 131-6 in the 31st over, Gavin returned to bowl the last three Morpeth batsmen finishing with 4 well earned wickets. Steady batting & better fielding than in 2021 saw the Bulls win by 19 runs. The 2's begin their NEPL Division 2 season to Washington (h) on Sat 16th April. On Sat 23rd April, the 2's play Newcastle (h) whilst the 1's are at Jesmond. The 1's first home game is on Sat 30th April v Felling. May we all begin well. Duncan.