Sunday Matches 1999

Once again the season was severely hampered by rain with four games cancelled because of the weather and another abandoned early on. Out of the remaining six, four were won and two lost.

After two rain-offs in early May the season got underway with a game at Eglingham, despite two of the team going to Edlingham, resulting in a change in the batting order a total of 174-8 was posted, Ollie Edwards (91) and Stuart Taylor (44) putting on 85 for the second wicket and Ollie with Roger Loxley (in his first game for Ponteland) putting on 54 for the sixth wicket. The opening bowling attack was possibly the youngest ever for Ponteland with Jonny Appleby (7-2-16-0) and Rob Jennings (8-1-29-1), a combined age of 28 helping to gain control aided by excellent fielding and catches from Paul Chilton in the gully and Roger Loxley at mid-on. Tommy Oliver (8-5-16-0) and Chris Barlow (10-2-27-2) putting the game out of reach.

The next game wasn't until the end of June against K.S.T.O.B, which proved to be a poor performance, scoring only 141 (O.Edwards 59). This was an unchallenging score as they raced to the target, needing just half the overs to reach the target, but again the juniors, R.Jennings (1-17) and J.Appleby (1-18) bowled well.

The next two games saw victories against two teams which often provide excellent opposition and close games.

The first was at Close House on a hot day, where winning the toss was vital enabling us to bat first. An opening partnership of 126 between S.Taylor (69) and Carl Gamble (45) provided the basis of the 172-5 total, with Balu Dorani providing acceleration at the end of the innings after a flurry of falling wickets. Paul Denyer's first innings for Ponteland was as quick as is possible, but he took a good catch later on, also making his debut for senior Ponteland teams was Dipak Sran (6-0-28-1). The bowlers all contributed and after bowling options ran out C.Gamble took 2-12 to finish them off three runs short.

The second game was against Blagdon Park, again on a nice warm day. The toss was again won and the opening partnership again exceeded 100, S.Taylor batted through for a career best 115* off 112 balls, O.Edwards (48) providing the support and Russ Nixon contributed to a 43 run second wicket partnership, B.Dorani 42 for the third and Mike Barlow 31 unbeaten for the fourth. After an early breakthrough two consecutive 60 run partnerships put the game in the balance, although the spinners proved hard to play, although Richie Truman sent down a 12 ball over opening the bowling. Russ then took a towering catch deep on the straight boundary and a few quick wickets fell, including their opener on 80 to a legstump yorker to C.Barlow (8-2-31-3).

The game against the University Staff saw a return to Close House for a time game. They won the toss and batted scoring 162-8dec, C.Barlow (12-2-39-5). We only managed 121, O.Edwards (46) and R.Truman (28) providing the only real resistance.

The final game was at Ulgham, where we put them in to bat. The Ponteland side was possible the youngest side fielded, where being 24 years old put the captain in the 'ancient' bracket!!! They only scored 137-8 in 35 overs Jonathan Varley bowling well (8-0-21-4) and all the other bowlers contributed, Dipak drawing high praise from the opposition for his bowling. Andy Denyer took off the gloves for the last over and collected a wicket here for the second year in a row. The target turned out to be easy to reach after 105 was scored for the 1st wicket, S.Taylor taking part in his third century stand for the side this time with James Ottaway (38). After Stuart was retired on 69*, Tam Khadri and B.Dorani saw the side home after Chris Morgan's brief visit to the crease.

So a good season, the aim outlined at the AGM in February had been to involve more juniors in the side and this was achieved, three U-14s played and two U-13s and the team was never outclassed and we hope for further development and more of the same next year.