With Chris Morgan currently living up the student life in Leeds it has fallen to me to write a 3XI / Midweek report on his behalf. During his A-Levels I also stood in for him as captain, but the rain meant I spent more time cancelling games than captaining them!

The 2004 season saw a friendly match for the team for the first time, with a comfortable 9 wicket win over the University Staff when both Pablo Mukherjee 49* and John Varley 48* carefully avoided fifties.

The first league game of the season saw us play Morpeth, Carl Bevan with 43 giving us a total of 92 to defend. Steve Eglintine then bowled his 6 over spell, taking at least a wicket in each to finish with outstanding figures, and a midweek side record, of 7-11 and a 40 run win. In the first game the club had achieved the one thing we didn’t do last year and won before June. It was however the only win before June.

The usual early season thrashing by South North came next and then defeats to Backworth, Ashington and Newcastle City followed. The next game saw a trip to Ashington on a gloomy day and provided us with our second win, Jeff Oliver with 2-14 in six overs helped us restrict them to 89. In reply Charles Scott, on midweek debut, scored an impressive 57* to guide us to an 8 wicket win. A score of 75 the next week was not enough against Benwell and Walbottle, who won comfortably.

We won again the following week against Newcastle (formerly County Club), a match that saw a 27 ball fifty from opener Carl Bevan, an innings matched by Chris Walton batting at seven. Our total of 140-5 proved too much, with Alan Varley taking 3-16 in a 31 run win. The next game saw another win against a weak Morpeth side, our 121 based on 27 from Richard Jackson, 26 from Alex McLean and a club best 25 from Ian Cooke. Chris Barlow then took 4-10 in 6 overs, Geoff Appleby 2-13 and Mike Barlow 2-1 as they were dismissed for just 57.

The following week saw another grey and damp day and we were able to overcome South North. Ron Fairweather, in his first game of the season, taking 2-29 out of their total of 107-5. We recovered from 31-4 with an excellent innings from skipper Chris Morgan. 13 runs off the penultimate over proving crucial, a legside pick-up for six onto the football field was perfectly executed and totally unexpected, but a joy to watch, as our opponents fielding disintegrated into a slanging match in the gathering gloom.

The following week we were defeated by Benwell Hill as thunder roared around the Newcastle area, a game that saw John Varley’s season ended with a broken finger. Our 96 was overhauled in just 12 overs. The last game of the season saw us score 139-6, Richard Jackson scoring a maiden fifty, finishing unbeaten on 65. Geoff Appleby with 3-20 and Andy Denyer 2-14 helped restrict them to 90.

So the season saw us finish fifth overall, again a strong finish after a poor start. The loss to the weather of several games meant it was a fragmented season. Fifth place was a continuing improvement, our highest placing in three years in the league, and Benwell Hill are the only side we haven’t beaten in the league since we joined it. One further win would have put us in third. Early season form once again putting us out of the race.

Chris Barlow

In the event of two clubs being equal for the title the result of any game between them is taken into account. In fact Benwell Hill and South Northumberland tied their match. In these circumstances the title is shared.