Following on from last season’s success the 2nd XI continued to exceed my expectations – I had always suspected we would prove to be worthy of B1 status, but to end up in the position we did at the end of the season was a real achievement.

After an initial success over Sacriston, won in the final over thanks to Keith Crerar’s cool-head & experience in guiding the tail to the target following the first collapse of the season, we hit a bit of a sticky patch, losing to Shotley Bridge , Ashington, Newcastle City & Burnopfield. Of those 4 losses, 3 can be directly attributed to the batting line-up not setting a challenging target. On paper, we should have exceeded 160 every time, but as we all know, this game isn’t played on paper.

However the team picked themselves up & proceeded to win 4 games in succession, never picking up less than 18 points. Particularly impressive performances were the chasing of 198 against Leadgate, thanks to Charlie Scott’s 93*, as well a ruthless destruction of Tynedale thanks to Howard Wright’s one man show of 5-35 and 75*

Further wins against Benwell & Walbottle, Leadgate again and Whickham were tempered by losses to Tynedale and Ashington (again). I think the facts that the only team to beat us twice was the eventual champions Ashington, that we were the only side to do the double over Sacriston who finished second, and that the relegated Shotley Bridge thrashed us, highlight how close the teams are in standard.

Batting was generally sound although occasionally prone to the odd collapse. As with last year there were no out & out superstars, although Howard Wright’s 318 runs at 45.43, with 3 fifties earned him a place in the league averages. Richard Jackson deserves a mention – he was by far the most consistent batsman with 271 runs at 38.71, scoring his maiden league 50 to cement a long-awaited win against Backworth, and following it with another against Tynedale. Other batsmen to perform solidly were Andy Graves (236 @ 23.60, 1 fifty), Alex McLean, (233 @ 25.89, 2 fifties) and a welcome return at the top of the order for the experienced John Jessop (252 @ 18.00).

Also in common with last year, the bowling attack was settled, taking 8 wickets or more in an innings 12 times. Again Howard Wright was a key performer, earning another spot in the league averages (27 wickets @ 12.37). John Hill usually opened the attack with a number of different partners depending on circumstances, and was rewarded with 26 wickets. Phil Hall defied all known medical knowledge (as well as his captain’s advice to keep himself fit with a regime of 20 Rothmans & a four-pack of lager) to take 24 wickets and Keith Crerar was his usual dependable self bagging 22 victims. Chris Barlow produced some good spells to provide support with 12 wickets.

Wicket-keeping is a fine art, but unfortunately we didn’t really have any fine artists to fill that role, so this was shared by the ever-improving Chris Morgan (12 dismissals), Andy Graves (1 dismissal) and Alex McLean (7 dismissals, including 1 legside stumping – never to be repeated!)

Other key members of the side not mentioned above include Neil Pinnock, Oli Edwards, Andy Denyer and Chris Walton who all made important contributions at one stage or another, as well as a number of others who filled in for the odd game here and there.

All in all, a successful season, due mainly to a continuation of the team spirit & the knowledge that if we believe in ourselves and play to win, the game is so much more enjoyable.

Many thanks to the various members of the side who undertook the scoring & square leg duties, to all those who turned up & played and not least to Geoff for his tireless work in producing what several opposition sides have called one of the better strips in the division to play on.