Stanhope vs. Simonside
North East Durham "Rosebury" Division II

The start of a weekend of cricket for Stanhope C.C. saw the gallant team travelling once more out of the Dale. This time to Simonside for another hard battle in the continuing title race, you may recall that Stanhope is the current team on form sitting at the top of the league table.

Simonside are a team not to be dismissed too lightly, with teams in both the First and Second Divisions, it was expected that the standard of players was going to be high. Each game seems to be getting harder for the local team, but with new signings and a growing depth to the side Stanhope is continually lifting the bar.

Stanhope opened the batting with regular openers, R. Young and the young P. Fitchett. Scoring from the start, it wasn't long before the boundary was being reached by both players; first to reach it was Fitchett after facing 4 deliveries. The bowling of B. Singh was to prove almost disastrous to the Visitors, with the first delivery of his third over he found the edge of Young's bat with the ball carrying to the wicketkeeper. 15 for 1 after 5.1 overs.

After a maiden over by P. Haines, Singh struck again catching Fitchett from his own bowling. Hopes were resting on young S. Muse and J. Ivil to stay at the crease and build a total. Again in their own style both batsmen wanting to push the score forward at a pace were removed to catches from the wicketkeeper for low scores (by their standards).

The middle order of A. Robinson and S. Campbell needed to display staying power as well as an ability to score in a controlled manner. This they did, although they both reached the boundary on occasion the feature of their play was the running between the stumps. Content to pick up quick singles and numerous two's the score was advanced every over. Robinson eventually was bowled by H. Dhamaburkl for 43 runs and Campbell caught by M. Pattinson to the bowling of P. Haines for a solid 39 runs.

R. Pringle added to the score with a good display of scoring before being Run Out on 11, leaving B. Irwin and I. Muse both Not Out on 12 and 3 respectively at the end of the Stanhope Innings. The Stanhope total a respectable 183 for 8 after 45 overs.

Simonside were confident of a comfortable run chase, and it looked good from the off, albeit a bit slow! The Simonside batsmen were contained well by the opening bowling of R. Pringle and A. Robinson, able to take only quick singles and a very occasional boundary it took eleven overs before a break-though was made by Robinson forcing P. Haswell to hit ball to E. Rowell. Rowell's catch was well taken and he deserves all the credit he can muster.

Of the 10 Simonside batsmen (P. Haynes did not bat) that faced the Stanhope Bowlers half reached double figures and appeared to be able to lay a foundation of a good score, however the run rate was just too slow. It is apparent that there was a lack of urgency, or an inability to cope with some good bowling. Simonside simply ran out of Overs, after 45 at stumps they had only managed to post 140 for 8 wickets. The result a solid victory by 61 runs to Stanhope. Another 20 well deserved points further consolidating a League Topping position.

Next game sees Stanhope take on Coxhoe at Coxhoe.