Simonside vs. Stanhope - 2nd May 2009


Think back to the Bank Holiday Weekend; weather changeable – what’s new, grass too wet to mow – again, what seemed like 36 hours of a one sided snooker final, more cases of Swine Flu to add to our doom and Gordon Brown telling us just how good everything is now that he has put the world to rights. At least we had a good cricket match to look forward to. Stanhope travelled away to Simonside, a venue they have been to before and a team they enjoy to play.

Simonside batted first and the first wicket of M. Thompson soon followed for 2 as he was bowled by A. Robinson for his first wicket of the new season. Robinson would also see of the number 3 batsman of G. Robinson (no relation) for 14 in similar fashion. From this point on No. 4 bat, D. Melville, took over the Simonside innings. Although he ultimately scored 126 runs, it was not all plain sailing. Early in his innings he narrowly avoided dismissal as F. Stephenson took a good solid catch behind. With a hearty appeal of catch behind from an edge, Melvile was deemed to have missed and remained to face the Stanhope attack.

R. Young proved himself as a bowler this week with a good haul of 3 wickets, but he was on the expensive side conceding 49 runs. But as a bowler you do need players to have to play at a delivery if you are to stand a strong chance of getting somebody out. Ultimately Melville was to be the back-bone of the Simonside innings, his total was just over half that of the rest of the team.

Young A. Kitching not to be left out took the wicket of G. Parkin who launch a shot to the ever dependable hands of Iron-man himself – R. Pringle. Parkin was out after scoring 33 runs. I cant say that wickets tumbled but the damage was done by now. The remaining 5 batsmen who went out to face the Stanhope attack before Tea, only put 36 to the total. With the exception of Pringle, the rest of the Stanhope bowlers took wickets; Robinson 2 for 12 runs, Kitching 1 for 65 runs, Campbell 1 for 29 runs and Young 3 for 49 runs. The figures might not look too great but what you are unable to see is the tight bowling from the players early in their respective sessions. All the runs were scored late in the allotted overs, if the bowlers are able to work on stamina they may be able to keep up the strong attack we have come to expect. With a total of just 10 extras they have greatly improved accuracy of delivery compared to last season.

So at Tea a target of 221 runs to win had been set by the home team. Opening for Stanhope were R. Young and E. Rowell, both players are capable of a dogged determination to remain at the crease and score runs. But today was not to be Young was bowled by Haynes on just 4 runs, leaving the door open for S. Muse to walk through and face at No. 3. Muse went on to post the highest Stanhope total of the day – 26 runs before being caught by G. Haynes attempting to push the score along from a delivery by that man Melville again. P. Haynes went through the Stanhope batsmen with some degree of authority posting bowling figures of 12 overs, 5 wickets for 24 runs. He was responsible for Campbell and Robinson joining Rowell in the race for the Duck Trophy at the end of the year. Place your bets??

The 3 Stanhope batsmen to show any sign of placing a total, Muse, C. Skinner and F. Stephenson all battled in vain. It was left to Stephenson to remain Not Out on 9 when during the 30th over Stanhope were finally All Out for just 80 runs and so picked up 4 valuable points.

All is not lost, we knew all along that the season was going to be a hard learning curve for the players, and that the first few games were against some very strong opposition. As the season progresses it remains paramount that the players keep their collective heads-up and don’t let their confidence take a battering.

The bowlers probably need to work on stamina to ensure a strong attack throughout their allotted overs. Or maybe it could be argued to split the sessions in half to give them time to recover before finishing their overs. The batting will naturally get stronger and more assured as the players progress into the season, but they do need to take time to establish themselves before hitting out.

So what can we look forward to this weekend at Unthank Park – well fireworks I’m sure. Stanhope are to take on Houghton in what promises to be a hard fought game as the home team look to post a much needed victory. First delivery at 14:00hrs, don’t be late as there is only limited seating!!