While Leas vs. Stanhope - 16th May 2009

East Rainton vs. Stanhope - 17th May 2009

Well as the old song says, “I don’t like cricket, I love it!” last weekend was a cricketing fest.  What with England enjoying a dominant position against the West Indies, our gallant knights in white had to play two games back-to-back.  On Saturday they travelled to White Leas and on Sunday decamped to East Rainton.  With both opponents riding high in the league it was always going to be an up-hill struggle for the new team on the block. 

The weather looked threatening for both days, and it was with one eye on the heavens that Stanhope took to the field at White Leas.  For this match the Cunning Kiwi had to look to uncertain corners of the deep reserve list of players – yup I had to beg for a set of whites and boots to play.  However at the other end of the extreme, everyone was looking forward to the arrival of a certain C. Wearmouth into the Stanhope line-up on Sunday. Ha! Ha! watch out East Rainton.

Anyway let battle commence, White Leas openers of P. O’Ware and S. Oliver walked confidently to the crease.  Opening the bowling for Stanhope was the dependable pairing of A. Robinson and R. Pringle.  Both bowlers gave 110% with each delivery, thinking about each delivery before releasing the ball to test the batsman.  Unfortunately the number 1 bat of O’Ware was eventually Not Out on 90 at the end of the White Leas innings.  It took a while before the first wicket fell, and it was A. Robinson who struck first, a successful LBW to remove S. Oliver for a duck.

The next wicket of number 3 bat, O. Peterson, getting frustrated at a very slow run rate attempted to push the ball to the boundary.  However he forgot about A. Kitching who watched the ball all the way into his safe hands.  The runs were now starting to flow as both opening bowlers were nearing the end of their bowling spells.  R. Young was the next bowler to enter the attack, supported by A. Kitching and then S. Campbell.  Unfortunately it took a long time and a good number of runs before the next dismissal.  Young bowled A. Mc Kitrick for 11 slow runs, the damage was being done by O’ Ware who it must be Said was slowly building the back-bone of the White Leas total.  With a few overs left A. Robinson returned to the bowling attack, a nice play from the Captain as it gave Stanhope their second bowling point as wicket no.4 tumbled.

From the field F. Stephenson let very few balls pass his safe hands and all the players put in a very respectable performance.  210 runs to win on a wicket that was made for runs, and with the weather looking to play a part all was set for an interesting Stanhope batting innings.

Openers of Rowell and Young were required to put up a solid start, this they did by putting on 30 runs or so before E. Rowell was bowled by P. Sowden for the first of his 3 wickets.  From that moment on the Stanhope batting started to unravel.  The highest score was put by A. Robinson (21 runs) followed next by R. Young on 17.  Stanhope were bowled out within 37 overs for 100, picking up 2 critical batting points.  I can report that the 100 came from a wide delivery three balls before I was bowled by a very deceptive swinging delivery for 1.  At least I’m out of the Duck trophy contention – at present.

The Sunday match against East Rainton marked another Stanhope hard slog, the team ultimately lost, but importantly the batting showed continued improvement as the team posted their highest score this season – 110 runs.

Chris Wearmouth put on just under 60 runs to build a solid base from which the rest of the batting line up must start to capitalise upon in future matches.

So after 5 games, where do we stand. Well lost 5 are the hard facts, but this masks a very determined team.  Yes they are finding the First Division a markedly different experience to what has gone before, but the aim of the Team and Club is to just stay in the First Division at the end of the season. So points are going to be the name of the game, as well as winning against the lesser First Division teams.

I can only say to everyone that from the field of play all the team gave everything to contain the opponents.  What is needed is a shot in the arm of the batsmen to play themselves in and gain some well deserved confidence.  I can confirm to you all that they are not going to be the whipping boys and lets remember that the season is very early and a great deal can happen before September.

The next game is against Wearmouth away, so lets rally around the players and make sure we get a good crowd at Unthank Park when the team return to home turf for the next home game on 29^th May against Coxhoe.