Stanhope vs. Coundon


Following on from a VICTORY earlier in the week, when Stanhope defeated Coxhoe with some ease, in the Roseberry Cup. All hopes were high for a good hard game against the joint top team of Coundon. At the risk of sounding blatantly obvious it was a game of two’s; two halves, two teams, two Captains etc. But stay with me and I will explain.

The day witnessed two extremes in weather; rain in the morning nearly threatened to cancel the fixture was followed by fine late afternoon sun. Coundon batted first and the opening two bowlers for Stanhope contained the opposition for a good number of Overs. C. Wearmouth was on good form and took three Coundon wickets, with the first falling very early when W. Timms was bowled for a duck. Wearmouth was bowling from the River Wear end the next Over he took the scalp of S. Bell for 3 runs. So game on you might be forgiven for thinking. R. Pringle was steady away at the Railway Line end keeping up a variable attack to keep the early run rate down. Whilst Ritchie did not take wickets there were a good number of close appeals as well as a delivery that carried through to Gloves Stephenson. However the ball was deemed not to have come off the bat – Frank will recount the delivery in HD slow motion detail for a small donation in the Astrum canteen. Alternatively just give a pound donation for him NOT TO tell you!!!!!

Wearmouth also removed the leg stump of V. Gnanavelv for 6 runs and Stanhope were hopeful of a few more wickets. The fielding was, as ever, strong, but the two Tait’s; Antony and Aidan decided to play themselves in and enjoy an afternoon frustrating the home side. Both batsmen started slowly but soon began to pick up runs with alarming frequency as the Stanhope attack began to flounder. These two were not to be removed easily, and in the dying overs S. Campbell brought himself on to bowl and became the second Stanhope bowler to claim a wicket – another two link! The cunning Kiwi was mindful that the game was starting to possibly slip and wanted to pick up another valuable bowling point. To this end fielders were moved to the boundary in an attempt to get a deep catch. However it was a deceptive delivery that did the damage, catching Antony Tait LBW for 68 runs.

At tea the visitors had amassed a respectable 192 runs for the loss of just 3 wickets. Stanhope used 6 bowlers but the batting was too assured to be easily removed, runs conceded were high as bowlers struggled to keep line and length together.

Stanhope started their innings well enough with new player T. Nixon and K. Evans opening. Runs were slow in coming but with the score on 20 runs of 5 overs all was looking promising and the banter was flying. What Stanhope was not counting on was the dominance of Chris Murray. After removing K. Evans for 3 runs, S. Muse joined Nixon and the second wicket taker for Coundon, Johnny Tait. J. Tait removed Nixon with a fast delivery forcing a catch from L. Bell. Chris Wearmouth then joined S. Muse and what followed was a frightening display of Division 1 bowling at its’ best. C. Murray produced a 3 wicket maiden over and Stanhope were all but finished.

S. Campbell put up some resistance, albeit with a runner after he had badly twisted his ankle at tea. Simon would go on to score 6 runs before he to was bowled by Murray. The remaining 5 batsmen between them put on 6 runs but Murray was wanting more, and after a total of 8.5 overs he had bowled out Stanhope recording figures of 8.5 overs, 3 maidens, 9 runs for 9 wickets. Man of the Match easily for Coundon.

The two man of match awards (home team and visitors both nominate a player) were for the men who took the most wickets. Stanhope earned (and it was earned) two points with Coundon being easy victors. Stanhope scored their lowest total to date of 41 runs.

A convincing win by Coundon as they displayed the gap that exists between first and second division cricket. All Stanhope need to do now is to keep heads up and hold onto self esteem and belief. They will win this season, and may even be able to claw back some valuable points but it will take all the collective talent they have as well as teamwork. Another tough game this weekend as Stanhope travel to Newton Aycliffe, fifth last year after winning 8 of the 22 available games.