Stockton Cricket Club

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THURSDAY 29TH JULY

TEAMS FOR THE WEEKEND

Saturday 31st July

1st XI v Sunderland (Away)
K L Ward (Capt), J Rickard, M D Gajanayake, J G Watson, C Greaves,
T Coulthard, C M Oliver, K Rowland, M J Brown, F Din & J Ward. Meet 9.15 am

2nd XI v Sunderland (Home)
L Ward (Capt), C E Parr, M J L Wood, W Reeve, J Kendall, J Hewison, S L Ward,
T Bulmer, M A Rushforth, J Thwaites, & M Baleci. Meet 12.00pm

Sunday 1st August

3rd XI v Benwell Hill (Home)
A K Unsworth (Capt), C E Parr, J Thwaites, R Thwaites, D Barton, J Barron,
M Clarke, J Kendall, A D Baird, T Bulmer & M Baleci. Meet 1.00pm

SUNDAY 25TH JULY

JUSTSPORT CAMPAIGN ENDS AS EXPLOSIVE START TURNS INTO A DAMP SQUIB

DESPITE an explosive start in which Malintha Gajanayake and Kevin Ward despatched Newcastle’s bowling attack to all parts of Jesmond and indeed, beyond. The majority of the remainder of the Stockton batting line up failed to capitalise and were dismissed for a below par 184 well within their allotted overs.

Responsible batting from Nick Tomlinson, Anthony Del Borrello and Martin Fearon and an apathetic bowling and fielding display from visiting team ensured that the hosts progressed to the next round of the Justsport Trophy with little difficulty.

| MATCH PHOTOS |

SATURDAY 24TH JULY

MALI PUTS ACADEMY IN A SPIN

ONE thing is certain Stockton can never be accused of not giving their home support value for money as Saturday’s encounter with Durham Academy produced another edge of the seat drama for the Grangefield faithful.

Faced with a used pitch, Stockton skipper, Kevin Ward won the toss and elected to bat first. As a result of Gajanayake’s return to form, Ward decided to bat at first wicket down leaving top run scorer Jonathan Rickard to open the innings with the Sri Lankan. The pair began well and in spite of some accurate bowling from Pringle and McCaffrey reached 141 without loss off 43 overs at lunchtime.

The lunch interval, however brought a change a fortunes as Stockton lived up to their burgeoning reputation for losing wickets in clusters when before the score had altered, Gajanayake was out. Ward soon followed, bowled by 6ft 7” leg spinner, McCaffrey and then Rickard was run out by Greg Pringle with the score on 170. Useful contributions from Matty Brown (28) and Jimmy Ward (32 not out) allowed Stockton to declare on 251 for seven after 63 overs.

In reply, the Academy cruised to 131 without loss by the interval, leaving themselves a target of 121 from 22 overs. Following the interval the Academy seemingly tightened their grip until Raine was finally out caught by Din from Gajanayake’s bowling for 80.

Inexplicably, the visitors seemed inclined to mimic their hosts’ failings as Coyne, Pringle and Clark soon departed to leave the score at 176 for four and the game hanging in the balance. When Gajanayake trapped Coughlin leg before and then had Singh caught by Watson the equilibrium shifted toward the home side, particularly since the Sri Lankan was making the most of an increasingly turning pitch.

However, the contest was still alive and Academy debutant, Hodgson made 22 off 13 balls to shift the momentum in favour of his team. Indeed, at 214 for seven the Academy were still very much in the game but when Gajanayake claimed two further victims to leave them at 225 for nine it was the home side’s turn to press for victory.

With the target for a winning draw 228 the Academy not only survived the final over but managed to scramble a disputed leg bye to win them the larger share of the points. Nevertheless, despite Tynemouth’s incredulous win over Chester le Street, skipper Kevin Ward can be well satisfied with his team’s effort and endeavour and more importantly the eleven points. Similarly, Gajanayake's final return of seven for 66 capped a second successive fine all round performance with hopefully more to come.

Stockton 251-7 dec (M D Gajanayake 80, J Rickard 69, J Ward 32*,
G McCaffrey 3-71)
Durham Academy 228-9 (B A Raine 82, J Coyne 60, M D Gajanayake 7-66,
J Ward 2-51)
Match Drawn – Stockton 11pts Durham Academy 14pts

| FULL SCORECARD |

THURSDAY 22ND JULY

BACON BUTTIES BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT

SOME weeks ago, we heard through the grapevine that “Our Lady of the Bacon Butties” had received an invitation, or more correctly a summons. Not just any summons, you understand, this summons was to Buckingham Palace. Since, we’d heard that old Prince Phil was a bit partial to the odd bacon butty we assumed that Mrs Parr would head off 'down the smoke' armed with her trusty George Foreman.

Our latest information suggests otherwise. In fact, we hear that Mrs Parr’s invitation was of the outdoor variety. Not a bacon butty in sight at this soiree but more strawberries and cream and cucumber sandwiches than you could shake a stick at. “Even cut the crusts off…” hubby Dave tells us. “Fancy, ‘aving a party in yer garden without a barbie and few cans.” Number two son mused.

Sue, resplendent in her new hat and frock thoroughly enjoyed the occasion. “Never got to meet her tho’.” Dave tells us. We assume he means Sue meeting HRH, although it may, indeed, be the other way round. Which one would have curtsied, we wondered. “Mind you, they showed her round the ‘ouse.” He says. “In through the conservatory… the tradesman’s entrance as I told her.” He concludes. Given that high treason is still a capital offence, we’ll leave the rest of Parr senior’s tale about the remainder of the royals to our reader’s imagination

At the time of writing, we’re still unsure whether the royal household has accepted the reciprocal invitation.

SUNDAY 18TH JULY

WHEN THE BOAT COMES IN

WHAT'S the news on 'Our Kenyon' we hear you ask. No mix ups with fixtures for the Unsworths this weekend as they continued their onslaught on the Third Division with a trip to Blaydon.

"…half me teams' off to Ampleforth…." he told us last week. Indeed, devoid of many of the younger Unsworths who were seeking spiritual enlightenment by attending Evensong or afternoon Mass under the watchful eye of the Abbot, 'Our Kenyon' was forced to enlist the support of Messrs Pacitto, Clarke, Mee and Hardy for the day. The quartert are undoubtedly a more pagan bunch and normally exercise their weekend wizardry for the eponymic Nunthorpe Merlin. However, before anyone suggests otherwise, they are fully fledged Unsworths and registered to play as such.

Although, Mark Pacitto is more renowned for his doggedness at the top of the order than for the Latin flair that his name suggests and Michael Clarke isn't the Australian version, both are more than useful replacements for the ecclesiastical absentees. Likewise, the inclusion of Mr Hardy might conjure up visions of 'Our Kenyon' asking for a kiss whilst lying prone and mortally injured at Denefield, in reality nothing could be further from the truth, as along with John Mee, he was a more than competent replacement for the errant would-be friars.

Alas there was to be no victory, HMS or otherwise, for the Unsworths this week. No Kenyon's Column erected on the Croquet Lawn and no adoring throng lining the streets for his return to Grangefield. Despite 49 from Parr and 48 from Phinn, they were dismissed for 193 in the 45th over. 'Our Kenyon' or on this occasion 'Wor Kenyon' standing firm with an unbeaten single while the rest perished around him. Blaydon, rather fittingly raced to victory in 38 overs, with seven wickets to spare.

'Our Kenyon' is magnanimous in defeat – "Good game played in good manner. Beaten by a better team" his text says. "Here endeth the lesson" might have been more appropriate.

The Ampleforth Pilgrims return to a free weekend. 'Our Kenyon' and his crew set sail again on 1st August.

Stockton Cricket Club, The Grangefield Ground, Oxbridge Avenue, Stockton on Tees, TS18 0JF
Tel: 01642 870650
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