Seconds claim six before Washout

STOCKTON had Newcastle seconds reeling at 84 for six before a deluge washed out any chance of further play at Jesmond.

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Saturday 12th August

SECONDS SLIP TO DEFEAT

AFTER their recent revival the seconds slipped to defeat against a strong Tynemouth side at Grangefield.

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Saturday 5th August

Second successive success for seconds

Blaydon 2nd XI vs. Stockton 2nd XI

THE SECONDS remain anchored to the foot of the table despite a return of four for 28 from paceman Simon Davison which bowled them to victory at Denefield on Saturday.

Making first use of the wicket Stockton were dismissed for 167 with only Chris Parr who scored 86 making over 20. In reply Blaydon struggled against the pace of Davison and slumped to 91 all out. Skipper Peter Groark with two for 26 and James Ward with three for 8 were the other wicket takers.

Scores: Stockton 167 (C Parr 86, C Wallis 4-19, J O'Neill 3-34, G Tones 3-60)
Blaydon 91 (S A Davison 4-28, J Ward 3-8)
Stockton won by 76 runs - Stockton 23pts Blaydon 5pts

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Saturday 29th July

Lake's Ton Tames Lyons

AN UNBEATEN 124 from Robert Lake gave the 2nd XI only their second victory of the season over fellow strugglers Hetton Lyons. Asked to bat first the Lyons scored at a good rate but Mike Wood (four for 54), Alan Baird (three for 31) and Chris Brennan (three for 34) combined to send them back to the pavillion for 216.

Lake was never in trouble against the home attack and despite the early loss of Lee Mason, Jimmy Ward (42) and Mike Wood (27) ensured a much needed six wicket win for the visitors.

Scores: Hetton Lyons 216 (G Davey 71, M J L Wood 4-54, A D Baird 3-31,
C M Brennan 3-34)
Stockton 217-4 (R M Lake 124*, J Ward 42, M J L Wood 27, P Errington 4-67)
Stockton won by six wkts

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Saturday 15th July

Seconds drop to bottom despite run feast

Stockton 2nd XI vs. Gateshead Fell 2nd XI

STOCKTON seconds took 16 points from a winning draw against fellow strugglers Gateshead Fell but still dropped into bottom place in the 2nd Division thanks to a rare Hetton Lyons win at Tynemouth.

Making first use of the wicket on a glorious summer day Stockton batsman had little difficulty in dominating a lack lustre Gateshead attack. Opener Robert Lake carried from where he left off last week making an impressive 55 and Chris Parr continued his current run of form to make 53 before falling victim to Arkle's leg spin. Nevertheless it was an exciting partnership between the veteran Geoff Bailey (above) and vice captain Lee Mason (right) the helped Stockton reach what proved to be an unassailable 246 for three before skipper Peter Groark called a halt to the innings after 52 overs.

In reply Gateshead made slow progress on a benign Stockton pitch and after losing opener John Devonport for 16 and skipper
Phil Dicks leg before for 9 appeared to settle for the draw. Some Carribean style batting from Elliott (41) and a patient unbeaten 41 from Scott Strange saw them to safety with two wickets in hand. Simon Davison was once again the pick of the home attack claiming four for 47 from his fifteen overs.

Scores: Stockton 246-3 dec (G W Bailey 58*, L W Mason 55*, R M Lake 55,
C J Parr 53)
Gateshead Fell 194-8 (S Strange 41*, C Elliott 41, S A Davison 4-47)
Match Drawn - Stockton 16pts Gateshead Fell 8pts

 

Saturday 8th July

Rain Ruins Robbie's Run Chase

Sunderland 2nd XI vs. Stockton 2nd XI

THE SECONDS' game at Ashbrooke was cut short by the weather. Having won the toss and invited the home side to bat Stockton got off to a good start due to some accurate bowling from Simon Davison and Joel Thwaites. When skipper Peter Groark removed dangermen Michael Nunn and Adam Applegarth Stockton looked in control. However an unbeaten 106 from Chris Robson and 35 from Paul Goodwin allowed Sunderland to declare at 226 for seven after 50 overs.

Stockton's openers Robbie Lake (above) and Lee Mason began steadily before Mason was caught at the wicket for 12. The arrival of the in form Chris Parr heralded an increase in the scoring and when the rains came Stockton were well poised on 94 for one with Lake undefeated on 46 and Parr on 28.

Scores: Sunderland 227-7 (C Robson 106*, P Goodwin 35, P Groark 3-25)
Stockton 94-1 (R M Lake 46*)
Match Abandoned - Sunderland 12pts Stockton 6pts

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Saturday 1st July

Fazal dazzles Seconds

South North vs Stockton

THE SECONDS went down to South North by six wickets in their encounter at Gosforth. Stockton were all out for 215 in 47 overs. Vice captain Lee Mason made 51 whilst Joel Thwaites (37) and Mark Fletcher (above) who scored 58 off 50 balls including 12 fours put on over a hundred for the sixth wicket. Following Thwaites dismissal Stockton slumped, losing four quick wickets and their eventual total was well under par on what was ostensibly a good surface to bat on.

South North youngster Fazal Ahmed struck one six and 12 fours in his 74 which combined with Tom Seymour (44) and James Brown (36) saw the Bulls home with six wickets and 24 overs to spare.

Scores: Stockton 215 (M R Fletcher 58, L W Mason 51, J Thwaites 37,
T Seymour 4-64, C Dresser 4-21)
South North 219-4 (F Ahmed 74, T Seymour 44, C Dresser 36)
South North won by 6 wkts - South North 30 pts Stockton 7pts

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Saturday 24th June

Seconds Make Parr at Last

Norton vs. Stockton

CHRIS PARR'S (above) first senior hundred paved the way for the second team's first league win since 16th July 2005. Parr (101 not out) was supported firstly by Mike Wood (45) and then by Tim Cooper (22) as Stockton declared on 229 for five after 52 overs. Exactly a year to the day since they last made 200 at home to Benwell Hill.

Despite reducing Norton to 62 for four, a determined stand between Rigg (51) and Dunwell (43) threatened to take the game away from Stockton. However a magnificent return of seven for 29 from skipper Peter Groark and some hostile fast bowling from Alan Baird secured the victory and a priceless 28 points to lift them off the bottom the table.

Scores: Stockton 229-5 (C Parr 101*, M J L Wood 45)
Norton 197 (A Rigg 51, M Dunwell 43, P Groark 7-29)
Stockton won by 32 runs - Stockton 28pts Norton 6pts

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Saturday 17th June

Big Baird on Song

THE SECONDS continued their improvement by earning a winning draw against Chester le Street at Grangefield Road.

Making first use of the County wicket Stockton got off to a good start thanks to Lee Mason who made 45 and Dorian Hiles (pictured left) who completed his first fifty since returning to the club from Tynedale. Several of the lower order chipped in an the innings closed on 197 for seven.

A very young Chester le Street side never looked in the hunt but were plunged into difficulties when Alan Baird followed up last week's first ever fifty with his first ever hat trick. The visitors eventually held firm to finish on 165 for eight thanks to David Martin (39) and Steven McTaggert (35 not out).

Scores: Stockton 197-7 (D M Hiles 50, L W Mason 45, C Metcalfe 4-46)
Chester le Street 165-8 (D Martin 39, S McTaggert 35*, A D Baird 3-22)
Match Drawn - Stockton 15pts Chester le Street 9pts

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Saturday 10th June

Close encounters of the Second Kind

FOLLOWING on from last weekend's close finish against Newcastle the seconds were involved in another epic encounter as their went down by one wicket against Benwell Hill at Denton Bank.

Put into bat they struggled to against some accurate bowling from the home side. Lee Mason (30) and long vigil by Simon Davison steadied the innings until veteran pace bowler Alan Baird came in a smote the ball to all parts as he completed his first ever half century for the club. The visitors innings eventually closed on 189 for nine.

In reply Benwell Hill were in trouble at 11 for three before skipper Mark Wright made a quickfire 60. Four wickets fell for only 17 runs intervals and another 'tie' looked on the cards as 2 runs were still needed with the last pair at the wicket. Unfortunately 'Lady Luck' didn't shine on Stockton and the Hill scraped home, thanks in the main to an unbeaten 81 from opener Nick White. Simon Davison was far and away the pick of Stockton's bowlers taking five for 48.

Scores: Stockton 189-9 (A D Baird 50*, L W Mason 30, P Askell 3-36)
Benwell Hill 193-9 (N White 81*, M Wright 60, S A Davison 5-48)
Benwell Hill won by 1 wkt - Benwell Hill 23pts Stockton 6pts

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Saturday 3rd June

Stockton vs. Newcastle

Seconds game marred by controversy

Having elected to bat first and failed to set a big score on a glorious day at Stockton, the seconds found themselves with their backs to the wall at tea time. Visitors Newcastle needing 179 for victory in 53 overs started steadily before Simon Davison bowled Flunder for 14. Fourteen year old Farouk Din's first wicket for the 2nd team brought together the veteran Jimmy Matthewson and Chris Whitton who put Newcastle firmly in the driving seat. The introduction of Mike Wood into the attack changed the game as he first trapped Matthewson leg before for 47 and then bowled Keith Brown for 3. Cooper fell LBW to Mark Fletcher and youngsters Din and Jimmy Ward combined to run out Whitton for 20 as he attempted a suicidal third run. At 100 for six, Newcastle were teetering on the brink but wicket keeper Jason Peet and stand in skipper Andy Robson steadied the ship and once again the game swung back towards Newcastle. Several bowling changes later Mike Wood returned to the attack along with Peter Groark who forced Robson to hit in the air towards the short leg side boundary only to see Lee Mason pull off a diving catch. Wood removed a dangerous looking Horner for 12 and then Din and Ward again combined to run out Peet for 25 leaving the visitors needing two to win with one wicket standing. Skipper Groark bowled to Selems who scurried a single to level the scores. Two balls later Stockton's skipper bowled Humble to tie the game. Or so we thought! Newcastle understandably unhappy at having victory snatched from them by a magnificent Stockton fightback, queried the scores claiming that only one run had been added to the score when Whitton was run out when in fact two had been completed. Much discussion, some of it heated ensued, before the umpires Richardson and Greensword decided to award the game to Newcastle. One hopes this is temporary victory, as clarification is being sought as to whether the scores can be altered after the end of the game and indeed if to ask for the scores to be altered fifteen overs after a run was scored falls into the laws regarding the 'spirit of cricket'. Moreover surely it is expected that all teams play to what is displayed on the scoreboard. We await the decision of the NEPL management committee.

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Saturday 27th May & Monday 29th May

Stockton vs. Blaydon
Tynemouth vs. Stockton

Stalemate for Seconds

The seconds drew both of their games over the Bank Holiday weekend. On Saturday at home to Blaydon their reached 168 for eight in reply to Blaydon's 221 for seven. Geoff Bailey, Mike Wood and Dorian Hiles all made 29 in Stockton's reply whilst Mark Fletcher took three Blaydon wickets for 47 runs in his 13 over spell. Monday's trip to Tynemouth was perhaps a little less encouraging with the visitors closing on 117 for 7 with Lee Mason making 54. After the home side had recovered from 86 for six to post 211 for 8. Peter Groark (4-40) and Ian Cooper (3-40) (left) starred with the ball for Stockton.

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Saturday 20th May

Stockton vs. Benwell Hill

Match Abandoned - Stockton 5pts Benwell Hill 5pts

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Saturday 6th May

Gateshead Fell vs Stockton

Seconds earn Honourable Draw

Having been asked to bat by Gateshead Fell skipper Phil Dicks, Stockton got off to a steady start before losing opener Lee Mason. Two more quick wickets followed before some resolute batting from Jimmy Ward and Tim Cooper (18) improved the situation. A partnership of 70 runs between Jimmy Ward (right) who batted excellently for his 73 and Mark Fletcher (34) was followed by a mini collapse seeing Stockton slump to 160 for 8 and eventually dismissed for 180. In reply Gateshead Fell looked to be crusing with Richie Smith (59) in total control but his dismissal followed by that of skipper Phil Dicks left the game delicately poised with the Fell on 158 for 7 when the rains came. Joel Thwaites with three for 27 was the pick of the Stockton bowlers with Michael Wood taking two for 30 and Mark Fletcher two for 29.

Stockton 180 (J Ward 73, M R Fletcher 34, G Arkle 4-30, M Lockey 3-43)
Gateshead Fell 158-7 ( R Smith 56, J Devonport 39, J Thwaites 3-27)
Match Drawn - Gateshead Fell 15pts Stockton 9pts

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Saturday 29th April

Stockton vs Sunderland

Better all round

Despite losing by five wickets to a strong Sunderland the seconds produced a much better all round performance. Lee Mason (58), Mark Fletcher (42) and Robert Lake (32) were the main contributors in a total of 184. Chris Brennan took three for 44 in Sunderland's reply of 185 for 5.

Stockton 184-5 (L W Mason 58, M R Fletcher 42, R M Lake 32)
Sunderland 185-5 (M Nunn 87, C Robson 33*, C M Brennan 3-44)
Sunderland won by 5 wkts - Stockton 4pts Sunderland 22pts

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