Northern Rock North East Premier League

Apr 28 2008 by Chris West, The Journal

South Northumberland and Sunderland slugged it out to the death last season in an enthralling duel, and then the Northern Rock North East Premier League fixture planners threw the pair together in an opening-day clash. It didn’t quite turn out to be an enthralling duel as the Gosforth outfit sent a shudder through the rest of the league by powering past their rivals.

Stephen Humble was playing a familiar tune as he picked up four early order wickets and the all-round bowling strength of the champions saw the home team back in the pavilion with only 111 to their name. Brendan Ford then made a rapid 79 to get the title holders defence off to a flier.

It could be another long hard season for last year’s wooden spoonists Stockton. The 2007 whipping boys found Benwell Hill far too strong as new South African ‘pro’ Rob Frylink claimed four wickets on his debut, as the Teessiders were all out for 104.

An unbeaten half century from David Myers was the cornerstone of the Hill response as they eased to a seven-wicket success.

The bowling performance of the day came at Gateshead Fell where Tynemouth’s Barry Stewart proved unplayable.

The visitors were indebted to Graeme Hallam when they took first knock, his 66 being the base for a team score of 164 that looked vulnerable. But it proved more than enough as Stewart got to work, his eight-wicket blitz routing Fell for just 71.

The Durham Academy batsmen lived up to manager John Window’s faith in them as they posted the highest score of the day at the Racecourse. Scott Borthwick led the spree with an opening 82, his good work continued by Andrew Smith’s 59. And there was no disputing the man-of-the-match as Borthwick then claimed six wickets to leave South Shields clinging on for a draw at 136-8, only Paul Muchall (65) coping with the onslaught. Blaydon were the day’s other winners as they romped to an eight-wicket victory over Newcastle. Spinners Graeme Bridge (5-28) and debutant Jon Malkin (3-42) had the visitors all out for 150, and then Allan Worthy made a nonsense of the target in his own inimitable style as he smashed 10 fours and four sixes, ending unbeaten on 84 as he guided his side to success. In the final game of the day Norton and Chester-le-Street played out a draw – but it was a one-sided stalemate as the Cestrians declared on 218, Ty Hopes making an unbeaten 69 on debut and Quentin Hughes hitting 60. Norton were clinging on at the death with one wicket left and only 137 to their name, yet remarkably in such a one-sided affair league player of the year Marc Symington took six wickets and then made a half century on his homecoming.