Northumberland leagues round-up

May 12 2008 by The Journal

CHAMPIONS Swalwell are now the only team retaining the perfect record in the Wellstream Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League, and not surprisingly they now head the early-season table.

A professional display from the title holders ensured they came away from a potentially difficult match at Lintz with 19 points – and they owed much of their success to new signing Richard Hawthorne. The former Bishop Auckland star took 4-59 as the home team were contained to 194-9, and then he set Swalwell away on their victory charge with an opening 64.

Ryton have been riding on the crest of a wave since their promotion but their sequence of victories was brought to a halt by Sacriston in the best game of the day. Melvyn Betts (91) and Aussie Travis King (74) led the visitors to a score of 200-7 despite Farukh Iqbal’s four-wicket haul. Anil Ridee continued his great start in this country with a half century for Ryton but the home team were then ‘Hubbered’ as Martin grabbed four wickets and Harry three to leave the hosts five runs short.

Shotley Bridge were toppled from the summit by Newcastle City, and it was a glorious century from Kanran Mansoor that set up victory as City were able to post a formidable 233. Phil Carlin responded in kind with a century of his own for Bridge but Mansoor wasn’t to be denied as he grabbed four wickets in leading his team to a 38-run success. With Annfield Plain inflicting Leadgate’s third consecutive defeat they leap-frogged the Bridge into second spot.

The bowling performance of the day came at Backworth where Ashington’s Martin Wood was virtually unplayable. Wood sent down 10 overs, six of which were maidens, and took six wickets for just six runs as the home team were shot out for 52. Michael Leverson and Neil Wood then knocked off the required runs in 15 overs to cement Backworth in bottom spot.

There was a welcome first win of the season for Tynedale with Stuart Graham the main man. He cracked an undefeated century and then took 3-32 as Benwell and Walbottle were overcome by 66 runs – their third successive defeat.

There are new leaders in the Three Counties Northumberland League – Kirkley claiming the early season bragging rights with a nerve-tingling one-wicket win over their chief rivals Blue Flames.

In a great advert for the league, there were heroes on both sides. Flames looked to be in a good position at the interval after Scott Neeson (88) led them to an imposing 203-6. Four early wickets for the visiting attack then had Kirkley rocking before Steven Atkinson stepped up to the plate with a superb 65. But the game then came down to Kirkley’s last pair, Gary Walton and Mark Ewan, who held their nerve in a stand which finally extinguished the Flames.

There was another thriller at Stocksfield where Corbridge came out on top by just nine runs on an afternoon when more than 400 were scored. The runs were shared through the Corbridge line-up, Dave Newton leading the pack with 40, and then Andrew Dover’s spell of 4-34 with the ball proved crucial.

Bedlington have made a fine start to life in the Premier Division and recorded an emphatic second victory when overcoming Heaton Park by eight wickets. Their success was founded on the bowling exploits of Malcolm Humble (6-21 in 13 overs) and Nicky Douglas (4-8 in four overs and two balls) who put the visitors out for just 80. Paul Straker then completed the stroll in the park with 44 not out.

Elsewhere there were wins for Bomarsund, Bates Cottages and Blyth, and the unluckiest player of the day was Warkworth’s Adam Hall who fell one run short of a century.

CHRIS WEST