Regional round-up

Sep 15 2008 by Chris West, The Journal

LAST week it was downpours and floods, this week it was the heavily-waterlogged grounds to blame as virtually all cricket in the region was wiped out to make 2008 the worst season ever for weather disruption.

The Northern Rock NEPL season ended over a week ago, but one last attempt to get the Banks Salver final played at Chester-le-Street on Saturday never got out of the starting blocks, with the league executive deciding that the trophy would be shared between the Cestrians and the Durham Academy.

But at least a few hardy souls paddled on to the field of play elsewhere, and the one game that went ahead in the Wellstream NTSL produced yet another last-gasp escape from relegation for Benwell and Walbottle.

Newcastle City started the day one point ahead of the Bottle but when their game failed to beat the elements they could only wait anxiously for news of their rival’s match against Annfield Plain.

Plain (133-8) were always held in check when batting first and despite 39 from Lasith Fernando and 38 from Saqib Khan, it was the bowlers who generally held the upper hand, Anirudh Singh picking up three cheap wickets in his seven-over spell, and Graeme Angus’ two victims including his 500th league wicket.

Chris Magin and Richard Waddell then made light of the tensions as they shared in a first wicket stand of 99. Waddell cracked seven fours and three sixes in his 59, and Magin was undefeated on the same score as Benwell eased to an eight-wicket victory and top-flight security.

With all A2 matches abandoned Percy Main were confirmed as champions, with Morpeth joining them in the top division next season in place of Backworth and Newcastle.

It’s as you were in the Three Counties Northumberland League with all games being abandoned. With just one set of fixtures to play next Saturday, Corbridge remain in pole position with an eight-point lead from Alnmouth and Lesbury. At the opposite end of the table both Heaton Park and Blyth were relegated, their places to be taken by Berwick and Blagdon Park .

Kimblesworth are the new champions of the Readers Durham County League, but they had a nervous wait before they could begin their celebrations. They were due to play at Etherley, but there was never any realistic chance of that game going ahead. So that meant that if their closest rivals, Esh Winning and Shildon, could get on the field of play there would be one last dramatic twist to the title race.

But despite valiant mopping up efforts it had become clear by 3.30pm that there was no real prospect of the game being able to start, and Kimblesworth took the championship for the second time in three years.