Regional round-up

Sep 14 2009 by Chris West, The Journal

THERE was not a dry eye in the house at Leadgate where one of the true Wellstream NTSL greats took his final bow, David Jackson retiring with a smile on his face as his side beat relegated Benwell & Walbottle by seven wickets.

Fittingly, the legendary all-rounder played a full part in the victory with 15 immaculate overs for figures of three for 30. Stephen Smith also bagged three cheap victims as the Bottle were bowled out for just 74, a target which didn’t provide any real problems for Leadgate.

Paul Greenwell (31no) stroked five fours and a six to steer them to victory inside an hour.

Jackson’s former club, Shotley Bridge, managed to secure the consolation prize of the runners-up slot when they defeated Percy Main by 37 runs.

Peter Collingwood (67) and Stuart Graham (4-45) overcame the all-round skills of Mohtashim Ali who celebrated his re-engagement with four wickets and 58 runs.

Sacriston’s great run of form faltered at the very last hurdle when they couldn’t defend a useful 233 for 6.

Martin Hubber was in splendid nick again with 97, but he was outshone by Lintz youngster Tim Hughes who took the plaudits with a brilliant unbeaten 131, a knock that included 15 fours and three sixes.

Elsewhere, Tynedale’s Barry Stewart (7-34) put Annfield Plain to the sword, Swalwell’s Nicky Phillips (5-17) tormented Ryton, and Jonny Craigs (91) sealed Ashington’s fate.

In the second division, Chopwell’s last remaining chance of winning the title fell by the wayside when they were beaten by 45 runs by Cowgate, but it made little difference as Lanchester signed off in style with a seven-wicket win at Seaton Burn.

Blue Flames won the title the hard way on a dramatic final day of SG Wealth Management Northumberland League action.

With just two points separating the top two sides before the start, there were numerous permutations of results in the heads of players in both camps.

But defending champions Alnmouth did what they needed to do by securing a maximum points return from their match at Blagdon Park.

Ian Clough (4-28) and Ben Oliver (3-26) helped their side to the bowling points with Blagdon dismissed for 145, and then Tom Vickers (12 fours in 71) pumped up the pressure on the Flames as Alnmouth finished with wickets and time to spare.

To win the title, Blue Flames needed 21 points from their difficult match at Bedlington, and a late flourish from Ian Campbell (42) and Nicky Douglas (34no) gave the home team a score of 197 for 8 that looked unlikely at one point.

But a win for Flames would take the title. Richard Worrall (55), Andy Storey (36) and Saleem Akhtar (39) got them.

However, the regular loss of wickets meant 20 runs were still needed when the eighth wicket went down.

Krishner Thangavelu (12no) and Andy Horner (9no) then made themselves the heroes in a nerve-shredding ninth wicket stand that took the Flames to their first championship.

Bates Cottages and Bomarsund were confirmed as the relegated sides, but both went down fighting, the Cottagers missing out by just eight runs at Clara Vale and Bomarsund edged out by 15 runs at Warkworth.

In the day’s other games, Berwick won at Kirkley by five runs and Stocksfield had 95 runs to spare over visitors Corbridge.

Meanwhile, the Readers Durham County League had the stage to themselves as they concluded their programme on Saturday.

It took all summer for their first win, but it was worth the wait as Brandon gave themselves some warm winter memories as they hammered Langley Park by 113 runs.

Stephen Ball set things rolling with a half-century, and with Lewis Newby adding 41 Brandon racked up 212.

Ball rounded things off with a superb 10-over stint picking up six Park batters for just 20 runs to leave the home team on 99.

There were star performers everywhere at Willington where the home club and visitors Shildon Railway served up a real end of term treat.

Chris Peareth (65) was again on track with the bat for the Railwaymen, but they didn’t get up a real head of steam until skipper Phil Timmens came to the crease, hitting nine fours and seven sixes in an unbeaten 96.

Kiwi Sam Wells posted bowling figures of four for 35 in 12 overs as Shildon racked up 253-8. Wells also led the Willington run-chase with eight fours and two sixes in a rapid 60, and with Karl Brown cracking 59 and Steve Bradwell 44, the home team came within a whisker of a great win as they ended dead level on 253 for 6.

For the second year in a row Esh Winning finished as runners-up to Kimblesworth, a nine-wicket win at Mainsforth sealing the consolation prize. The win closed the door on Crook Town who had to settle for third place despite winning at Evenwood by seven wickets.

The game was more or less decided by half-time after Eddie Watson (4-35) and Daniel Wilkinson (3-25) combined to bowl out the home team for 119.

Elsewhere, champions Kimblesworth hammered form team Hylton by 132 runs, retiring skipper Nigel Darling bowing out in style top-scoring with 75.

Tudhoe held their nerve to defeat Ushaw Moor by 24 runs.