Ashington start new cricket season with loss

Posted by The Journal on Apr 20, 09 11:06 AM in Sport

There were opening-day wins for Percy Main and Morpeth to savour on their return to the top flight of the Wellstream Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League.

Ashington were happy at the interval after restricting visitors Shotley Bridge to 114, but a virtuoso performance by Bridge's Phil Brown (47 and 5-35) was the Colliers undoing as they fell 14 runs short.

But the match of the day took place at Leadgate, where the home team conjured a dramatic tie from an apparently lost cause. Gary Hunter (54) and Neil Clark (36) got visitors Tynedale off to the best of starts.

But just when Barry Stewart (3-47) and Liam Pringle (3-48) threatened to undermine Leadgate's response to a 192 target, Dave Richardson (47no) shared in two crucial partnerships to turn the game.

At 125-6 things were looking bleak before Paul Hockaday (20) began the fightback, but when he went, there were still 30 needed from just four overs. With Paul McCourt (18no) unfazed the last two balls arrived with three needed for a win.

Two scrambled singles and a dropped catch then followed in the frantic finale as the teams shared the spoils with identical scores.

A devastating bowling performance from skipper Richie Walker paved the way for a successful return to the big time for Percy Main.

Ryton were the hapless victims as Walker ran riot with a spell of five wickets for just eight runs in 10 overs, Ryton routed for just 67. Johnny O'Neill (3-24) did his best to fight back but the Main men claimed 20 points from a six-wicket win.

The other promoted team, Morpeth, were also off to a flyer as they won by a similar margin at Benwell and Walbottle. Michael Craigs (4-17) and Chris Reagan (3-11) were the key men with the ball as the Bottle were toppled for 121, and then Darren Leason (49) and Jonny Craigs (49no) made light of the target.

Elsewhere, champions Swalwell gave a formidable demonstration of their power as they raced past Sacriston's target of 179, the highlight Lloyd Anderson's 76, which included 10 fours and two sixes.

Annfield Plain served notice of a possible championship challenge as they overcame Lintz by 31 runs. Dave Newstead (61) and Adam Phillips (5-47) were anything but plain for the victors.

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