Ashington miss out on game to pursue title

Posted by The Journal on May 18, 09 05:11 PM in Sport

A week after achieving the nigh-on impossible by beating Swalwell, Morpeth were themselves humbled by bottom club Ryton.

Ryton had the useful services of Ben Harmison at their disposal for the match, but it was their other new boy, ex-Blaydon quickie Mark Cawthorn, who lived up to his name to become a thorn in the home team's side as he bagged 6-34.

Morpeth could only limp to 102, a target that Ryton passed with seven wickets and plenty of time to spare.

The Lintz versus Ashington match never got started - a disappointment for both sides with Lintz now in danger of becoming grounded at the bottom of the division and the Colliers denied the chance to pursue their title aspirations.

The return of Alex Brown to the Stocksfield line-up couldn't have proved less timely for Alnmouth and Lesbury as it cost them both their unbeaten record and the leadership of the SG Wealth Management Northumberland League.

Chris Hauselburger was in glorious form for Alnmouth, smashing a superb 80 from just 59 balls. His knock included 11 fours and three sixes but unfortunately he couldn't find any support and with Brown picking up 4-34, and Ali Thirlwell 3-39, Stocksfield rode out the hurricane to leave themselves chasing 133 for victory.

Unsurprisingly Brown led the reply with an unbeaten 49, the visitors winning by five wickets to move up to third place.

The deadly Davids combined to send Kirkley spiralling to a rapid home defeat that enabled Corbridge to take over as the new Premier Division leaders.

David Newton and David Hardy made the maximum use of a damp pitch, with both proving virtually unplayable as they shared all 10 Kirkley wickets.

Newton ended with figures of 5-26 from 8.5 overs and Hardy grabbed 5-29 in 8 overs as Kirkley crumbled for just 58 in less than 17 overs.

And then Newton piled on the misery for the home team as he crashed eight fours in an unbeaten 36 to hand the visitors an emphatic 10-wicket success.

Elsewhere Berwick maintained their bright start to life in the top division with a seven wicket home win over Bates Cottages, Bomarsund's Colin Thornton smacked a century but ended up on the losing side as Blagdon Park's Russell Hughes did the same.

But the top man was Bedlington's Paul Straker who crashed 126 not out against Warkworth, and then followed it up with 5-30.

We'd like to hear from you.
Send your stories, pics and videos to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk