BULLS 2'S SHOW SPIRIT IN HIGH SCORING DEFEAT TO GREENSIDE 1ST X1

14th Apr 2026

         BULLS 2'S SHOW SPIRIT IN HIGH SCORING DEFEAT TO GREENSIDE 1ST X1.

                       Sat 11^th April 2026 SNCC 2^nd X1 v Greenside 1^st X1 (a) 45/45o

Greenside 301-2 (45o) James Wood 107 (rno), Connor Fellowes 105 (rno), Charlie Purdon 44*: Ben Hobbs 1-74, George McConnell 1-25, Will Young 0-48, Tom Oliver 0-38, George Gray 0-83, Will Phillips 0-25.

SNCC 256-9 (45o) Will Phillips 24, Nick Tomlinson 23, Olly Alexander 16, Will Carr 89, George McConnell 47: Morgan Reynolds 1-61. Lewis Neesham 3-21, Charlie Purdon 0-11, Billy Ringer 2-37, Raion Karan 3-76, Chris Fowler 0-33.

Greenside won by 45 runs.

The sunny Grand National Day was cold, the ground recovered well from early morning rain & the outfield had been roped to remove the surface water. The wicket, with a shorter boundary to the road side, was green but played truly with some seam movement but only very occasional lift or lack of bounce. The Bulls were youthful, 8 teenagers, debuts for Will Phillips & Tom Oliver among them. Greenside's experienced 1^st X1, missing only two regulars, were invited to bat.

Fowler & Hughes faced Hobbs (downhill) & McConnell (Pavilion). George produced a steady spell & in his 4^th bowled the left handed Hughes (7). Downhill,  Ben was having difficulty with run up undulations, no balling regularly, then overpitching & being driven.  But in his 4th he got the desired yorker right & bowled Fowler (11), 31 -2 in the 7th.

After 10 overs the score was 40. Will Young began a spell downhill & in the 14^th Tom Oliver began from the Pavilion end. Chances were missed in Will's 3rd, 5^th & 6^th overs, including both subsequent centurions, which was a shame because the fielding had been good thus far with many good stops in the ring. George Gray (ob) began a spell in the 20^th but found line & length elusive.

At 23 over drinks the score had risen to 123, Ben suffering in his 6^th as two more no balls were struck for 6 & 4. In the 11 overs after drinks 90 runs were conceded, Ben & George G suffering as variations of length & line were punished; 213-2 after 34 overs. Under the onslaught the fielding wilted.

Fellowes retired on 105 (11x4, 6x6) but Purdon took up the attack & with Wood took the score to 263, when Wood 107 (12x4, 4x6) also retired. George McC & Will Young bowled the last 6 overs for only 25. George McC finishing with the most creditable figures of 9-2-25-1, Will Young bowled the only other maiden. 301-2 - 22 extras including 11 no balls & 3 wides.

The tea provided was lovely !! Thank you very much Greenside.

In reply Phillips & Tomlinson faced the right arm seam of Reynolds & Neesham. The bowling was steady, runs were accumulated Nick tucking into the legside Will driving pleasingly & cutting with timing. At 42 in the 9^th Will (24) was unlucky to be bowled by one from Ringer that did not bounce. Olly scored through third man but it was Ringer (rm) again, down the hill, who produced the ball of the day to bowl Nick (23), seaming away to hit the left hander's off stump, 65-2 after15 overs.

Between overs 12 & 28 Purdon (rm) from the Pavilion end showed how to bowl on this wicket, his immaculate line & length conceding only 11 runs from his spell of 9 overs as Olly then Will Carr & George McConnell batted sensibly. Olly (16) seemed unlucky to be given out lbw to Ringer at 86 in the 19th. At 23 over drinks the Bulls were only 20 behind the rate on 102-3. Will, delightfully, punching straight for 4 or picking up to leg & George pulling the bad ball hard & steering  fine for 4.

Will & George's partnership blossomed. Karan (lm) began a spell over the wicket downhill in the 27^th but was despatched for a boundary an over. Fowler's off spin suffered as George pulled 6,6,4 & Will drove 4,6,4. Greenside had also been guilty of several dropped chances !

The total had reached 219 in the 39^th over when Karan now around the wicket induced a drive from Will which was well taken at short third man, an excellent innings of 89 (74b, 12x4, 5x6) ending a splendid partnership of 133 for the 4^th wicket.  Sadly from the 7^th ball of that over (an umpiring error later admitted, but it was cold!), George (47, 53b, 4x4, 3x6) played over a straight one ending a most composed innings: 220-5.

The innings then fell away with 4 more wickets going in 6 overs as batters attacked but were caught at long off or lbw. A spirited 10^th wicket stand of 15* between Tom Oliver & Will Young saw each strike a boundary. At the end of 45 overs the Bulls had amassed a most creditable 256-9 against experienced 1^st X1 opposition.

So an important pre season performance on grass with several positives but with consistency of length & line, catching & ground fielding to work on.

We must continue to improve !

Sat 18th April NEPL Div 2 SNCC v Tynemouth (a) 1200, 100o, win/lose

We hope to see you there.

Duncan