BULLS BOUNCE BACK WITH A GOOD WIN AT WHITBURN. Sat 25 April 2026: NEPL Div 2: SNCC v Whitburn (a) 50/50o win/lose.

25th Apr 2026

SNCC 226-9 (50o) Nick Tomlinson 73, Nathan Gough 35, Will Phillips 32, Ben Sidney-Wilmot 29, Danny Collins 16: Alex Mapstone 3-35, Phil Shakespeare 0-26, Elliott Hearn 1-35, Adam Sneller 0-26, Ian Elliott 3-52, Mark Elliott 1-38.

Whitburn 179ao (45.4o) Ben Markham 20, Dan Quinan 36, Mark Elliott 17, Phil Shakespeare 17, Adam Sneller 19: Ben Hobbs 1-13, Nathan Gough 2-27, Danny Collins 3-34, Allan Davidson 0-17, Nicky Phillips 1-50, Hamish Barrie 2-31.

SNCC won by 47 runs -24 points, Whitburn 7.

A sunny day at the Village Ground saw the wicket cut towards the top of the square. The Bulls were asked to bat. Nick Tomlinson & Will Carr faced the seam of Mapstone (road) & Shakespeare (wood). An eventful first over saw a single to Nick, a first ball edge from Will (0) to w/k Shields, not quite fully forward, & a boundary to Nathan down the ground.

As Mapstone & Shakespeare probed, 5 maidens in the first 14 overs, there was little loose & the score rose slowly with the occasional boundary. Boundaries in over 16 & 17 as Hearn entered the attack but at 59 in the 21^st Nathan (35, 51b, 6x4) after a boundary, aiming to force to leg, was bowled by Hearn, 2 down. A partnership of 57 which in hindsight was to prove important.

Will Phillips joined Nick & was positive, 2x4 to cover, as Sneller entered the attack. Nick was finding timing elusive, especially the cut. Greater fluency between overs 27 & 32 as 6 boundaries were scored, the total reaching 114.

In Mark Elliott's (ob) first over Will (32, 37b, 6x4) was deemed lbw on the front foot, 124-3. Ian Elliott (rm) joined the attack & Hamish (3) succumbed at 129 in the 37^th caught by Fin Hearn at cover.

In the 41^st Joseph Dresser (5) edged Ian Elliott behind, 144-5. only 9 overs to go. A fatigued Nick's vital vigil (73, 141b, 8x4) ended at 168 in the 44^th , run out going back for two in company with Ben Sid. 

Ben then struck 2x6 off both Elliott's & with Danny produced a vital partnership of 40 to raise the total to 208 in the 48^th when Ben (29, 29b, 1x4, 2x6) was caught by Shakespeare on the cover boundary off Mapstone.  Ben Hobbs' (8) ramp in over 49 ended up in the w/k's gloves & in the last Danny (16,14b, 1x4) was caught off Mapstone. Nicky struck a boundary & the innings ended on 226- 9 after the 50 overs, a good total after a watchful first half, defendable.

In reply Shields & Hearn faced the seam of Ben Hobbs & Nathan Gough. A maiden to Ben & then a torrid first over for Nathan as the orange ball swung wildly, 5 wides conceded, another maiden from Ben helped. Then, more in control bowling with a crossed seam, Nathan struck in over 6 as Shields(5) cut hard to backward point where Hamish Barrie took a very good catch high to his left, 18-1.

In over 11 Hearn's (13) attempted cover drive off Hobbsy edged to w/k Ben Sid, 33-2. Whelan (8) was next to go, bowled in Danny Collins second over, 45-3. The ball was swinging!. Markham & Mark Elliott both struck boundaries as Allan Davidson struggled to find a length & Nicky (ob) began a spell. 

In over 20 Mark Elliott (17) was trapped lbw by Danny as the ball hit the back pad, 73-4 & two overs later Markham (20) lofted Danny to mid off where Nicky took the catch, 82-5. Quinan & Hearn then put together a partnership of 49 for the 6^th wicket. Quinan driving Nicky's off spin down the ground & over the leg side. Hamish Barrie (ob) entered the attack in over 27 & bowled 10 overs straight through with admirable control for only 31.

In over 32 the important wicket of the dangerous Quinan fell to Nicky as Will Carr made good ground at deep square leg to take an excellent tumbling catch in two hands, 131-6. In the next Hearn (6) was bowled by Hamish's flatter & quicker one, 131-7.

Sneller was positive as was Shakespeare as Nicky & Hamish twirled & the total rose to 161 in the 41^st when Sneller (18) hit Hamish high to long on where Joseph Dresser took the catch with aplomb. In the next Mapstone (0) was run out by an excellent piece of fielding by Will Phillips as he picked up at short third man & hit the w/k's stumps with a direct hit !! 161-9.

Ian Elliott joined Shakespeare & the partnership had reached 17 in the 46^th when Ian Elliott (8) drove hard to cover where Allan Davidson took a good catch off the returning Nathan bowling sharply, 179 all out.

This was a very good win, pacing the innings, two good partnerships of 57 & 65 & then accelerating to attain a defendable total; very good fielding & catching taking the chances offered & no drops. A marked & welcome improvement on the first game at Tynemouth.

Onward to Sat 2^nd May SNCC v Chester-le-Street (h) 1200, 100o win/lose. The Cestrians, 2025 Div 2 champions & undefeated so far. Promises to be exciting, we hope you can be there. 

Duncan.