BULLS CONVINCING DEFEAT OF ASHINGTON.
25th August 2026
BULLS CONTINUE FINE FORM WITH WIN AT ASHINGTON.
25th Aug 2026
Sat 22 Aug 2026: NEPL Premier Division: SNCC v Ashington (a)
50/50 win/lose.
Ashington 184ao ( 48.4o) Yash Kothari 28, Jordan Evans 45, Jack McCarthy 34, Daniel Gardiner 21: Jonny Wightman 1-44, Jonny Bushnell 0-33, Calum Fletcher 1-18, George Drissell 3-23, Will Alexander 1-27, Oli McGee 2-36.
SNCC 186-6 (42o) Chris Hewison 12, Sol Bell 29, George Drissell 65, Jonny Bushnell 33, Rob Peyton 17*, Oli McGee 15*: Alex Nice 0-31, Daniel Gardiner 1-29, Ian Sharkey 0-14, Cameron Skinner 1-21, Yash Kothari 1-35, James Harmison 2-50
SNCC won by 4 wickets- 24 points, Ashington 5.
Despite their busy weeks George Drissell & Will Alexander were available & Jonny Wightman back from holiday to play in this important fixture at Langwell Crescent against an Ashington side who had defeated champions Burnmoor two weeks ago.
On winning the toss the Colliers were invited to bat. Jessop & McCafferty faced the swing of Jonny Wightman (Pav) & seam of Jonny Bushell (scoreboard). Over three saw a replica of a run out dismissal at Harrogate as Jonny Wightman deflected a straight Jessop drive into the bowler's stumps running out McCafferty (5)11-1.
Kothari began with 2x4 off Bushnell but it was Wightman again, a strong lbw appeal turned down, in over 9 who bowled Jessop (12) aiming to drive, beaten by the off cutter, 36-2. Evans & Kothari defended against good bowling, an inspired spell from Calum Fletcher kept the total in check as he bowled 10 overs for only 18 which included 5 wides. 7 runs in 5 overs so 70-2 after 20 overs
In over 21 from George Drissell's first ball, Kothari (28, 57b, 4x4) lofted to mod on where Jonny Bushnell took the catch, 70-3, a Calum maiden followed. Then the first ball after drinks, Ben Harmison (5) forward, defending, overbalanced, left heel raised & w/k Rob Peyton's fast hands stumped him off Calum, 85-4. C'est magnifique mes amis!
McCarthy & Evans then put together a partnership of 31 as George continued & Will Alexander joined the attack. At 116 in the 34th Evans (45, 65b 6x4 1x6) pulled hard & flat toward fine leg where Oli moving in took a very good catch off Will, a vital wicket, 116-5.
Oli began a spell in the 33rd over, Gardiner & McCarthy pushed on, taking the score to 163 in the 41st over when it seemed McCarthy (34, 51b, 4x4) was unlucky to be adjudged lbw, 6 down. Two overs later the left handed Gardiner (21, 28b, 2x4) forward to attack a slower, wider delivery from George, missed & was stumped by Rob Peyton, 169-7.
James Harmison (2) lofted George to long on where Bushy obliged again & in the next over, another piece of smart fielding by Jonny Wightman at point saw Cam Skinner (0) run out when Sharkey's call for a single proved overoptimistic, 175-9.
In over 49 Nice (6) was lbw to McGee aiming a big shot to leg, 184 all out. Another good display of bowling & fielding that has been the hallmark of the Bulls successful season to date. Wighters control, Calum's accuracy, George's nagging length & change of pace, Oli's best spell for a while & his catch, Will's vital wicket, Rob's two stumpings, the first crucial.
In reply Chris Hewison & Sol Bell faced the seam of Alex Nice (Pav) & Daniel Gardiner (scoreboard). A steady start 14 off 5 overs then Sol pulled 3x4 but in trying to go large in the 8th over Hewey (12, 22b 1x4) edged to w/k McCarthy off Gardiner, 30-1.
After 12 overs of seam the total was 51-1, the ball nibbling about a bit but not seeming to target the stumps. Sharkey & Skinner took over & it was Skinner who made the breakthrough with his 3rd ball bowling Sol (29, 50b 5x4) through the gate as the ball nipped back, 54-2.
There followed a composed & professional partnership of 85 between George & Bushy. George lifted Sharkey for 6 in over 16 & the slow left arm of Kothari entered the attack in over 20 to be greeted by 2x4 from George, 93-2.
James Harmison (ob) (scoreboard) began a spell in the 24th over, an all spin attack. In the same over George struck him for 6.120 -2 after 27 overs then consecutive 6's to George off Harmison in the 30th over but in trying to smite another, miscued to long off to be caught by McCafferty. George (65, 70b, 5x4, 3x6) an outstanding innings on a slow surface.
David Edwards (1) succumbed, bowled by Kothari, playing for spin but losing his off stump & in the next Bushy (33, 49b 1x4 1x6) mistimed to mid on off Harmison, 152-5.
Will Alexander (1) was adjudged run out by the footwork of bowler Nice to the w/k's stumps as he called Rob through for a single, 162-6. Rob Peyton & Oli McGee were patient as Nice returned in over 37. 5 runs were taken in over 41 & in the 42nd Oli struck 3x4 consecutively off Harmison to mid wicket, point & square leg to win the game, 186-6, a win by 4 wickets. Rob 17*, Oli 15*.
Another strong performance in the field by the Bulls & a professional chase despite a late wobble. A 104 point lead on 445 points seeking, if at all possible, to remain undefeated in 2026 as in 2003 & 2018, both championship winning seasons.
Onward to the last three league games of 2026:
Sat 29 Aug SNCC v Castle Eden (h) 1200 50/50/win/lose, not to be taken lightly as the visitors, on 200 points, are now only one point above the three relegation places.
Sat 5 Sept SNCC v Burnmoor (h) 1200, 50/50 win/lose, who will be up for it.
Sat 12 Sept SNCC v Benwell Hill (a) 1200, 50/50/win/lose whose fate may already be determined so will have nothing to lose.
We hope you can be there,
Duncan.