BULLS INCREASE LEAD AT TOP OF PREMIER DIVISION WITH A GOOD WIN AT CASTLE EDEN. Sat 13 June 2026:

13th Jun 2026

Castle Eden 143ao (43.2o) John Spellman 23, J P Meade 39, Phil Wimpenny 38: Jonny Wightman 3-31, Jonny Bushnell 1-23, Calum Fletcher 2-35, Oli McGee 2-25, George Drissell 1-16.

SNCC 148-3 (23.3o) Chris Hewison 73, Sol Bell 39, Jonny Bushnell 24*: Callum Appleby 0-21, Keith Bailey 0-32, Ryan Ball 2-51, Jacob Darby 0-18, Jon Malkin 1-22.

SNCC won by 7 wickets - 30 points, Castle Eden 2.

Always a tough place to get a result so the Bulls were delighted to leave Parklands with 30 points after another disciplined display in the field & then to cruise home in only 23.3 overs based on a commanding opening partnership between Hewi & Sol of 87 finished off by Jonny Bushnell with 24*.

Castle Eden chose to bat. Jon Malkin & Ben Simpson faced the right arm seam of Jonny Wightman & Jonny Bushnell. A wicket in over 2 as Malkin (4) although forward, was struck on the back pad and adjudged lbw. In Wighters second over, at the same score, Simpson (4) was bowled by a delivery that may have kept a little low, 9-2.

14-2 after 7 overs as Spellman & Singh resisted. The total had reached 23 in the 11^th when Singh (7) seemed deceived by a slower Wightman delivery, played too soon & edged into his own stumps, 3 down.

Meade joined Spellman, then Cal Fletcher & later Oli Mcgee entered the attack. The pair advance the score with a boundary an over, 6x4 to JP Meade, 2x4 to Spellman, until the total had reached 77 at the end of the 21^st over.

In the next Cal took two wickets as Spellman (23) cutting, edged to George Drissell at slip & two balls later Connors (0) forward but in front, missed & was lbw, 77-5.  In the 25^th the left-handed Bailey (5) with little apparent foot movement, drove at a wide one from Oli & edged to George Drissell.86-6.

Three balls later JP Meade (39, 52b 7x4) drove towards long off but hesitated & the bowler retrieved the ball  turned & secured a direct hit on the bowlers stumps running him out, 87-7.

Wimpenny & Appleby pushed on as Fletcher & McGee continued to probe with consecutive maidens. At 101 in the 31^st Appleby (2) aimed to drive McGee straight but could not clear Cal at mid on, 8 down.

A partnership of 42 for the 9^th wicket ensued, as Wimpenny & Ball battled. George Drissell had returned in over 30 & lunch was taken at 106-8. Slow going thereafter as Jonny Wightman joined George. A couple of boundaries & 2 x 4 leg byes but the total had only reached 143 in the 43^rd when Wimpenny (38, 52b) aimed to flick on the legside but was bowled leg stump by Wighters. In the next Ball (7, 46b) mistimed George to mid on where Bushy took the catch.

Tight bowling had kept the pressure on the batters backed up by secure catching & good ground fielding.

In reply Chris Hewison & Sol Bell fashioned an opening partnership of 87 in 15overs to take the game away from the home team. Appleby & Bailey bowled the first 10 overs after which the total was 57 without loss, Hewi 6x4 through the covers straight & to mid wicket:  Sol 6x4 pulling,  to mid wicket & straight. Being patient & waiting for the balls to hit.

In the 14^th Hewi struck the medium pace of Darby for 4,4,6,4 onto the golf course, destructive. In the next, the 15th, at 87 Sol (39, 46b 8x4) reverse swept the off spin of Ball to Connors at backward point. Hmm !

George joined Hewi & in over 17 Ball (ob) suffered as Hewi took 6,1,4 & George 4.1. 104-1. Hewi struck another6 to mid wicket off Malkin in the 18^th & 2x4 in the next from Ball, straight & through cover.

In over 20 George (7) advanced to drive Malkin (ob)  for 6 but mistimed & Simpson took the catch at deep mid wicket, 120-2. Hewi's forceful innings ended at 128 in the 21^st as Hewi advanced to the spinner, attempting a big hit onto the golf course, but edged to point. A magnificent innings from the skipper (73, 60b, 12x4 3x6).

Bushy had already hit Malkin for 4 but Ball suffered as Bushy struck 6 to long on then 4, 141 at the end of the 23^rd over. Adam nudged a single then Bushy finished the game with another huge 6 over the trees & faraway,  Malkin the unlucky bowler.

A commanding performance & 30 points gives the Bulls a 38 point lead over Felling with next Saturday's opponents Burnmoor in third place, 44 points in arrears.

Onward to 

Sat 20 June: NEPL Premier Div: SNCC v Burnmoor (a) 110o win/lose/draw from 1100.

Sun 21^t June: National Club Championship Regional Final: SNCC v Woodlands (Bradford) (h) 40/40 from 1300. 

Excitement guaranteed, a pivotal week end. We must continue !

Duncan.