BULLS POST 238 THEN THE SPINNERS SHINE ! Sat 13 June 2026: NEPL Div 2: SNCC v Castle Eden (h) 110o win/lose/draw.

13th Jun 2026

SNCC 238-8 (52o) Will Phillips 42, Will Carr 72, Hamish Barrie 40, Nicky Phillips 33: Lewis Simpson 1-53, Charlie Tudball 4-45, Cameron Finn 0-20, Alfie Peart 1-71, Kane Iceton 2-23.

Castle Eden 95ao ( 35.1o) Kane Iceton 22, Lewis Simpson 13, Will Iceton 23: Allan Davidson 0-20, Will Young, 0-18, Nicky Phillips 3-11, Sam Lee 2-15, Hamish Barrie 2-21, Will Phillips 2-4.

SNCC won by 143 runs- 30 points, Castle Eden 3.

A sunny day at home the Bulls chose to bat. Sam Ewart & Angus Southern faced the seam of Lewis Simpson & Charlie Tudball. Strong start by the visitors as Sam (1) flicked Tudball to square leg.  In over 4 Angus (1) edged a drive to w/k W Iceton also off C Tudball, 2-2.

Olly Alexander & Will Phillps were cautious & both were dropped early on. But in Tudball's 4th both struck boundaries. Then in over 10 Olly (10) edged to w/k W Iceton off C Tudball, 25-3.

Will Phillips & Will Carr consolidated. Will Carr struck boundaries in overs 12,14,16, 18,20,22,23 & 26, Finn's medium pace  the principal sufferer. Will Phillips struck Simpson for boundaries in overs 11, 17 then Finn in 18 then a 6 to square leg as Peart 's off spin entered the attack.

The partnership had reached an important 86 in the 27^th when Will P (42, 57b 5x41x6) pulled Peart straight to mid wicket, 111-4. Ben Sidney Wilmot (1) pushed forward to K Iceton's off spin but edged to w/k W Iceton just before lunch at 122-5. Throughout the innings no fine leg was posted so all glances tended to reach the boundary.

Will Carr's fine innings came to an end in over 36 when he aimed to cut, but edged to the w/k off K Iceton's spin, 148-6. Will 72, (92b 11x4) striking the ball well through the covers & pulling strongly.

A vital partnership now developed between Hamish Barrie & Nicky Phillips, including 3x4 from a K Iceton over to Hamish,  straight & to long on. Nicky rotated the strike well & benefitted from 4 overthrows in over 45.

Then, as happens, two wickets in two overs as Hamish (40,47b 6x4) a very important innings, was bowled by a C Tudball in ducker & in the next over Nicky 33 (36b 3x4) another vital knock, struck Simpson over mid on but K Iceton retreating, took the catch, 213-8.

A flourish from Sam Lee 19* (23b 1x4) assisted by Will Young (7*)  in a partnership of 25*, saw the Bulls declare after 52 overs at 238-8. Defendable.

In reply, Dunn & Irwin faced the seam of Allan Davidson (Grove) & Will Young (Park). In over 4 Dunn (11) pushed to mid off got 3/4 of the way down but was sent back & was run out at the striker's end as Will Carr threw to Sam. The visiting captain was not best pleased!! 15-1.

Irwin & K Iceton settled, dropped chances at square leg & at w/k hindered but the rate stalled as Nicky Phllips entered the attack in over 9 with Will Young & then Sam Lee. At 44 in the 13^th K Iceton was forward but adjudged lbw to Nicky. In the next over from Sam Irwin (11) flicked hard to mid wicket where Hamish took a sharp catch at shoulder height, .

Two overs later Jackson (4) drove Sam  to Ben Sid at short extra who held a good catch, 52-4. Three overs later, two in three balls for Nicky as Oliver Tudball (3) was bowled as the ball skidded on & then Charlie Tudball (0) tried to cut but the turn struck middle stump, 58-6.

Simpson & Will Iceton resisted, Nicky's 10 overs ended in the 27^th 10-4-11-3 a sublime return on a helpful wicket, Hamish & Will Phillips, both purveyors of off spin, bowled the last 9 overs conceding only 17 runs & taking 4 wickets.

At 85 in the 31^st Simpson (13) spooned to extra cover where Angus took the catch. Two overs later Renshaw (1) went back to Hamish but lost his off stump, 89-8. In the next Peart (0), again on the back foot, mistimed and lobbed back to Will Phillips, 90-9. In Will's next W Iceton (23) who had batted nicely, seemingly in desperation, attempted a reverse sweep & was lbw, 95 all out in 35.1 overs.

A good day for the team & the Bull ! Special mention to Will Young for his fielding. A vital component of successful cricket & very much in evidence across all the senior teams in the last month, we must continue !

The 2^nd X1 are now 5^th in NEPL Div 2 on 149 points behind leaders Tynemouth on 218.

Onward to Sat 20 June NEPL Div 2 SNCC v Tynedale (h) 110 overs, win/lose/draw from 1100.

We hope to see you there,.

Duncan.