FRUSTRATING DAY FOR THE BULLS AS NEWCASTLE EASE TO A 6 WICKET WIN. Sat 16 May 2026: NEPL Division 2: SNCC v Newcastle (h) from 1200, 50/50

16th May 2026

SNCC 198-8 (50o) Nick Tomlinson 18, Sam Ewart 67, Will Phillips 58, Olly Alexander 24: Charlie Darwood 2-44, Joe Boaden 0-20, Will McLaughlin 0-33, Ahmed Khan 0-36, Levi Olver 5-39, Jack Hutt 0-25.

Newcastle 201-4 (42o) Tom Huxtable 75, James Dawson 50, Kieran Trevaskis 20*, Thomas Franks 15*: Nathan Gough 3-54, Ben Hobbs 1-26, Will Phillips 0-29, Danny Collins 0-32, Ru Fletcher 0-21, Will Young 0-24, Ben Sidney Wilmot 0-13.

Newcastle won by 6 wickets - 24 points, SNCC 4.

Missing Hamish Barrie & Nicky Phillips on 1st team duty,  on a sunny  day but still cool, the 2's & their supporters endured a frustrating day as the Bulls, asked to bat, recovered from a slow start (11-0 after10 overs) on a wicket requiring patience but also intent, to post a creditable 198-8 after 50 overs. Then, knowing that a disciplined opening 10 overs was needed, sadly conceded 48 runs in 6 overs including 13 wides, which took the pressure off the chase.

Thereafter, as Will P, Danny & Ru toiled to restrict the rate a second wicket partnership of 129 between Huxtable (75) & Dawson (50) on what seemed a slightly quicker surface, ended at 156 in only the 31^st over. Despite three quick wickets for Nathan a further partnership of 40 between Trevaskis (20*) & Franks  (15*) saw the visitors home after 42 overs. The Newcastle total included 39 wides !! Pace off seemed to be the way forward.

Ewart & Tomlinson faced the seam of Darwood (Grove) & off spin of Boaden (Park). Ten overs, 3 maidens, 8 scoring shots 1 x4 as both bowlers bowled with control & impeccable length on a slow surface, inclined to keep low, making timing difficult.

McLaughlin began a 5 over spell as Boaden wheeled away completing his allocation of 10 overs for only 20, Sam hoisting him to mid wicket for 4 then 6 in the 16^th over but the total only at 36 at the end of that over.

Sam launched McLaughlin for consecutive 6's to mid wicket in over 19 but from the last ball Nick (18, 62b,2x4) called for a single to mid off but failed to beat the direct hit at the bowlers end, 53-1.

Nathan (5) pulled Ahmed to mid wicket but attempting another in Olver's (sla) second over, top edged to be caught by w/k Trevaskis; 70-2 at drinks.

Will Phillips had begun to hit shots through the offside & swept Olver for 4. Sam pulled Ahmed to square leg & drove Hutt straight, both for 6, but in the 36^th mistimed a pull, lofting to Dawson at mid on off Darwood. Sam (67, 99b, 4x4 5x6) an important innings of restraint in many ways just sad it could not continue, 125-3, ending a partnership of 55 with Will.

Will & Olly Alexander then put together a partnership of 59, with Will reaching a maiden SN half century with a 6 over extra cover off Darwood in the 45^th over, 166-3. In the inevitable acceleration five wickets then fell in 11 balls, 4 to Olver as Will (58, 69b 6x4 1x6) sweeping, was caught at square leg, Olly (24, 46b, 3x4), who had driven his second ball through cover stylishly for 4 off Darwood, was held head high at cover, 188-5, Ru (0) very well caught by Olver running toward long off, off Darwood & in the last two in two as Ben (4 ) was well caught by long off moving in & Jan (0) skied to backward point. 198-8, 13 wides in the Bulls total.

In reply Huxtable & Baines faced the seam of Gough & Hobbs. Although Hobbs bowled Baines (0) with a yorker in over 4 the total was already 27. After 6 overs the total was 48 as wides mounted & variations of length & line were punished. As Will P & Danny began spells, after 10 overs Newcastle were 63-1.

After 20 overs the score was 99. Will had bowled 7 overs of off spin for 24, Danny 5 for 25. Huxtable reached 50 in the 19^th with another boundary, his 10^th, to mid wicket. Will Young had a difficult two overs & at drinks the total was 131-1, 60 more than the Bulls at the same stage.

Ru completed a tight, 6 over spell for 21 & Nathan began a 7 over spell which included 3 wickets in 2 overs as Dawson (50,87b 7x4) edged low to w/k Sam, Huxtable (75, 93b, 14x4 1x6) was yorked & Olver (0) adjudged caught behind; sadly 7 more wides were conceded.

The day felt flat, energy seemed low. Will P three overs, Danny & Will Y bowled two over spells but there was little pressure on Trevaskis & Franks who picked off the occasional bad ball aided by another 6 wides. 

The end came after 42 overs as Ben Sid was driven straight for 4 by Trevaskis from the last ball of the 42^nd over.

A cautionary tale for the 2's as they slip to 11^th place  in Division 2 with an urgent need to bounce back on Sat 23rd May v Felling (h) 1200, 50/50/ win lose, the last one before the format changes to win/lose/draw.

Please come to encourage them, your support is vital. We are better than this!

Duncan.