MID WEEK BULLS SUCCUMB TO ASHINGTON IN SEASON OPENER. Thurs 23 April 2026: NTCL Mid Week Open League: SNCC v Ashington (h) 16/16o.

23rd Apr 2026

SNCC 138 -5 (16o) Stephen Harper 37, Tris Meears-White 14, George McConnell 39*, Danny Collins 17*: Billy Wade 0-20, Adam Shute 2-14, Josh Robison 0-24, Alex Tait 1-23, Luke Hetherington 2-18, Tom Sadler 0-32.

Ashington 142-3 (13.1o) Lennon Harmison 61, Matty Potts 43*: Scott Alexander 1-10, Danny Collins 1-29, Tom Seymour 0-29, Daylan Deen Williams 0-42, Simon West 1-25.

Ashington won by 7 wickets - 9 points, SNCC 2.

A tough start for the Bulls, 2025 NTCL Mid Week Open League champions, against a strong Ashington side who won comfortably by 7 wickets. The batting power of Harmison & Potts proved crucial, injuries to bowler Scott Alexander & w/k Stephen Harper, an important dropped chance, 15 wides & some rusty bowling combined to produce a below par performance.

Will Oliver & Tom Seymour faced the right arm seam of Wade (Park) & Shute (Grove). An unusual  maiden over to start then in the second Tom (1) was bowled by Shute aiming into the leg side off the back foot. At 20 in the 4^th Will (8) drove Shute to mid on where Harmison took the catch.

A partnership of 30 between Stephen Harper & Tris Meears-White was promising but at 50  in the 8^th Tris (14) drove towards backward point where Wade made very good ground to take an excellent diving, one handed catch off Tait. 

George McConnell joined Stephen & the pair took the score nicely  to 81 in the 11^th when Stephen (37, 25b, 1x4, 3x6) who had batted with intent, was forward but bowled by Hetherington, 4 down. At 88 in the 11th Ben West (1), on the crease, was also bowled by Hetherington.

Danny Collins & George took 57 runs from the last 5 overs as Hetherington & Sadler suffered, George stroking 3 consecutive boundaries off Hetherington & Sadler conceding 32 in 2 overs which included 5 wides.

The Bulls total at the end of 16 overs was 138-5: George 39 * (21b, 6x4,1x6) Danny 17* (12b, 1x4).

In reply Pearcey & Harmison faced the seam of Scott Alexander (Grove) & Danny Collins (Park). A wicket for Scott in over 1 as Pearcey (0) lofted toward  mid wicket for Ben West to take a neat catch moving to his left. Another in over 4 as Thornton (9), having stroked 2x4 off Danny, edged & w/k Stephen caught a very good low catch, diving to his right, dislocating a finger in the process !

Made of stern stuff, after straightening the digit, Stephen continued. Sadly Scott, a groin strain in over 1, struggled to get through over 2 but was unable to complete a full quota. Tom's two overs were expensive as Harmison (rh) & Potts (lh) punished variations of length amid 3 wides. A chance when Harmison, 33* at the time, skied Danny high to cover in over 8, but this was spilled.

Potts struck Daylan Deen Williams' first two deliveries for 4 & 6, his first over conceding 16. Both batters were motoring, Daylan & Simon West suffered as the onslaught continued. Harmison driving on both sides of the wicket & the left handed Potts picking up sweetly to & over the short leg side boundary.

The total rose quickly but at 120 in the 12^th Harmison (61, 36b,7x4,3x6) edged Simon West & w/k Stephen, trying to protect his damaged hand, juggled but held on to the chance; 3 down. When Daylan's third concede 17, the scores were tied at the end of the 13^th over. From ball one of the 14^th Potts drove  the winning boundary off Simon, 142-3.

A tough evening for the Bulls on a good surface against positive batting by experienced opposition. Grateful thanks to sole umpire Shaun Collins.

Onward to week two SNCC v Bomarsund (a) 1800 Thursday 30^th April probably 16/16o for an opportunity to bounce back.

Duncan.