BULLS ARE MID WEEK OPEN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS AFTER DEFEAT OF ASHINGTON.

11th Aug 2025

BULLS ARE MID WEEK OPEN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS AFTER DEFEAT OF ASHINGTON.

Thurs 7^th August 2025: NTCL Midweek Open League: SNCC v Ashington (h) 16/16o

Ashington 142-6 (16o) Scott Piercey 64, Luke Hetheribgton 17, Matthew Potts 20, Cam Skinner 21: Danny Collins 0-15, George McConnell 0- 31, Tom Seymour 1-34, Simon West 1-37, Daylan Deen-Williams 3-18.

SNCC 143-2 (15.4o) Tom Seymour 77, Stephen Harper 19, Tris Meears-White 33* George McConnell 5*: BillyWade 1-21, Angus Smith 0-34, Alex Tait 0-44, Cam Skinner 0-28, Matthew Potts 0-6, George Skinner 0-4.

SNCC won by 8 wickets - 9 points, Ashington 2.

Needing 4 points to secure the Midweek Open League title, a tense finish as the game went to the last over, but the midweek Bulls  got home from the 4^th ball, a two from George McConnell, to win by 8 wickets, secure 9 points & with it the 2025 title.

Ashington were 2024 champions & generously, captain Graham Whitworth said that SN deserved their win as they were the best team they had faced all season.

A sunny evening at Roseworth Terrace, a flat wicket, the visitors chose to bat. Scott Piercey & Luke Hetherington were faced by the left arm seam of Danny Collins & George McConnell. 23-0 after 4 as Piercey drove fluently through the offside. Tom Seymour entered the attack & conceded 9. George suffered in over 8 as Piercey drove & pulled 4x4 consecutively, 61-0.

But in the next Hetherington (17) swinging, was bowled by Tom. Piercey & Potts were equally destructive in the next two overs as Simon went for 15 & Tom for 17. 95-1. But then 14 year old Daylan Deen-Williams, bowling brisk right arm from the Grove end, struck twice, bowling both Piercey (64, 39b, 12x4, 1x6) & Potts (29,12b, 4x4) in over 12, 104-3, a crucial intervention.

In the 13th Simon bowled Shute (0) conceding only  7, 105-4. Daylan conceded 3 from his second the 14^th &  although Simon suffered in the 15^th conceding 21 mostly to Cam Skinner. The  run out of Tait (4) via a good throw from Will Oliver made the score 136-5. Cam Skinner  (21,11b, 3x4, 1x6) succumbed in the last bowled by Daylan who had kept an immaculate line & length, under pressure, to bowl three experienced players intent on attack. Bravo!

Ashington's innngs ended at 142-6 after 16 overs; one bowling point for the Bulls. W/k  Stephen Harper damaged a finger in over 13 but, shrugging this off, continued to open the batting with Tom Seymour. They faced the seam of Billy Wade (Park) & Angus Smith (Grove).

6 from over one, Tom 1x4, 10 from over two as Stephen hit 2x4. 31-0 after 4 overs & on track. In over 5 Stephen (19, 14b, 4x4) swung but was bowled by Wade, 37-1. Tris joined Tom, Alex Tait's slow left arm entered the attack in over 6, 10 from it as Tom struck 2x4. 58-1 after the 8^th Tait's second, but Cam Skinner's spin went for 9 in the 9th as Tris hit a boundary.

Tait suffered in the 10th as Tom lauched 4,2,6,1 & Tris 4.1, 18 off, to take the total to 85-1. In Cam Skinner's second 19 as Tom struck 2 (to get to 50* 34b 7x4 1x6), 4,4,6 into the car park 1, Tris 1, 104-1. Tait's third saw leg bye, 4, 6 (over extra cover into the gardens over the outdoor nets- wow!), Tris 1, 116-1.

Matthew Potts's only over conceded 6, 122-1. Angus Smith returned but conceded 14 as Tris hit 4,1,4,1 & Tom a single to take him to 77*, 136-1. From the first ball of the 15^th a Tris dab to a very short third man, an optimistic call from Tom wanting to get back on strike, but failing to beat the throw to the w/k, 136-2.

Tom 77 ( 45b,10x4 3x6) a magnificently powerful, match winning knock from the skipper. George McConnell joined Tris, taking 2,1 & Tris1 to make the total 140-2; 6 balls to go, 3 to win. A single to Tris, two swings from George that did not connect but from ball 4 two runs to win the game !!

285 runs, 8 wickets in 31.4 overs, wonderful entertainment for those watching. Onward to Thursday 14^th August SNCC v Bomarsund (h) 1800 16/16o & chance to celebrate the league win & take a photgraph hopefully with the league trophy. We must continue!

Duncan.