BULLS RUE DROPPED CATCHES IN ONE WICKET LOSS TO NEWCASTLE.

28th Aug 2025

            BULLS RUE DROPPED CATCHES IN ONE WICKET LOSS TO NEWCASTLE.

   Sat 23^rd August 2025: NEPL Div 2: SNCC v Newcastle (h) 1200, 45/45, win/lose.

SNCC 240-ao (44.5o) Nick Tomlinson 25, Angus Southern 18, Jacob McCord 53, Danny Collins 39, Jacques Graham 31: C Miller 3-38, J Roberts 3-25, A Gibson 1-31, R Walker 1-37, S Pinnington 1-30.

Newcastle 241-9 (43.4o) S Pinnington 29, F Periera 34, H Hopkins 27, J Dawson 51, R Walker 42, J Roberts 14*: Danny Collins 1-58, Allan Davidson 3-47, James Lunn 2-47, Ru Fletcher 0-38, George McConnell 2-25, Jacques Graham 0-26.

Newcastle won by one wicket- 24 points, SNCC 8.

From an unpromising 93-6 in the 20th over the Bulls fashioned a splendid recovery to 240 all out with one ball remaining thanks mainly to Jacob (53), Danny (39) & Jacques (31). In contrast Newcastle's fast start saw them reach 130-2 in the 23^rd &197-4  in the 33rd then lose 4 wickets & be 8 down for 215 in the 36th. A crucial partnership of 24 between Roberts & Gibson edged the visitors closer & the winning single came after 43.4 overs.  The Bulls were to rue their failure to take several chances of varying degrees of difficulty, one as early as the second over.

A warm day at Roseworth Terrace, the visitors invited the Bulls to bat. Tomlinson & Fletcher faced the seam of Moore & Miller. A steady start at 5's but at 30 Ru (12) mistimed a pull to midwicket off Miller. Two overs later Nick (25,22b 4x4) found cover off the back foot again off Miller, 41-2 in the 8th.

A handy partnership of 29 between Angus & Olly ended when Olly (8) was run out beaten by a throw  from mid wicket, 70-3. This became 80-4 when George (2) drove Roberts over mid off where Dawson ran 20 yards to take a very good catch over his shoulder.

Angus (18) succumbed at 83 in the 19th, pulling Roberts to Walker at midwicket. At 93 in the 20th Lunny (2) was bowled by Roberts as the leg bail fell well after the ball seemed to have passed the bat!, 6 down.

There followed a good partnership of 54 between Jacob & Ben. Jacob selectively, driving straight in customary fashion supported by Ben. At 147 in the 32nd, Ben (13), on the crease, was lbw to Gibson. At 159 Jacob (53, 58b, 7x4 1x6) an innings of substance at a crucial time, was bowled by Walker's off spin, 8 down.

Danny is determined & with Jacques an ideal partner, the pair fashioned another important partnership of 59 for the 9^th wicket. Danny driving through cover & Jacques clipping to leg. Sadly at 218 in the 42^nd over Jacques (31, 28b, 3x4) skied to cover off Miller. Danny & Allan ran well to raise the total to a competitive 240 when Danny (39,41b, 4x4) advanced to drive Pinnington, missed & was stumped; 240 all out with one ball remaining, creditable & defendable.

In reply Newcastle were equally quick off the mark raising 50 in only 7 overs as captain Pinnington (29, 22b, 7x4) with a life in the second over, drove straight until bowled by Allan in the 8th. Periera (34, 49b, 6x4) scoring regularly through backward point, drove Lunny to mid on in the 15^th where Jacob took a good low catch, diving forward, 77-2.

Dawson & Hopkins continued to punish variations of length & had raised the total to 130 in the 23^rd when Hopkins (27, 43b 5x4) was bowled by George nipping one back from around the wicket, 3 down.

Another substantial partnership of 67 ensued between Walker & Dawson until at 197 in the 33^rd Walker, as non striker, set off, but the single to mid off was turned down & he failed to beat the throw from Lunny to the bowler's end. 

Three runs later Dawson (51, 52b, 8x4) aiming to drive straight, was lbw to Lunny, 200-5. This became 211-6 as Miller (6) edged Danny to w/k Ben in the 35th. At the same score Trevaskis (6) drove hard to cover where Angus took a good catch off Allan, 7 down & 4 balls later at 215 Humble (4) nursing a leg injury, was lbw to Allan, 8 down; getting tense, still 26 needed with 9 overs remaining; a good second spell from Allan.

There followed a vital partnership of 24 between Roberts & Gibson which might have ended earlier if another chance had been taken. Gibson (9) finally fell at 239, caught by Angus skying George to mid wicket. The winning single came after 4 balls of the 44^th over. A game that could have been won had the chances offered been taken & if fielding intensity had been maintained.

The Bulls remain in third place in Division 2 on 322 points behind Ashington (332) & champions elect CLS on 420.

Onward to

Sun 24^th August Banks Bowl 100 Finals day, SNCC v Newcastle (1st semi final) from 1030 followed by CLS V Hetton Lyons; final from c1630, at Roseworth Terrace. 

Sat 30th August NEPL Div 2 SNCC v Whitburn (h) 1200, 45/45 win/lose.

We hope you can be there to cheer the team on.

Duncan.