BULLS STUMBLE IN THE CHASE TO SHOTLEY BRIDGE LOSING BY 4 RUNS.

19th Aug 2025

         BULLS STUMBLE IN THE CHASE TO SHOTLEY BRIDGE LOSING BY 4 RUNS.

Sat 16 Aug 2025: NEPL Premier Division: SNCC v Shotley Bridge (h) 45/45 win/lose.

Shotley Bridge 217-8 (45o) Jack Temple 42, Paul Greenwell 20, Reece Carr 55, Oliver Gibson 38: Jonny Wightman 1-28, Cody Hoffmeister 0-63, Gavin Paton 1-34, Oli McGee 2-35, Simon Birtwisle 2-25, Nathan Gough 1-32.

SNCC 213-7 (45o) Sol Bell 37, David Edwards 74, Simon Birtwisle 16, Chris Hewison 25, Oli McGee 15*: Oliver Gibson 0-43, Reece Carr 2-35, Joe Gibson 2-38, Ross Burdon 2-40, Dan Anderson 1-46.

Shotley Bridge won by 4 runs - 24 points, SNCC 7.

The Bulls were left to rue conceding 63 runs in 6.3 overs between overs 37 & 42 as Oli Gibson struck a quick fire 38 & then, in the chase, from a strong position of  140-3 after 31 overs needing  5.5/over, were unable to rotate the strike sufficiently against accurate seam bowling which conceded only 2x4 in 10 overs & despite Oli McGee's rapid 15* from 7 balls, failed by only 4 to overhaul a seemingly  gettable target.

The visitors chose to bat, Burdon & Temple faced the seam of Wightman & Hoffmeister. An accurate start conceded only 34 in the first 10 overs, Wighters going for only 10 runs in 5 overs. The total had reached 52 in Oli's second when the left handed Burdon (16) drove a catch to mid off safely held by Cody.

Temple was batting nicely & with Reece Carr the pair took the score to 82 in the 25^th when Temple (42, 72b, 6x4) a positive innings, was lbw to Birty in his second over. During this passage of play there were some very good bits of fielding, from Jonny diving at mid off to prevent 4,  Chris diving at point to do likewise & Oli at cover.

At 107 in Birty's 4^th over Greenwell (20) played over a full ball & was bowled, 3 down. In the next over from Jonny, Nathan ran 40 yards from deep mid off  & diving prevented a boundary at deep wide mid on ! Exceptional !

In Jonny's next Anderson (6) was beaten by the swing & bowled 123-4. Nathan began a spell in the 32^nd over & in his second a swinging yorker bowled Hall (3). In his third Andrews (7) hooked  high to long leg where Gavin made good ground to take a very good, diving catch, 138-6.

Reece Carr, batting at 4, had made his way to 26*  including 3x4 & a straight 6  but Oli  Gibson made the difference hitting 38 in a partnership of 67 in just 6.3 overs as Oli McGee, Nathan, Cody & Gavin all suffered. When O Gibson (38, 22b, 5x4 1x6) was caught by Hewi, skying to cover, in the 43^rd off McGee the total had risen to 205.

Reece Carr had reached 53* in the previous over pulling to mid wicket. He fell in the 44^th over driving Gavin to long on where Oli took a good catch in front of the Pavilion 55 (47b 7x4 1x6) an important innings for his team. Joe Gibson 7* & Rhys Brown 2* ended the innings at 217-8. 17 wides were a disappointment.

In reply Sam Ewart & Sol Bell faced the seam of Oliver Gibson & Reece Carr. In over 6 Sam (6) played forward but was bowled by Carr, 22-1. David Edwards joined Sol & the pair pushed on taking good singles & when Joe Gibson entered the attack he conceded 11 as both cut boundaries.

Ross Burdon's off spin entered in over 14 but progress was at 5's until Sol (37, 44b 6x4) pulled Burdon hard to mid wicket where Carr took a good catch moving to his left, 95-2. Birty joined David and at drinks after 23 overs the total was 103-2.

David reached 53* in the 25^th extra cover driving J Gibson for 4. Anderson & Burdon conceded 4x4 in the next two overs but at 134 in the 30th Simon (16, 24b 2x4) working to leg was bowled by Burdon, 3 down. Angus Southern contributed 11 (18b, 2x4) before he edged Carr to w/k Andrews standing up, 149-4.

Between overs 32 & 41 only 33 runs were scored against the accuracy of the seam attack of Anderson, Carr, Gibson J & Gibson O. After only 9 singles in 7 overs & in attempting to push on David (74 ,110b, 10x4), who had driven pleasantly through the offside or straight & cut to backward point, drove low to extra cover where Greenwell took a good catch, 164-5. 

Hewi & Nathan faced Anderson & O Gibson & the total reached 170 after 40 overs. Over 41- 3 runs, over 42 yielded 13 to get to 186 & the next 8 but Hewi (25, 29b, 2x4) drove Anderson high to long on where Carr took the catch, 192-6.14 balls to go, 26 to win. 

Oli entered & attacking, took . 2, then 2,4,4,2 from his first 6 balls, which included two outstanding pieces of boundary fielding to prevent the twos becoming fours. They were to make a difference! So 209 with 6 balls remaining. Sadly Nathan (10,15b,1x4) was stumped by Andrews from the first ball of the last over, 209-7. Gavin agonisingly could not get bat on ball twice & 2 to mid wicket, a bye & a single left the Bulls 4 short on 213. Disappointing to get so close & not to prevail.

The Bulls remain 2^nd in the Premier Division on 288 points, 6 ahead of CLS in third but 74 behind leaders Burnmoor on 362, with 4 games to go, Newcastle (a), Felling (a), Burnopfield (h), Tynemouth (a). We must continue & aim for a strong finish.

Onward to Sat 23^rd August NEPL Premier Division: SNCC v Newcastle (a) 1200 45/45 win/lose. We hope you can be there to cheer the team on.

Duncan.