BULLS TAME LYONS -CODY HOFFMEISTER ON FIRE !
12th August 2025
BULLS TAME LYONS -CODY HOFFMEISTER ON FIRE !
12th Aug 2025
BULLS TAME LYONS -CODY HOFFMEISTER ON FIRE !
Sat 9th Aug 2025: NEPL Premier Division: SNCC v Hetton Lyons (a) 110o w/l/d
SNCC 164 ao (53.1o) Sam Ewart 23, David Edwards 20, Rob Peyton17, Simon Birtwisle 13, Chris Hewison 37, Nathan Gough 10, Jonny Wightman 26: Oliver Watt 1-44, Arron Watson 1-36, Robert Talbot 5-44, Zain Abbas 0-11, Cameron Grimwood 1-1, Chris Winn 2-20.
Hetton Lyons 127ao ( 32.2o) Zain Abbas 15, Chris Martin 12, Chris Ralston 55: Jonny Wightman 0-32, Cody Hoffmeiester 8-37, Oli McGee 0-22. Nathan Gough 1-25.
SNCC won by 37 runs- 23 points , Hetton Lyons 5.
A breezy day at Lilywhite Terrace blowing away from the Pavilion; in sun & cloud the Bulls were invited to bat on a grassy wicket recently relaid which was to prove challenging for batting with variable bounce & some seam movement.
Sam Ewart & Sol Bell faced the right arm seam of Watt & Watson. Two boundaries, one each, but then Sol (4) offered a catch to cover in the second over off Watson. David Edwards (20, 25b, 2x4) was positive driving 5, then 9 off Watt in over 7 but in over 9, aiming to pull, the low bounce caused him to play on to Watt, 37-2.
Commendably, Watson bowled a 15 over spell into the wind. Sam had struck 3x4 to leg & with Rob Peyton faced Talbot from over15 & in the 19th Sam (23, 49b, 4x4) driving, was lbw to Talbot, 62-3.
Birty entered needing 3 runs to become the first NEPL Premier League batter to total 13000. A single off Talbot & then in Watson's next, a sweep for 4 achieved the magnificent milestone.
Two overs later a suitably restrained Rob (17, 41b, 3x4) who had survived a chance to short fine leg, was lbw to Talbot as one came back sharply, 73-4. In Talbot's next Birty (13, 24b, 2x4) edged to w/k Clay, the ball balloooning to the w/k standing up, 85-5 after 26 overs.
An important partnership of 38 ensued between Hewi & Nathan as Watson finished & Talbot, Abbas & Grimwood (sla) continued the attack. Watchful & determined, the pair inched the score along, hitting 6 boundaries, until at 120 in the 41st over, Nathan (10, 39b 2x4), who driven straight nicely, was bowled by Talbot, 6 down.
Winn had begun a spell & Oli (2) edged Winn to second slip caught by Abbas at 127. Wighters entered taking 4's off both Talbot & Winn but in the 47th, one ball after striking Talbot for 4 Hewi (37, 71b 5x4) was bowled by one that nipped back, 141-8. A patient & disciplined innings, right for the circumstances on an slightly unpredictable wicket.
Three overs later Jonny played a maiden from Watt but in his next drove 4,6,2,1 to lift the total to 161. He perished in over 53 bowled by Grimwood but his 26 runs , 37b 3x4 1x6 were invaluable. James Ruddick (4) succumbed to the first ball of the 54th over bowled by Winn. The Bulls 164 all out, not as many as they would have liked but defendable. Talbot 5-44 a reward for good line & length, nipping the ball back into the right handers.
The Lyons reply became a personal triumph for Cody Hoffmeister who took 8 wickets for 37 & was responsible for the runout of Grimwood with a sharp throw to w/k Rob. Bowling quickly initially 4 overs & two wickets into the wind & then from over 11, 6 more with it, to dismantle the Lyons as he took 4 wickets in three overs to leave them 39-6 after 15 overs.
Walker & Abbas faced Wightman & Hoffmeister. In over two Walker (3) drove Cody low to cover where Nathan took a very good catch low to his left, diving forward, 3-1.The total inched to 15 in the 8th when Fishwick (2) was bowled off stump by Cody , one that kept a little low.
Changing ends in his 5th Cody bowled Clay (7) & three balls later Winn (0) sufferd a simiar fate. Abbas (15, 39b, 3x4) fell in his next caught by Sam at short fine leg, & Talbot (3) defending, edged to w/k Rob two overs later, 35-6, all to Cody.
Chris Ralston began with a boundary & continued to play with freedom when the chances presented themselves. Oli's 6 over spell was wicket less but in the 19th Martin (12, 20b, 1x4, 1x6) was bowled by a Cody cracker, pitching middle/leg & hitting off stump, 54-7.
Wighters returned in over 20 with a maiden but commendably Ralston & Grimwood fashioned a defiant partnership of 34 until undone by a sharp throw by Cody from fine leg as Grimwood (7) attempted to return for 2, 88-8.
Nathan began a spell on over 25 & having been struck for 6 by Watson (6) found a good swinging delivery to bowl him in his next, 97-9. Ralston continued to drive freely in company with Watt but in the 33rd Cody returned & Ralston (55, 63b 11x4) drove once more to long off where Jonny took the catch, the Lyons 127 all out.
Cody a magnificent 8-37, bowling quickly & targetting the stumps. The Bulls rise to second in the Premier Division on 281 points, 3 ahead of CLS but 58 behind leaders Burnmoor who were defeated by Tynemouth.
Onward to Sat 16th August NEPL Premier Division (5 matches left) SNCC v Shotley Bridge (h) 90 overs (45/45) win/lose from 1200. We hope you can be there to cheer the team on.
Duncan.