BULLS UNDONE BY SPIN AT NEWCASTLE. WINNING OPPORTUNITY SLIPS

1st Aug 2026

Newcastle 178-9 dec (51.2o) Dan Humble 24, Levi Olver 24, Kieran Trevaskis 34, Rob Walker 34, Joe Boaden 20, Chris Miller 23: Joseph Dresser 3-37, Will Young 3-42, Ben Hobbs 0-21, Nicky Phillips 1-33, James Lunn 0-28, Hamish Barrie 2-10.

SNCC 162ao (52o) Nick Tomlinson 11, Ben Hobbs 32, Will Carr 19, Hamish Barrie 57, James Lunn 19: Will McLaughlin 1-26, Levi Olver 2-51, Joe Boaden 5-26, Chris Miller 1-26, Rob Walker 1-15.

Newcastle won by 16 runs- 29 points, SNCC 6. 

On a newish wicket that had a touch of bounce & took spin, the Bulls did well to restrict Newcastle to a par score in 52 overs but then, with 58 available, contrived to lose 8 wickets to spinners Olver, Boaden & Walker, finishing an agonising 16 runs short after only 52 overs.

On a warm but overcast day, Newcastle chose to bat. Churchley & Huxtable faced the seam of Joseph Dresser (Avenue) & Will Young (Cemetery). The best opening spells by both this season saw the home side slip to 28-3 after 10 overs which included 4 maidens.

In over 5 Churchley (4) edged Dresser to Nick Tomlinson at 2^nd slip, 12-1. Three overs later Huxtable's ( 5) attempted drive became a regulation caught & bowled by Will, 22-2. In the 10th Hall (0) was palpably lbw to Will, 24-3.

Ben Hobbs & Nicky Phillips bowled overs 13 to 24. Olver & Humble were content to defend with the occasional boundary. The total had risen to 51in the 18^th when a slower one from Nicky enticed an attacking response from Humble (24) but he was bowled, Olver 11*.

Trevaskis, at 6, chose to attack when the opportunity arose, striking 3x6 off Nicky, straight to the cemetery & the nets at mid wicket & 4 off Ben. Joseph returned in over 25 but he too was deposited onto Osborne Avenue & conceded another boundary before finding a good inducker which caught Trevaskis (34) on the crease & bowled him, 95-5.

In over 29, the first ball after lunch, Olver (24) was bowled by Joseph, an inswinger hitting leg stump, 104-6. Three maidens from Lunny (ob) & Joseph but both Walker & Boaden struck boundaries as the total rose to 139 after 40 overs. Will Young began a spell in over 37.

Walker (34, 7x4,) had driven regular boundaries then, after two in succession from Will, in attempting to drive again, skied toward mid off where Lunny made good ground to take a very good catch, tumbling low to his left, 147-7 after 41 overs.

Miller struck Lunny for 6, Hamish (ob) entered the attack in over 44. Two maidens followed & in his second over Boaden (20) mistimed a pull to offer a catch to mid on taken by Joseph, 163-8. Two Miller boundaries took the total to 177 after 50 overs. Then in the 52^nd Miller (23) was caught by Joseph at long on off Hamish & the declaration came, 178-9 after 52 overs, leaving the Bulls 58 to bat. Hamish getting turn & bounce, 2-10 from 4.2 overs.

In reply Nick Tomlinson & Ben Hobbs faced the seam of McLaughlin (rm) & spin of Olver (sla). 19 without loss after 7 overs when Boaden (ob) entered the attack. The rotation of bowlers was a recurring feature of the Newcastle bowling plans.

In Boaden's second over Tomlinson (11) drove a catch back to the bowler, 27-1. McLaughlin continued & with w/k Trevaskis standing up Southern (1) got one that bounced & the w/k took a sharp catch down the legside off a glove, 28-2.

Ben Hobbs had batted nicely again but another change of bowling saw Olver return & in his second Ben (32,66b, 4x4) forward, edged to slip where Humble took the catch, 50-3. Two maidens followed so 3 down after 20 overs.

Miller (rm) entered the attack in over 19 & but it was Olver again who struck as Olly Alexander (1) forward but overbalancing, was stumped by Trevaskis, 52-4. Will Carr had been watchful but struck a boundary in the same over as Hamish Barrie came to the crease.

Drives for 2x2 & then a swept 4, then 2 off Boaden, now round the wicket, but in attempting to sweep again to a full ball three later, Will (19, 46b, 2x4) was lbw, 71-5 in the 26^th over. Hamish & Ben Sidney- Wilmot were patient in building a partnership of 27 in 9 overs but in the 36^th Walker's first (ob) also round  the wicket, Ben (4) advanced missed a quicker one to be stumped by Trevaskis down the legside, 98-6.

Lunny struck Walker for 4 then 6 to the nets after a McLaughlin maiden. Hamish followed suit in over 40 greeting Olver's return with 6,2,4,1 so 128-6 after 40 overs.  This good partnership developed as Miller & Olver continued. Leaving well, counter attacking when possible, the total had risen to 147 when Boaden returned, around the wicket to the right handers. 31 to win 4 wickets in hand, 11 overs remaining.

A boundary first ball as the catch was dropped at long on but from the second Hamish (57, 82b, 7x4,1x6), who had batted splendidly for 26 overs & seen 99 runs scored, aimed to glance but edged to w/k Trevaskis, standing up, who took another smart catch down the legside, 151-7. Miller conceded 4 in his next as Joseph Dresser settled. Then in over 51 Joseph drove nicely for 2 then 4 but in attempting a back foot drive next ball, skied to mid on where Boaden took the catch, 162-8. 

The innings closed abruptly in the next as Lunny (19, 32b,1x4,1x6) attempted to slog sweep to mid wicket but was bowled by Boaden. Three balls later Will Young (0) missed a full toss to be lbw. 162 all out with 6 overs remaining. A  most frustrating end to a game that could/should have been won.

The Bulls remain in third spot in Division 2 on 287 points, 56 behind leaders Chester-le-Street, Newcastle remain second now only 10 points adrift of the Cestrians.

Onward to 

Fri 7 Aug NEPL Banks Bowl 100 ¼ final SNCC v Burnmoor (a) from 1800.

Sat 8 Aug NEPL Div 2 SNCC v Felling (a) 110o, win/lose/draw from 1100 

From Sat 15 Aug the last 5 league games are 100 overs (50/50), win/lose, beginning with SNCC v Newcastle City (a) from 1200.

Sun 16 Aug NEPL T20 finals day at Ashington

Game 1 SNCC v Ashington (1030)

Game 2 Sacriston  v Chester-le-Street (1300)

Final from c 1700.

May availability be good & traffic delays minimised !

We hope you can be there.

Duncan.