Barnard Castle aim for trophy double this weekend

Barnard Castle are aiming to complete phase one of their bid to achieve a trophy double this weekend.

Barney, who completed a treble last season, can win two major titles this year, the Premier Division and the Kerridge Cup, but standing in their way in both competitions are rivals Richmondshire.

The sides meet on Sunday at Hartlepool CC (1.30pm) in the Kerridge Cup final but as far as captain Karl Carver is concerned, every remaining game this season is a “cup final”.

He said: “Nothing will be different from my perspective, we will take every game as it comes. Every game from here on in is a cup final and on Sunday it will just be a case of going about the usual business of getting stuck in and enjoying the occasion.

“It’s a cup final, it’s where you want to be and it’s one of those days we all look forward to. Playing Richmond adds a little spice, to be fair, both teams will have that extra urge to win on the day.”

Based on recent successes, Barney’s players know how to get the job done in key encounters, so what was the secret of their success last season?

“I think it was lads standing up when required,” answered Carver, who says he should have all his players available for the final and tomorrow’s crucial home Premier Division game against Middlesbrough (Saturday, noon). “When somebody was required to step up, they stepped up. Last year, the contributions were spread through the team.”

NYSD Premier Division Darlington RA v Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle’s lead at the top of the Premier Division was reduced to nine points after a weekend to forget.

The reigning champions suffered a heavy defeat at Darlington RA while rivals Richmond took maximum points from a tight fixture against Hartlepool.

Barney skipper Karl Carver won the toss and decided to have a bat but, for once, the decision backfired as his batters struggled.

Opener James Clarkson was dismissed with the second ball of the day by Mathew Pillans to leave Barney 0-1 and it was pretty much downhill from there. James Quinn fell in the third over, again for a duck and again to Pillans, as the visitors slipped to 4-2. A steady clatter of wickets saw Barney reduced to 59-8 before Rob West and Tom Merryweather dug in to add 59 for the ninth-wicket. When West (46) was dismissed, young Joe Rutherford joined Merryweather and was largely a spectator as the pair put another 24 runs on the scoreboard before the latter was stumped on 39.

Any hopes of making early indents into the Darlington batting were frustrated as openers Vishal Tripathi (79) and Callum Buckley (43) put on 129 for the first wicket. The home side eventually reached their target inside 32 overs.

Barney 142 all out (46.3 overs) lost to Darlington RA 144-2 (31.1overs) by 8 wickets.

Division One Barnard Castle II v Norton

Barney Seconds’ bid to retain their Division One status suffered another setback after they were beaten by Norton. A very young line-up was bowled out for 134 with Jack Dalton top scoring with 48. Norton knocked the runs off inside 25 overs.

The result leaves Barney bottom of the table, 31 points from safety with five fixtures remaining.

Barney Seconds 134 all out (48 overs) lost to Norton 137-3 (24.3 overs) by 7 wickets.

Sunday Conference North Hartlepool IV v Barnard Castle III

Barney’s young bowlers caught the eye as the Thirds thumped Hartlepool Fourths. Will Poole took 4-18 and Leo Rokk 3-19 as the hosts were bowled out for just 68 after winning the toss and electing to bat. Poole, batting at four, then hit an unbeaten 28 to see third-placed Barney home along with opener Oli Greves, who finished 34 not out.

Hartlepool Fourths 68 all out (30.1 overs) lost to Barney Thirds 70-2 (15 overs) by 8 wickets.

NYSD Women’s Hardball 100 Barnard Castle v Glaisdale

Title-chasing Barney were convincing winners over Glaisdale.

Annabelle Tiplady (2-9), Emily Lawson (2-13), Harriet Robson (1-12) and Robyn Womack (1-18) shared the wickets between themselves in a fine bowling performance that restricted Glaisdale to 53-6. Barney needed just 22 balls to chase down their victory target with openers Dani Howson (23 off 14 balls) and Morgan Johnson (26 off 10) seeing their side home.

Glaisdale 53-6 (100 balls) lost to Barney 54-0 (22 balls) by 7 wickets.

NYSD Women’s Hardball 100 Darlington v Barnard Castle

Barney women put in a fantastic display with the bat smashing 194 off 100 balls.

Opener Annabelle Tiplady scored an unbeaten 60 off 49 balls while team-mates Clare Tudor (24 off 14), Libby Merryweather (27 off 14) and Emily Lawson (25 not out off 15) all made significant contributions. Annabelle also took 2-16 as Darlington were bowled out for 54. Emily Greves (2-13), Robyn Womack (3-11) and Emily Lawson (2-7) also performed extremely well with the ball.

Barnard Castle 194-4 (100 balls) bt Darlington 54 all out (82 balls) by 140 runs.

Junior 100 (U17) semi-final Barnard Castle U17 v Rockliffe Park U17

A mightily impressive performance from Barney U17s saw them sweep aside Rockliffe Park and secure a place in the Junior 100 final.

After being asked to bat, Barney’s openers Jack Dalton (31) and Will Poole (74) put on 86 for the first wicket. Then Oli Greves joined Poole to add 40 for the second wicket. The hosts eventually finished on 144-2 but Rockliffe hadn’t seen the last of Poole, who took 4-12 off his 20 balls. The visitors were dismissed for 109 with Joe Rutherford (2-22), Toby Gent (1-20), Leo Rokk (1-24) and Finlay Kirkup (1-26) among the wickets.

Barney will play Marton in the final at Thornaby CC on Monday, August 30.

Barney U17s 144-2 (100 balls) bt Rockliffe U17s 109 all out (91 balls) by 35 runs.

• Barnard Castle Cricket Club have the honour of hosting the 2026 NYSD Pallister Cup on Sunday, September 6.

It’s a significant feather in the cap of the club and recognition of the fine facilities at their Vere Road ground. The Pallister Cup will involve the four winners of the NYSD regional junior leagues, including Barnard Castle U17, with semi-finals followed by a final taking place.

The action begins at 9.30am when Barnard Castle U17 play Norton U17.

The second semi-final sees Marton U17 take on Middlesbrough U17 at 12.30pm and the winners of the two semis meet in the final.