Cricket
NYSD League Premier
Division
Barnard Castle 1st XI
Richmondshire 1st XI
It felt like Groundhog Day on Saturday as Barnard Castle were yet again comfortably beaten by arch-rivals Richmondshire. It means Barney has drifted even further out of the title picture.
Rishi Sunak’s Richmondshire seat may be under heavy threat, but the same could not be said for the club’s winning record against Barney.
This makes nine matches across various competitions in succession that the North Yorkshire side have got one up on James Quinn’s team, and it keeps Richmond comfortably at the summit of the premier division by 16 points.
Not even a packed crowd at Vere Road could lift Barney in their run chase as they fell 93 runs short of the first innings total of 226.
Sean Whitehead was an absentee through injury for Barney, and will fly home to South Africa for treatment, before linking up with South Western Districts ahead of their competition restarting.
Despite some solid figures, Whitehead hasn’t set the club alight and with his early departure it seems unlikely he will be returning next April.
Whitehead only managed to compete in five league fixtures since his arrival, and it’s undoubtedly been a disappointing return on investment for the club.
There was an early collapse where Richmond found themselves 46-4 after a superb spell of bowling by Josh Bousfield, who finished with 4-40.
Matthew Price then batted superbly for the visitors.
Price and the ever-reliable Gary Pratt rebuilt the innings, but when Gary fell to Robert West for 46 with the score on 128, Price had to take control.
He did that impressively, and although he finished 12 short of his maiden premier league century, he had inflicted the required damage to Barney’s bowling unit.
With a change in the batting order, Ed Barnes walked out to open the batting with James Clarkson and they dragged the momentum back.
This was not able to be sustained.
An impressive Richmond bowling display, accompanied by a wicket-keeping performance from Dan Hodgson that wouldn’t have looked out of place at any level of cricket, ensured a Barney batting collapse that has become all too common recently.
Hodgson took four catches but did so standing up to the stumps of all the pace bowlers that they have to offer.
He didn’t give away a single bye and his threat almost certainly led to the downfall of more than the batsmen he was directly responsible for. It was a pleasure to watch a master of his craft at work.
Barney’s Kerridge Cup semi-final next Sunday takes on new importance with each league match defeat.
Their NYSD challenge is not over, but in all probability even at this stage, Barney may have to go unbeaten until the end of the season, with other results going in their favour to have a chance of success.
Richmondshire 1st XI 234-9 (M Price 88, G Pratt 46, Bousfield 4-40). Barnard Castle 1st XI 141 all out (J Clarkson 37, K Carver 26, S Wood 4-35). Richmondshire won by 93 runs.
NYSD Division Two
Barnard Castle 2nd XI
Maltby 1st XI
It was a short afternoon on Sunday for the seconds when they despatched Maltby in double quick time.
The victory retains their position of second in NYSD Division Two, although Shildon BR who sit 23 points behind have two matches in hand.
Maltby have struggled all year and it showed at the weekend when they only managing a meagre 61 runs before being bowled out in the 22nd over.
Jack Mensforth took his first five-wicket haul for the club having arrived from Hunwick CC during the Winter.
Barney didn’t waste any time in the chase and they were shaking hands after just nine overs.
It was a vital 25 points albeit in a match they would have been expectant of victory.
Maltby 1st XI 61 all out (J Mensforth 5-31). Barnard Castle 2nd XI 63-3 (J Thompson 24). Barney won by seven wickets.
Richmondshire 2nd XI
Barnard Castle 2nd XI
Richmondshire managed to do the double over Barnard Castle on Saturday with the clubs’ second teams facing each other at Hurgill Road.
With an almost mirror image scoreline to the one at Vere Road, Richmond won emphatically by 87 runs.
Richard Watson’s late call up to the first team following Sean Whitehead’s injury certainly didn't help their cause, but ultimately they were outplayed in a game that included an unbeaten 122 from Sam Winter.
Barney will have thought the target of 227 was within their grasp, but no one was able to stamp their authority on an innings against a strong bowling unit.
It was a Saturday to forget for the club.
Richmondshire 2nd XI 226-5 (S Winter not out 112, J Mensforth 2-70). Barnard Castle 2nd XI 139 all out (C Dodson 40, J Moss 3-34). Richmondshire won by 87 runs.
Sam Alexander
Darlington & District League
BARNINGHAM moved to within two points of leaders Haughton after brushing aside struggling Oxbidge.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, Oxbridge struggled in the face of two excellent opening spells from Joe Blackburn and Carl Irving.
Both bowled their allotment of ten overs without a break, Blackburn taking 5-33 and Irving 4-38.
Ben Wright came on and picked up the final wicket and Oxbridge were all out for 84 in just 21 overs.
Rob Stanwix then smashed 52 before he was bowled as Barningham reached their target in just 11 overs.
Haughton, meanwhile, fell to their first league defeat of the season at Eryholme, who were asked to bat first.
Half centuries from Angus Potter and skipper Simon Warne helped the hosts to a handy 189-4 in their 40 overs.
Shaughn Russell and Sam Potter removed the top four Haughton batsmen to put the leaders firmly on the back foot before Shaun Gale countered with 61 in 44 balls.
His was a lone hand and as Haughton were bowled out for 148, Potter taking 4-40.
A solid knock of 44 from Raby Castle wicket keeper Arran Taylor helped his side to 157 against Cockerton.
Cockerton openers David Black (37) and Graeme Stansfield (24) looked to have set a good platform in the chase before Mark Humble and James Forster claimed seven wickets between them. Cockerton were eventually bowled out for 105.
Elsewhere, Michael Fleming’s unbeaten 124 was the highlight of Aldbrough St John’s 271-3 as they were comfortable winners against Witton-le-Wear, who replied with 132.
Dan Smith played a lone hand, making 45 of Middleton Tyas’ all out total of just 83 against Middleton St George. MSG cruised to an eight wicket win.
In the B division, Anth Coatsworth made 116 not out for Middleton-in-Teesdale as they posted 208-5 against Raby Castle II.
Coatsworth then bowled five miserly overs, taking 2-5 as Raby struggled to 164-8, Rob Kirkup top scoring with 37.
Other results: Catterick 126, Eryholme II 127-2; Richmondshire 190-7, Cliffe II 194-6; Cockerton II 217-4, East Cowton 158; Haughton II 228-3; MSG II 100; Barton 234-5, Shildon Railway 99.
In the C division, Etherley enjoyed a close two wicket win, knocking off Barton II’s 141, while Spennymoor’s 264-5 was too many for Northallerton III who were bowled out for 104.
B Division Cup Final
MIDDLEON-in-Teesdale fell ten runs short as Richmondshire V lifted the cup this year.
Isaac Bottomley top-scored for Richmondshire with 40, helping his side to 150-7 in their 20 overs.
There were two wickets apiece for John Lucas, Oliver Welsby and Robert Whiting.
In reply, Lucas (52) and Whiting (46) put on 95 for the first wicket before the Richmond bowlers fought back, with Jack Platt’s five overs going for just 23 to put the brakes on Middleton, who closed on 140-8.
Stuart Laundy
