Cricket
Barnard Castle 1st XI
Bishop Auckland 1st XI
Barnard Castle got off to a flying start to their 2024 campaign with a five-wicket victory over Bishop Auckland at Vere Road on Saturday.
On a cold and cloudy day, Karl Carver shone with the ball, taking four wickets and limiting the visitors to just 156-9.
Eddie Barnes, who transferred from Leicestershire County Cricket Club, opened Barney’s bowling and dismissed the dangerous pair of Brandon Lusk and Craig George.
Spin was then order of the day. Karl Carver stepped up with off-spinner Finn Usher and between them, took the next seven wickets, aided by excellent work behind the stumps from Owen Peddelty.
The only disappointment of the day for Barney was their inability to take the final wicket, meaning they missed out on five extra points.
James Clarkson got the side off to a solid start with his usual patient and gritty batting style. Carver added 35 runs before they fell in successive overs.
Barney were 115-5 and, on a tough pitch, it could have begun to unravel quickly, but Richard Borrowdale scored 26 off 16, with 24 of those coming in fours and sixes. It turned a potentially stressful afternoon for the Vere Road crowd, to one of relief at getting out of the cold with 20 points in the bag.
Bishop Auckland: 156-9 (50 overs, S Chapman 33, K Carver 4-29, F Usher 3-24). Barnard Castle: 158-5 (38.5 overs, J Clarkson 35, Karl Carver 35, B Lusk 2-34, N Rimmington 2-34). Barnard Castle won by five wickets.
National Cup first round
Barnard Castle 1st XI
Sessay CC 1st XI
Barnard Castle made it a double success with victory over Sessay Cricket Club in the preliminary round of the National Club Championship on Sunday.
Karl Carver, once a student of Sessay’s junior development system, refused to grant them any favours in a game that had been shortened by weather to 30 overs.
Karl’s brother Liam plays for the side based near Thirsk, but even he could not halt the finger-spinner at Vere Road, and Karl took three wickets to help his side progress.
Barney looked in trouble at 54-5 but James Quinn aided by all rounder Robert West, hauled their side to a competitive total of 168-8.
In reply, the visitors never put up a fight, with Joseph Watson top scoring with a meagre 15.
Carver had the chance of a hat-trick but Chris Morrison was able to get his bat in front of his pad to deny the spinner. Rob West transferred his form with the bat to the ball and took four wickets to crown a successful afternoon.
This victory will boost confidence, but the team know harder days lie ahead if they are to go far in this tournament.
Barnard Castle: 168-8 (30 overs, J Quinn 52, R West 37, S Peirse 3-47). Sessay CC: 71 all out (24 overs, R West 4-20, K Carver 3-16). Barnard Castle won by 97 runs.
Newton Aycliffe 1st XI
Barnard Castle 2nd XI
An Ian Swinburn century wasn’t enough to prevent Barnard Castle 2nds falling to Newton Aycliffe.
Swinburn top-scored for Barney with 103 off 144 balls before being run out in the 48th over. His usual individual and free flowing style led Barney to 231-6 off their allotted 50 overs, a score they would have been confident of defending.
The opposition’s experienced third wicket pairing of Sam Telford and Adam Gittins had different ideas. They put on a partnership of 142 which was enough to seal victory in the 45th over.
While there were plenty positives, this was a disappointing start for the side who have set out a target of winning promotion.
Barnard Castle: 231-6 (50 overs, I Swinburn 103, A Bainbridge 44). Newton Aycliffe: 232-2 (44.5 overs, A Gittins 78, S Telford 74). Newton Aycliffe won by eight wickets.
Sam Alexander
Darlington and District Cricket League
Defending A division champions Haughton continued where they left off in 2023 with a comfortable win against eight-man Barningham, who were bowled out for 70, with the wickets shared around.
Dan Naisbitt opened the batting for Haughton alongside Craig Edwards, and both made starts before Ralph Makepeace nipped in with three wickets. Haughton ran out comfortable six wicket winners.
Raby Castle’s young stars impressed in the rout against Middleton Tyas. Finlay Kirkup picked up 4-15 and William Poole 3-7 as Tyas were shot out for 64. Skipper Gareth Walton hit a run-a-ball 35 as Raby romped to a ten wicket win.
The other three scheduled matches were all called off before Saturday. There were no results in the B division.
Of the games that did start before the rain, Middleton-in-Teesdale posted 120-6, with the ever-reliable Anth Coatsworth and Joan Lucas both hitting 30s.
Hosts Barton were on the ropes at 58-5 when rain washed out play.
In the C division, only the game between Aldbrough St John II and Ingleton-based King James went ahead.
ASJ mustered 174-8 as David and Richard Wilson hit 50s, before Dave Mathias’ 4-11 helped send King James back for 78.
Stuart Laundy
