On Saturday 9th July, Tynemouth Cricket club first XI were away to Benwell Hill. Their Denton Bank ground looked a picture on a day where the whole country was enjoying wall to wall sunshine. This was a day for cricket watching in t shirts and shorts, for sun glasses and hats and for plenty of factor 50! The wicket at the Hill was like a shirt front and unsurprisingly proved to be full of runs. Home skipper Pete Halliday called correctly and asked Tynemouth to bat first.The in-form Ben Debnam strode to the crease with 17 year old Dan Thorburn opening the batting for the first time in the NEPL top division.

Debnam started well with three early boundaries but was caught by Max Williamson at third man looking to add a fourth off the bowling of Calum Harding. Skipper Matt Brown was next in, but he was caught behind without troubling the scorers and Tynemouth were 34/2. Professional Stu Poynter then joined Thorburn, and they began to put together a stand that saw the visitors prosper. After a tentative start Thorburn’s confidence could be seen to grow almost by the over, helped in no small part by the experienced Poynter’s advice and urging from the non-striker’s end. The youngster showed both patience and a sound technique moving to his 50 with two well timed slog sweeps off Northumberland off spinner Max Williamson. An innings of 54 and one of real promise ended just before lunch when the score had reached 121.
A picnic was the order of the day for the Tynemouth supporters with the Browns enjoying falafel with salad and fruit, as they partook in some much needed healthy eating after a heavy week on dry white wine and gourmet food on the French Riviera. Former first team captains Rob Reveley and Vince Howe were, by contrast, enjoying vegan pasties and cherry and almond cake from Whitley Bay’s finest artisan baker.

It was back to the cricket after lunch and Poynter’s innings began moving smoothly through the gears, unlike one elderly Hill supporter who later in the day found first gear instead of reverse and drove straight into the side of Brian Debnam’s parked car! Poynter at the crease and in fine form is a joy to watch. He has a splendid array of shots all around the wicket. Head still and low to the ground, two expertly played reverse sweeps perhaps the pick of his eleven boundaries and after he played on to Rory Hanley for a fine 85, he received a warm hand of appreciation from both sets of spectators.
Tynemouth were now 185/4 and Esam Rahman and Joe Snowdon slowly but surely built another good partnership of 66 before Snowdon perished for 32. Rahman though continued to defend resolutely and when he could, attacked with real intent. His undefeated 72 took the score to 273/8 when the innings closed after 58 overs leaving Benwell Hill 52 overs to secure a win. Callum Harding was the pick of the Hill bowlers. His intelligent left arm seamers earning him figures of 4/48 from his 13 overs.
Between innings the shirt front wicket only needed a press rather than the traditional roll and we were soon ready for the second innings.

Angus Guy, who had made a century against Tynemouth earlier in the season, opened with the evergreen Adam Heather. However there was to be no repeat for Guy, with Matty Brown taking a neat catch at slip off Andrew Smith. Finn McCreath joined Heather and dominated a stand of 42 with 36 runs of his own. It was a promising knock by McCreath whose innings ended when he hit a short ball from Richard Stanyon straight into the hands of Joe Snowdon at deep square leg. This was Stanyon’s first wicket for Tynemouth on debut, after spells at Newcastle and South North. Whilst a two year break from the game had left him a touch rusty there was no doubting his effort and at times, he had the Hill batters in trouble. An encouraging start. Durham County Player Luke Doneathy briefly shone but rather gave it away, hitting David Mansfield to Owen Gourley who took a well-judged catch to get rid of the danger man. Doneathy was followed to the crease by Hayden Mustard, son of Durham and England legend, Phil, who is rather less fondly remember as a goalkeeper for Seaham Red Star. With father umpiring elsewhere Hayden was being encouraged by his mother and their two dogs brilliantly named Dijon and Colman’s!

Hayden looks a player for the future, and he made a composed 31 before Dan McGee took a great catch in the deep off another Stanyon bouncer. At the other end the Scottish Heather was blooming now on the Hill, enjoying a real purple patch after a slow start. Some indisciplined short bowling helped him get going but when he did, he played fluently especially off the back foot. By now the spectators had all adjourned to watch proceedings from the shade outside the Club bar. The Pizza van in the car park was doing steady trade and the £2.50 pints were going down nicely. However one man sat alone all day in the blazing sun, his back to the wall that separates Denton Bank from the West Road. Skin tough as weathered teak after a spell as Club Chairman in the previous century and a life watching cricket, Alan Haley only views the game from behind the bowler’s arm.

By now Heather and Phil Bell were threatening to win the game for the home side but the return of Rahman put an end to their hopes taking 3 wickets in quick succession: those of Heather, Bell and Hanley. All of a sudden, it was Tynemouth looking to force a win but with all results still possible. A counter attacking 30 from Max Williamson saw his side reach 245 to secure the winning draw but a win proved beyond either side and the innings closed on 252/8. Andrew Smith bowled 15 overs and toiled away manfully on another day when his skill and determination shone through. As stumps were drawn a draw was the right result and on a day with perfect weather for cricket both sides should be congratulated on producing such a good game, played in great spirit throughout on a quality pitch.

Sadly, the Sunday saw Tynemouth first XI victim of a giantkilling act in the Banks Salver as they surprisingly exited away to lower division Philadelphia at the quarter final stage. Batting first, Tynemouth notched up 181/8 from their 40 overs, with skipper Brown (30) top scoring, with notable contributions also coming from Smith (28), Thorburn (21) and Mansfield (20). In reply, Philadelphia achieved their target with 6 overs to spare, for the loss of 5 wickets, largely thanks to a superb 103 from Nikhil Gangta. Only David Mansfield (2/22) and Martin Pollard (1/25) offerec real control on a disappointing afternoon for Tynemouth.

On the Saturday, Tynemouth 2s saw off the challenge of their Benwell Hill counterparts at Preston Avenue. Batting first, the visitors were in all manner of trouble after a superb spell by James Carr (5/30), who bowled with his trademark menacing elegance. At the end of Carr’s stint, The Hill were 64/7, having been 41/6 at one point. Unfortunately, the other Tynemouth bowlers suffered rough treatment from Prahalad Nadella (66) and Matt Lockey (79*), who enjoyed a 132-run partnership, before the last wickets fell rapidly to leave Tynemouth needing to chase 202. This they managed, not without a few scares as wickets fell regularly, coming home by the tightish margin of 3 wickets, with Robbie Bowman (60) dominating the innings. It was good to see Hill stalwart Phil Nicholson back after a lengthy injury lay-off and the Kings Priory teacher would have enjoyed dismissing his erstwhile student Neil “Cuddles” Sturrock, enjoying a rare appearance at this elevated standard, caught and bowled. Welcome back Phil!

On the back field, Tynemouth 3s put in a massively improved batting display, to secure maximum points, posting 161/4 against Annfield Plain 2s. The innings was anchored by Chris Grievson and captain Richy Hay, who both posted 56s, of wildly contrasting hues. Grievson, solicitous to the point of caution, faced 114 balls, perishing to the last delivery of the innings, while Hay cracked 5 boundaries and a maximum on a devilishly slow outfield. There was a sense that 161 may have been 20 too few and so it was to prove, as Annfield Plain rode their luck and completed a well-judged response. Hay again led his charges from the front, returning 3/21 from his 9 overs, but mention must also be made of Dan Watt, whose 8-3-16-0 was a study in controlled line and length, and James Walker, who took a blinding catch from Hay to dismiss Jake Martin without scoring. More performances like this and Tynemouth 3s will gain the rewards they richly deserve for the endless endeavours in a tough season, bedevilled by injuries and unavailability.

Next week, Tynemouth CC first XI host Burnopfield, while the 2s travel to Washington and the 3s journey to Consett. Additionally, the 2s have an attractive looking NEPL 20/20 quarter final at home to South North on Friday at 6.00pm, while the Sunday 3s welcome Benwell Hill to Preston Avenue on July 17th.

ian cusack
Tynemouth CC, Press Officer