Thursday 8th May 2008
The Midweek side finally got their season underway with a home fixture against Percy Main who batted first. They were soon in trouble with 2 wickets falling in the first, both caught behind by James Bates off Chris Barlow (2-8) and a run out followed shortly after to leave them 3-8, Matt Smart (1-22) leaving the innings at 34-4. Opener Dave Reay however scored 47 to boost their total before being bowled by Andy Denyer (2-29). Percy Main were bowled out at the end of the 19th over for exactly 100 with Jon Varley returning his best figures for the side with 3-17. Ponteland in reply posted an opening stand of 64 before Ed Common (27) and Simon Raw (31) fell in quick succession. The run rate of nearly 7 an over proved too steep a target for an early season run chase and 4 further wickets were lost to fall 8 runs short.

Wednesday 7th May 2008
The 1XI lost to Cowgate in the Cup by 8 wickts. Batting first Ponteland made a slow start and it was only a fifty partnership between Matt Darwood (22) and some powerful hitting from Matty Bell (33) that boosted the total to 94-9. Ed Common produced a tidy bowling spell of 1-18 off his 5 overs and Jonny Appleby took 1-22 from his overs. Cowgate however kept wickets in hand and won with an over to spare.

Sunday 4th May 2008
The Friendly side managed to beat the weather but not Alnmouth to play their first game of the season. Despite heavy rain in the Newcastle area it was only a light persistant drizzle at Alnmouth so it was possible to play a 30 over a side game. Batting first Alnmouth's opener took advantage of some good fortune and poor Ponteland fielding to score an unbeaten 118 out of 166-4, with two late wickets to Stuart Taylor following up on one each for Ashley Parker and Alex Gray.

In reply despite being hampered by Parag's non appearance the top order managed to keep up with the rain rate, Neil Pinnock opening up with a rapid 47 and James Robinson recording his first ever six as we raced to 87-2 at the halfway point. Stuart Taylor (20) and James Bates kept the required rate around six an over and Andy Denyer and Chris Barlow helped keep it there. The penultimate over proved crucial as Chris was bowled and only 2 runs scored to leave 11 to win from the final over. Two more wickets fell to leave James on 47* and a defeat by 6 runs.

Many thanks to Ashley Parker's dad, John, who kindly volunteered to join us in the field to ensure we had 11 players. Needless to say most of us fielded worse than he did!!

Saturday 3rd May 2008
Despite the good weather today both league matches had to be cancelled because of the poor weather during the week.

Wednesday 30th April 2008
The continuing heavy rain has resulted in tomorrow nights fixture against Newcastle to be cancelled. It will not be possible to have nets this week either due to flooding and the weekend fixtures at home are already in doubt.

Monday 28th April 2008
The 1st XI got their season underway with a strong performance away at Chopwell. Batting first Ponteland's top order struggled with the conditions with 4 of the top five batsmen failing to score more than 5 runs. The remaining opener, Brendan Meagher, however found support first from Andy Graves (16) and Tom Common (19) before a 7th wicket partnership in excess of 70 with Jonny Appleby helped build a sizeable total. Jonny was dismissed for his best score for the first eleven of 36 as the innings finally closed on 193-9. brendan batting throughout the fifty overs for an unbeaten 86.

In reply Chopwell started well with both openers passing 20 runs before Brendan dismissed them both. John Gardner picked up 4 for 19 and Jonny Appleby 1 for 24 as Ponteland held their catches to take wickets regularly. Brendan picked up a further 3 wickets to finish with 5-43 to complete an impressive debut as Chopwell were dismissed for 124. Ponteland's win by 69 runs saw them pick up a maximum 20 points from the opening fixture of the season.

Match Summary: Ponteland 193-9 (B.Meagher 86*, J.Appleby 36) Chopwell 124 (B.Meagher 5-43, J.Gardner 4-19)

In a match sponsored by Michael Offord Optometrist Ponteland 2nd XI got their 2008 campaign off to a less than auspicious start. On a green damp pitch, captain Alex McLean won the toss & had no hesitancy in asking newcomers to the league, Chopwell, to bat first.

The Chopwell innings of 72 all out lasted 28 overs, with Ashley Parker taking the new ball, bowling well and deserving his figures of 2-14 from 7 overs. Senior pros Phil Hall (2-9) and Keith Crerar (4-13) did the rest of the damage, with 2 sharp runouts completing an impressive afternoon in the field.

Sadly that was as good as it got. Openers Simon Raw and Matt Smart put together an opening stand of 22, which should have provided a solid base for a victory push. However on a pitch which, although taking spin, was drying out and becoming easier to bat on, the 2nd XI batting lineup's capacity to implode once again raised it's ugly head. 10 wickets fell for 34 runs as Chopwell's young legspinner Meadows (4-15) and Graham (5-22) benefitted from a succession of poor shot making decisions, despite everybody having seen how the opposition's wickets fell. Very few of the batsmen could look back and say in all honestly that they were beaten by good balls or inconsistent bounce.

As with so many games last year, the bowlers who performed so well were let down by some poor batting. Some serious improvements will have to be made if the team stands any chance of challenging for promotion this year.

Match Summary: Chopwell 72 (K.Crerar 4-13) Ponteland 56 (Meadows 4-15, Graham 5-22)

A.McLean

Both the U13 cup match at Blagdon Park and the Friendly against Davipart were cancelled following the heavy rain on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Wednesday 23rd April 2008
The Thursday night game against Humshaugh has been cancelled due to pitch conditions. There will be senior nets (weather permitting) on Thursday night from 6pm

Tuesday 22nd April 2008

JUNIOR PRACTICE SESSIONS

For junior members who are in school years 4,5 or 6 the practice sessions will start on Sunday 4th May at 10am at the leisure centre

For junior members who are in school years 7 or above the practice sessions will start on Sunday 27th April at 10 am

Monday 21st April 2008
The weather resulted in all games for the opening weekend being cancelled.

The league matches have all been rearranged for Bank Holiday Monday 26th May. The league has confirmed that these will be the only fixtures to be rescheduled due to the weather. Further bad weather will result in drawn fixtures.

Weather permitting outdoor nets will be on Tuesday this week

JUNIOR REGISTRATION AND OPEN EVENING - TUESDAY 1st APRIL 2008 - More details

Friday 28th March 2008
Congratulations to Mark Gillespie, who has signed a two year YTS contract at Carlisle United starting in July 2008. We wish him well in his football career.

Thursday 27th March 2008
There are now only two weeks of indoor nets remaining.

Tuesday 12th February 2008
A reminder that indoor nets have started. Juniors 8-9pm and Seniors 9-10pm Wednesdays for 9 more weeks at the Newcastle Cricket Centre in Gosforth.

Batting for breast cancer - The following link takes you to the breast cancer care website where the pink bat handles used by Collingwood, Hayden, Symonds and Gilchrist amongst others are available to buy for £4.50

Tuesday 27th November 2007
Club Markstatus Awarded to Ponteland Cricket Club

We are delighted to announce that Ponteland Cricket Club has been awarded Clubmark Status the following press release has been issued by the Northumberland County Cricket Board.

Ponteland Cricket Club have been celebrating the recent award of Clubmark Accreditation through Sport England and the England & Wales Cricket Board.

Managed locally in partnership with Northumberland Cricket Board, Clubmark has helped the club to develop a vibrant and healthy cricket infrastructure while demonstrating commitment to high quality provision through the production of a Club Development Plan.

The club demonstrated implementation across four themes; Duty of Care and Safeguarding Children, Cricket Programmes, Sports Equity and Ethics and Club Management.

Congratulations go to volunteers at the club who have worked so hard to achieve accreditation.

It will be a busy summer ahead for the club who will be delivering the Chance to Shine initiative in 2008, in addition a new two bay artificial practice area will be ready for use in the new season.

Monday 19th November 2007
The First and Second Eleven Fixtures have been released. The 1XI start at Home against relegated Morpeth before travelling to renew rivalries with Chopwell after they join the league this season. The 2XI play Morpeth at Longhirst before hosting Chopwell. The fixtures were however published without dates on so the current assumption is that the season starts on Saturday 19th April. As soon as dates are confirmed the full list will be published on the site.

The Cup draws have also been made. The Cup draws have been regionalised for the first two rounds in an attempt to reduce the number of conceded games. The 1XI have a bye in the Foster's Cup and face the winners of Ryton v Burnopfield away on Sunday 18th May. In the A Division Cup they travel to Cowgate on Wednesday 7th May and in the Tyneside Charity Bowl travel to Backworth on 21st May.

The 2XI will play in Round One for the first time after receiving a bye and will host either Ashington or Alnwick on 14th May.

Junior and Friendly fixtures will be made available as soon as they are published.

Friday 16th November 2007
The website is running again after uploading problems

The AGM was fairly well attended at the start of the month.

Chairman Andy Morgan reviewed the season and highlighted the Club's progression towards completing the Club Mark programme, down primarily to the hard work by Peter Sowler. This time last year the Club had successfully obtained a lease of the ground from Leisure Connection and the effects of this are seen in the off-field activities. Grants were obtained to buy a new wicket mower and a huge sum was secured to pay for a new two lane outdoor net facility which will be ready for the start of the 2008 season.

The playing reports from the Team Captains carried a common theme - it rained a lot! - before the rain the league sides were well placed in their respective divisions, after the rain we appeared to forget how to play and slipped out of contention for promotion. Major changes have taken place in the structure of local cricket for the 2008 season, Cowgate and Chopwell join the league to even out the numbers but Promotion and Relegation to and from the Northumberland League is now possible, but the aim is to look upwards rather than down.

All Committee Members were returned to their respective positions for 2008 as were all the Captains although the Midweek Captaincy is currently vacant with Simon Raw unable to take the post due to new work commitments. Anyone interested in running the side please make contact.

The Jameson Trophy for contribution to the Club was deservedly won by Jonny Appleby, who took over preparing the ground (despite the demands of his full time job) when Geoff was unable to do so. He also picked up the Roy Storer Fielding Trophy.

Ed Common won the Lawson Rosebowl (1XI performance) for his two match winning bowling spells against Ryton and Alnwick
Tom Common won the Bowyer Memorial Trophy (2XI performance) for his 87 against Whickham
Phil Barlow won the Tom Barlow Trophy (Midweek) following his 7-36 off 6 overs against Backworth
Peter Nesbitt won the Parker Trophy for leading Junior after establishing himself in the 2XI during the season

Tuesday 30th October 2007
The Midweek C Division and Junior League AGM has taken place and the 2008 season will see several changes in the C Division.

Humshaugh have joined the league, giving an equal number of sides and the blank weeks will now disappear from the schedule, although with Cowgate and Chopwell both joining the A and B Divisions for 2008 they are to be approached regarding the C Division as well.

Every team will play each other once, then the league is split in half and five further fixtures will be played against the teams from the respective halves. After the league splits the team finishing 7th cannot move any higher in the table.

The player elegibility rules have been changed. The new rule is as follows "A player whose last three league matches in the current season were for their first team, or in the case of a Premier League club either the first or second team, shall not be elegible for third team selection except in the capacity of substitute fielder."

To reduce problems in completion of Results sheets the Captains will exchange team sheets to ensure names are correctly submitted.

The Yellow / Orange ball trials will continue into 2008.

The Ian Appleby cup draw gave Ponteland a bye in the Preliminary Round and will face the winners of Benwell & Walbottle v Backworth Away in Round 1.

The U18s will face Backworth in the Lingarde Cup at Home on Monday 28th April.

Friday 12th October 2007
The Midweek League averages have been released. Congratulations to Simon Raw who finished 10th (2nd from the non Premier League teams behind Dave Reay of Percy Main) while Chris Barlow was 11th (3rd) and Alan Varley 18th in the bowling but despite low qualification marks of 100 runs and 7 wickets no one else reached those targets.

Monday 3rd September 2007
Ponteland faced new opponents in touring side Kensington on Saturday. Batting first Ponteland lost James Ealey and Alex McLean early on, before Stuart Taylor and Gav Hamill (30) led a recovery. Once Gav and Richard Jennings were dismissed Stuart took centre stage, dominating a century stand with Chris Morgan (24) as he raced past fifty and reached his century off 69 deliveries. It then took a further 26 balls to race to the 150 mark as he dominated a partnership of 77 with Roger Bell (10). Stuart surpassed his own friendly game record of 156 in finishing unbeaten on 169 with 27 fours and 5 sixes.

In reply Kensington started brightly despite an early wicket for John Hill (1-23) before wickets for John Gardner (1-30), Jonny Appleby and Keith Crerar (1-36) saw their innings at 146-4. A collapse then followed as Roger Bell (3-31) and James Ealey (2-19) took five wickets for 21 runs before Jonny returned to take the final wicket with Gav getting his only stumping for the season as Ponteland won by 86 runs.

Match Summary :Ponteland 254-5 (S.Taylor 169*, G.Hamill 30) Kensington and Chelsea 168 (S.Gurv 30, Azza 55, R.Das 37, R.Bell 3-31)

A second friendly of the weekend saw the season end with the closest match of the season. Put into bat Ponteland batted poorly in the face of some accurate bowling from Ovingham and posted a total of 144, without using all their overs. Ovingham got off to a steady start as some disappointing bowling was served up, with the stumps rarely threatened. Only a burst of 5-9 from Jonny Appleby who gave up the keeping duties took the game to the final over but Ovingham scrambled a series of quick singles to get the five required on the final delivery.

Monday 27th August 2007
In the last Home league game of the season, sponsored by Nicholson & Morgan Solicitors the 1XI faced already promoted Backworth. Batting first on an excellent batting strip Ponteland lost an early wicket in the first over as Ed Common departed for 0. Malcolm Clarke then batted aggressively and increasingly fluently to record 44 before being dismissed LBW. Gav Hamill then fell for the second Saturday in a row first ball and Stuart Taylor saw off his second consecutive hat-trick delivery. James Ealey after scoring 32 then skied one to be cmfortably caught and Matt Darwood was dismissed shortly after for 1. Staurt and Matty Bell then added fifty for the 6th wicket before Matty was dismissed for 23 and Andy Graves quickly scored 16. Stuart after passing fifty was then LBW for 69 to leave the innings 196-8 and Dave Waters and Duncan McGregor fell in quick succession to leave a disappointing total of 212 with 8 overs of the innings unused.

Ponteland's failure to bat out their overs then proved costly as Backworth batted confidently and lost just three wickets in pursuit of the target despite Matty Bell taking his first wickets for the 1XI with a tidy spell of 2-41 in 10 overs but Backworth reached the total in just the 37th over to take maximum points. Photos

Match Summary:Ponteland 212 (S.Taylor 69, M.Clarke 44, J.Ealey 32) Backworth 215-3

Awaiting 2XI Match Report

Monday 27th August 2007
The 1XI made it maximum points for the double weekend with an emphatic victory over Burnopfield.After losing the toss Ponteland were sent into the field and John Gardner made an immediate break through with a wicket with the fifth delivery, as a short ball was gloved to Gav Hamill behind the wicket, but by the end of the 9th over Burnopfield had reached 58 as they made the most of the short boundaries, with only 4 singles in that total. Jonny Appleby then put together a spell of 4 consecutive maidens, bowling Baxter for 18 and Tinnion was caught by John Gardner off his second delivery. John (2-50) then claimed his second wicket with Bewick bowled for 36. Jonny then took his third wicket to leave Burnopfield's innings on 79-5. Ed Common replaced John and had Ridley caught behind for a duck before Jonny finished his spell with two wicket maidens, finishing with outstanding figures of 15 overs 9 maidens taking 5 wickets for 28 runs. Stoneman with an unbeaten 27 helped boost the innings to 183 with Duncan McGregor (1-23) and Ed Common (2-62) taking the final two wickets.

Ponteland's innings started in the same fashion as Burnopfield's with a boundary followed immediately by a wicket as Ed Common fell for 4. Malcolm Clarke and new opener Dave Waters then took the score onto 35 in just 5 overs before Dave was caught for 7. Gav Hamill and Malcolm, who both recorded first ball ducks on Saturday were in no mood for a repeat performance as they launched into the bowling with agressive and powerful hitting. Malcolm's fifty took just 34 balls, Gav then reached his off just 28. Gav then hit his next three balls out of the ground for successive sixes as they brutally accelerated the innings to the point that the target was reached in just 18.2 overs, the game finishing, perhaps appropriately with Gav Hamill's 8th six ( a record for Ponteland in a single innings) while the partnership of 151 took just 12 overs. Gav's 89 scored in just 42 balls and Malcolm's unbeaten 63 off 43, with 9 fours and 5 sixes.

Match Summary: Burnopfield 183 (A.Bewick 36, S.Atkinson 35, J.Appleby 5-28) Ponteland 186-2 (M.Clarke 63*, G.Hamill 89*)

The 2XI played their home game up at Longhirst Hall's second pitch due to the unavailability of the Ponteland ground and batted first against Morpeth only to be reduced to 0-2 off 4 balls with both Richard Jennings and Tom Common dismissed. Alex McLean (40) and Andy Morgan (26) put on a stand of 63, but after Andy's dismissal a succession of batsmen came and went for single figure scores before Chris Morgan (17*) and Alex Gray, on debut, with 15 put on 27 for the 9th wicket to drag the score up to 131. Despite some fast bowling from Tom (3-31) and the usual accuracy of Phil Hall (2-35) Morpeth reached their target with 6 wickets down as 131 was never really going to be enough.

Match Summary: Ponteland 131 (A.McLean 40) Morpeth 132-6 (L.Brown 54*, T.Common 3-31)