02/09/2026
What an amazing few days for Rockliffe. Three games over the Bank Holiday with the seconds claiming maximum points in both their games, boosting their Division 3 survival hopes, and the first eleven cementing a top half finish in Division 1.
The seconds were in desperate need of points going into a tricky double -header, but with two home ties hopes were high. Saturday saw a visit from Redcar who won the toss and elected to bat first. Bolstered by the addition of Danny McGuire (Wheelers Woodworking Solutions) to the side, Rockliffe made short work of the Seasiders batting with McGuire taking 5-46 from 8 overs. In reply the home side needs only 27 overs to reach the required 140 to claim all 25 points with Tom Dell the pick of the batsmen with 37 runs. Thoughts quickly turned to Mondays game against fellow strugglers Great Ayton. The visitors once more won the toss and this time it was Rockliffe batting first. A disaster quickly looked on the cards for Rockliffe as three wickets fell for just two runs. Danny Maguire then came to the crease and when Mark Haw (MKM) joined him at 75-7 what followed was then truly amazing. An 8th wicket stand of 100 runs with McGuire completing a famous century and Haw with a sharp 44 runs. Given the conditions and the game situation this could well be one of the greatest Rockliffe hundreds as home side finished on a very respectable 175-7 from 40 overs. With runs to bowl at Rockliffe attacked from the off and quickly destroyed the Great Ayton reply. It was that man again McGuire who did the damage with 6-28 from 8 overs as Rockliffe cruised to a 120 run victory taking them out of the relegation places for the first time in 3 months. The 1st. Xl were away to Guisborough on Saturday and looked to be set for victory when they bowled out the home side for a paltry 120 runs. The reply was lackluster however as they themselves were bowled out for 79.
