31/05/2026
Another two game week for Wooler CC and another two wins! We started the week away at Warenford Cricket Club on Thursday night in the 2nd round of the cup. Captain Tom won the toss and decided to have a bowl, a good bowling performance restricted Warenford to 87/9 off their 20 overs. 4/19 for Ali Graham, 3/39 for Ian Purvis and two excellent direct hit run outs from Laurie Blackburn. Our reply got off to a steady start but Laurie and Tom took us to 44 before we lost our only wicket. Ali joined Laurie and saw us to the victory by the end of the 15th over. We face Alnwick Cricket Club in the quarter final on the 18th June at Brewery Road.
Saturday saw a top of the table clash 1st vs 2nd, after borrowing a coin off Millsy, Captain Tom lost the toss and we found ourselves bowling on a hot afternoon. Things got worse, the skipper reacted too slow and put a catch down in the slips off the 3rd delivery of the innings. At the first drinks break Seaton Burn Cricket Club were 63 for no loss, with the first ball after drinks Toby got us our first wicket, caught by Rich Ord. Nice to see Toby return to the field after a drinks break…. Just as it looked like the visitors were rebuilding the spin twins struck 3 times in two overs, 2 for Laurie and 1 for Ali. A few overs later Laurie had 2 in 3 balls again with the score at 116/6 and 10 overs remaining. It was left to Bob and Jim to take the last 4 wickets, we needed 134 to win.
When we returned to the field after another excellent tea and we had dodged a few showers of rain Laurie got us off to a flier. 16 off the 2nd over. A change of bowling in the 10th saw Laurie bowled for a run a ball 31. Sam joined Ali and shared a stand of 40 before Sam was trapped in front we were 85/2 requiring 49 to win. Things soon got worse, the skipper came and went for 0, followed 1 ball later by Toby. We were 86/4, Les steadied the ship before he middled one onto his pad and was given out LBW, 98/5. Bob went on the offensive against their Captain and spinner, he was dropped in an over that went for 7. The scored passed 100 before Bob was bowled, 106/6. Ali was still in the middle and was joined by the experienced Clarkey, they dug in and slowly but surely were guiding us to victory before Ali’s 100 ball innings came to an end on 39, Wooler still requiring 14 runs. Seaton Burn thought they had the game in their grasp, Alan “Fulton” Mackay looked comfortable before he edged one to the keeper, Rich Ord plum LBW the game looked like it was gone at 121/9. It was down to Ian Clarke and Jim Burston to dig us out of a hole, after a couple of wides 7 were needed off the last 3 overs. Clarkey guided a short wide ball through backward point for 4 off the last ball of the 38th over, 3 to get and it was over to Jim Burston. The first ball off the 39th over saw us claim victory, Jim rocked back and punched it through the covers for 4. A great competitive game of cricket, well done to Seaton Burn. Next week we welcome Bates Cottages to Brewery Road, both teams still unbeaten in the league. See you next Saturday!
Thank you to our match ball sponsor on Saturday, Mike Hope of Wooler
