Lanchester Cricket Club

Sat 6th March, it is hoped that a few burly men will stagger along to the club and help out with stripping........hopefully I've got your attention...not that kind of stripping! We need to strip some paint off the bar and try to restore its appearance. Anyone who could come along that morning at 10am would be a big help

Tesco at Annfield Plain have very kindly agreed to allow our junior members to do a bag pack at their store on 20th February. All money raised goes towards providing equipment for our four junior teams and as many players as possible should make the effort to give up some of their time, that day.

You may be aware that plans are well underway to have a football team playing from the Cricket Club for the 2010-2011 season. The team will play at the Kitswell Road ground known for its distinctive playing surface and will play in teh Consett Sunday League if accepted. Steve Murray will manage the side and coaching and training sessions are well underway. From February 2nd the team have a slot booked to play football at Greencroft between 8 and 9pm. If anyone is interested in joining the team, then please do come along.
Fundraising events are in place to buy kit etc, the first being a race night on Friday 19th February at 7pm. For the princely sum of £2 you can come along and join in.

Here's some dates to put in your diaries for things happening at the Club-
Practice
-2/3 X1--4.30pm-6pm at Greencroft every Wednesday starting 20th January
-Juniors-5pm-7pm-Greencroft every Friday starting 23rd February
--Durham County coaching during half term for JUNIORS.-its at Hermitage school Chester Le Street on 15/16/17 February. Poster in club for full details.

The week following the Junior Presentation night came the Seniors night. Durham Constabulary’s Deputy Chief Constable Michael Barton was invited along to make the presentations. After a short speech, he started into the awards with the third team trophy winners as announced by captain Darren Wingfield. Veteran Andy McConnell picked up the batting and catching awards, whilst young Ashton Hughes was the top bowler. Glen Harrison picked up player of the year for his all round contribution.
Second team skipper Steve Murray took some good humoured stick for letting the club down for being the only captain not to lead his team to the league title. Andy Smith was top of the batting averages and should take the league award too in November. Teenager Hayden Petch was top of the bowling which included a fantastic hat trick against Cowgate. Simon Tweedy held onto most catches for his team and Tony Dumighan picked up player of the year.
First team skipper Stu McPhail was on hand to praise his side’s teamwork in their successful fight to win the title and gain promotion. Paul Underwood was top of the averages and also player of the year after a fantastic season with the bat, but also in the way he encouraged others throughout the season. Chris Robinson had an excellent season with the ball and picked up that award whilst Graham Brinton had a cracking first season with the club and ran everyone close with bat and ball but came away with most catches. There was a special award for scorer Jason Coates who had served the first team well throughout the season.
Five days later the thirds attended the Hetton Lyons Sunday League presentation night where skipper Darren Wingfield was presented with the second division league trophy and the players picked up their awards. Ashton Hughes picked up the spirit of cricket award for the division. Opposition teams pick the junior player who has played best or acted fairest and Ashton had most nominations through the season. It was a cracking night enjoyed by all.
The first and second teams are due to attend their presentation night at Dunston Fed Brewery’s Lancastrian Suite on 21st November to collect quite a few trophies.

LCC Junior Presentation Night

The Cricket Club was packed to the rafters on the 17th October with members of the four junior teams and their proud parents for the end of season presentation night. The under 18s were disappointed to finish runners up in the league, losing out mainly due to the weather. The awards went to Graham Brinton-Batting, Ashton Hughes- Bowling, Haydn Petch –Catches and Kieron Taylor- Coaches award. Graham featured in the first team whilst Haydn, Kieron and Ashton saw plenty of second team action and some occasional first team duties. Ashton took a remarkable 5 wickets for one run against Crookhall, during the season.
The under 15’s- Lee Murray-Batting, Andrew Elsbury-Bowling, Dougie Patterson- Catches and Alex Harrison-Coaches Award. Lee and Dougie made several appearances for the triumphant third team. Andy Elsbury took five wickets for 10 runs against Consett and included a magnificent hat trick in that spell.
The under 13’s- Lee Murray- Batting, Jack Ramshaw-Bowling, Dan Smith- Catches, Lee Murray- Coaches award.
Under 11’s- David Selby –both batting and bowling. Chris Tully- Catches. David Selby also managed to hit a six during the season, which is no mean feat for that age group.
Kieron Jewitt was given the award for most improved player, whilst James Robson picked up the personality of the year award.
It was a tremendous night for those involved with a big thanks for all the hard work by Bob Gardiner, Andy Smith, Vicki Kennington and Robbie Selby in the organising of the teams throughout the season. The challenge now is to make sure that these rising stars get the opportunity to progress into the senior teams.

The Third team secured a league and cup double in bizarre circumstances. They travelled to play Burnopfield again only to find the wicket unplayable. A mix up had led to contractors working on the wicket a day early. After many frantic calls to league officials, Burnopfield were deemed to have conceded the match and Lanchester took the full twenty points to secure the league title. This was confirmed during the week by the league committee. Many congratulations to DJ and the team for a fantastic season.

Lanchester 1st XI went into Saturday's game at Seaton Burn needing eleven points to secure the Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League division 2A. A 7 wicket win earned Lanchester 20 points and the league title, ending up 25 points ahead of second place Chopwell who failed to beat Cowgate.

Winning the league ends a 6 year drought of 1st team silver wear and ends 4 long seasons in the NTSL second division.

What a day! What a game!The thirds beat Burnopfield by one run to win the Stan Patterson Salver.You had to be there to believe the final outcome of this game.It all came down to the last over with Burnopfield needing two to win with the last two at the crease off the last two balls and Andy McConnell kept his nerve to bowl two dot balls.If someone had written the script for the finale they would have been laughed at, it was that dramatic.
The match was delayed by half an hour due to rain and the overs reduced to 35. Burnopfield stuck Lanchester in and had early successes. Then a sound partnership between Matty Callaghan and Stu Kelly provided the basis of a good looking score of 198 despite having to come off for further rain a couple of times. Matty top scored with 63 and was given man of the match by the umpires. Stu made 42 before the umpires delivered a one finger verdict on him.
Burnopfield weren't keen to get out to play but once they did the openers blasted their way to an opening stand of 90 before Ashton ripped up the off stump of Matty Young. Stu Kelly took out the other opener with a world class one handed catch at gully.Three more wickets fell and Lanchester were back in the game. However, Burnopfield had been allowed to field a first teamer and he stuck around with veteran Dick Longstaff and they looked as though they had taken their side to victory when Longstaff was out,leaving his side only four to win with four wickets remaining. Andy McConnell then took wickets with consecutive balls in a maiden over, but the upper hand should have still been with Burnopfield with Radcliff still at the crease. He faced the next over by Tim Kennington and steadfastly refused the single he was offered and then Tim kept it tight for the final two balls to keep him at the non strikers end. That meant Burnopfield still needed four to win off the final over.First ball of the final over and the young number 10 played a shot off the back foot which looked as though it might go for four, but for an excellent save by Ashton Hughes and all they got was one.Radcliff couldn't get balls two and three away and then played four straight into Matty Callaghans hands. All of a sudden the unthinkable was possible, with Burnopfield requiring three to win off two balls with the last pair at the crease. Then Andy Mcconnell made it hard for himself by bowling a wide and it was two to win from two deliveries.Andy kept his nerve and bowled two dot balls to set off amazing scenes of celebration for Lanchester.
It was breathtaking,exhilirating stuff and we won!!
What a game!!