Shildon were looking to bounce back against bottom of the table Hartlepool having not won in the league since mid-June.

With selection numbers dwindling, vice captain and captain from the 2nd team, Marquiss and Clegg were drafted in meaning a concession in their fixture against Aldbrough St John.

After losing the toss, Shildon were made to toil in the field on a good pitch and quick outfield, McKendry did offer control early on, picking up two wickets across his 15 overs.

However, it was Upton who made the breakthrough with a direct hit run out from mid-off.

This brought the Hartlepool number 3 to the crease who batted very well to take the game away from Shildon, finishing with 107 from 113 balls.

Forster was unlucky to have the same batsman dropped on 35, along with a couple of other missed chances, but eventually finished with two wickets from his 15 overs.

Garbutt, Clegg and Wickins took a wicket each as Hartlepool finished on 264-7 with Shildon left slightly disappointed with their fielding display.

The chase started badly with Upton and Dinger both falling for less than 10 in the opening overs.

McKendry and Forster then came together to spark a revival, at one point looking like they would take the game to Hartlepool.

Unfortunately Forster then fell to a caught and bowled for a run a ball 38, with McKendry following soon after for 30.

One of Shildon’s recent failings has been batting collapses, so a positive from the game was Horner, Bayles and Wickins all reaching 20, with Garbutt adding 11 to eventually get Shildon up to 192, bowled out in the 44th over.

Another league defeat has Shildon looking over their shoulder heading into Whitby at home on Saturday and Saltburn away on Monday.

On Sunday, some sore bodies, and heads, travelled to Feethams for the Eggleston Cup finals day.

Facing Coundon in the semi-final, Shildon lost the toss and were put into bat. After losing Telford early, Forster and McKendry again struck up a partnership to get Shildon up to 50.

After losing Forster for 26, the Aussie duo of McKendry and Dinger came together, with McKendry eventually falling for 43 and Dinger 19, before some later order hitting by Bayles continued his form with a powerful 28.

Finishing on 134-6, it looked competitive. Shildon kept it pretty tight with the ball and barring an expensive over from Forster, cup openers McKendry and Rowley did their job, before Knowles 2-25 and Dinger 3-30 halted the progress with middle over wickets.

Another two run outs from Upton helped finish the job as Coundon fell 12 runs short.

After winning the semi, Shildon had 20 minutes to regroup before facing Rockliffe Park, the league leaders, in the final.

Winning the toss Upton decided to bat first, attempting to give the bowlers, and fielders, some rest. Forster continued his weekend of good form with a quick 41, the rest of the scorecard was a team effort with five reaching double figures, although none reached 20.

It meant Shildon bettered their semi-final score, reaching 140 which felt competitive although a little short after a good start.

Dropped catches again became a theme of the bowling effort as Rockliffe quickly got ahead of the rate and then controlled the chase.

Knowles and McKendry took a wicket apiece and a Rowley run out to leave Rockliffe with victory by 7 wickets with 9 balls to spare.

In between the two league games, Shildon travel to Marton for the 100 finals day on Sunday to face Stockton.

It is a big weekend for the club as they look to recover in the league and win some silverware.