The first team travelled to Northallerton with a somewhat changed lineup, largely owing to a north east football team being in some final or other – nothing of huge importance, but hey ho!
The toss was won by Greg Upton and he opted to bowl.
Cordie McKendry and Ste Forster opened up and found some good areas first up.
McKendry got in on the act early, dismissing opener Dan Luck before some adventurous batting from his opening partner, William Goldsmith meant the score began to accelerate quickly.
Joe Knowles replaced McKendry and managed to get Goldsmith caught behind by Adam Bayles before overseas player, Christiaan Bourbon-Leftley was caught at slip by Loyd Horner with a smart catch.
It was then over to Carl Crabtree and McKendry to wrap things up with Crabtree getting his first BR 5fer bowling tight lines and not allowing the batsmen any freedom.
McKendry also picked up a further two wickets to end with three.
228 was the target and Bourbon-Leftley began with a barrage of fast bowling.
Upton looked in fine form again, but McKendry sadly didn’t last too long as he was clean bowled by the paceman.
Forster joined Upton at the crease and began to build a big platform.
Both played well before Forster was very harshly judged to be out LBW.
Bayles departed very shortly after, caught behind, but again feeling harshly done to.
Knowles joined Upton with the captain reaching another half century for the season, but could not convert, falling to an exceptionally smart catch by Eliash Willis.
With the wicket of Upton for 67 the wind had left the Shildon sails as they collapsed from 118-3 to 121-9.
It was now that the game had petered into a formality for the hosts and they were expecting to wrap up the innings with 10 and 11 at the crease, but both JP Reynolds and Thomas Jacobs (on loan from Bishop Auckland) took to the crease together.
Some solid work in defence as well as careful placement, and in the case of Jacobs, exquisite timing as he found the square leg boundary pushed the BR past the 135 mark and gained another bonus point to end the match with 8 points when Jacobs was eventually dismissed to wrap up the match.
It was a disappointing day result-wise but plenty to be cheerful about. Several players worked their way into form for the busy week ahead with the Readman Cup match against Hartlepool on Wednesday night before an Eggleston Cup match against. Horden on Friday and then Hartlepool return for league action on Saturday.
The second team also have a busy week hosting Barton on Thursday in the A Division Cup before an away game at the idyllic Aldborough St John on Saturday.
The club is open each night this week for the matches so visit and cheer on the lads.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
