Shildon Railway Cricket Club 1st team, who led the North Yorks & South Durham Premier Cricket League Division 2, crashed to a 7 wickets defeat, at second placed Richmond, after another poor batting display, reports John Brennan.
The Railwaymen were again under strength, with some important players missing, and when asked to bat by the home side, failed to cope against a strong bowling attack. Only Loyd Horner (20), Ben Ryan (19) and Tom Wickens (11) reached double figures, as the innings crumbled to a miserable 83 all out in the 31st over. Eight batsmen together contributed a paltry 23 runs. Richmond raced to victory in the 12th over for the loss of 3 wickets, Ben Ryan taking 2 for 49, and Shildon drop to third place in Division 2.
Skipper Greg Upton has sustained a serious hand injury and is likely to be out for the remainder of the season. It is obvious that the Railwaymen’s squad needs strengthening if it is to compete with the top teams. When key players are missing there are few players who can step up to fill the void, but attracting new players is a problem, especially at this stage in the season.
On Tuesday evening, the first team game against Rockcliffe Park, in the quarter final of The Readman Cup, was called off due to the Hackworth Road Ground being unfit. This dreadful weather is making it so difficult for groundsmen everywhere to prepare wickets and cut outfields when the grass is so persistently wet.
The 2nd team remains unbeaten and now sits proudly top of the Darlington & District Cricket League Division B, after an overwhelming 10 wickets win over Haughton. At the Hackworth Road Ground, skipper Matty Summerbell led the way with 5 for 24, as last week’s hat-trick hero Shane Rowley (2-23) and Matty Franklin (2-7) put the visitors to the sword in 29 overs. Haughton were all out for 84.
Shildon’s openers, Shane Rowley (44) and Ben Moseby (27) saw the side home in 19 overs and the result took the Railwaymen five points clear of Cliffe at the top of the division.
Saturday (1 June) sees the 1st team at Hackworth Road against Saltburn, whilst the 2nd team travels to Middleton-in-Teesdale, in their respective league fixtures. Next Tuesday, 4 June, the 2nds face Eryholme in the FB Howell Trophy, and on Wednesday 5th, the 1sts will play Rockcliffe Park in the rearranged cup game. Both games will take place at the Hackworth Road Ground.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
