Railwaymen not quite back on track

August 20, 2024

After a dismal run of defeats, an emphatic victory at Saltburn saw Shildon Railway Cricket Club’s 1^st team return to winning ways in the North Yorks. & South Durham Premier Cricket League Division 2, reports John Brennan.

Saltburn chose to bat and the Shildon bowlers really got stuck into the batsmen, with wickets falling at regular intervals. The home side was all out, after 35 overs, for 111, with Ben Ryan (4 for 22) and Dan Nelson (3 for 25) being the Railwaymen’s most successful bowlers.

Skipper Greg Upton opened the batting with Steve Forster, and the pair did not hang about, racing the score along to 96, when Forster fell for 45 in the 15^th over. Returning from his trip home to Australia, Jacob Dinger joined his captain at the crease, but he only faced four balls, as Upton hammered 62 not out, including eleven 4s and one 6, to take Shildon to 115 in only the 17^th over.

At Hackworth Road, the table-topping 2^nd XI entertained Middleton in Teesdale in the Darlington District Cricket League Division B, but surprisingly suffered a second consecutive defeat. The visitors batted first, making 113 with only nine players, Nathan Lawson taking 5 for 10. Surely Shildon would easily knock off these runs? Lawson top scored with 28 and Shane Rowley scored 20 not out, but the side caved in and was all out for 67 in the 23^rd over. A very poor and worrying display of batting.

August has proved to be a tough month for both the club’s sides as the teams have dropped from top of their respective divisions. The 1^st team falling to 4^th, now out of the promotion race, and the 2^nd team down to second place, with teams hot on their heels.

On Saturday, when the 1^st XI is at home to Maltby in their next league fixture, the side will be missing several players, as they will be attending the wedding of team-mate Bret Upton. However, the team will have to be up bright and early on Sunday morning as they have a The N.Y.S.D. 100 Final to play, against a strongly fancied Barnard Castle. Playing at Marton, the game is scheduled to start around 12 noon. The 2^nd team continues its quest for promotion when they visit Middleton-St.-George.