Benwell Hill Cricket Club is located to the west of Newcastle upon Tyne city centre. The club is a founder member of the ECB North East Premier League.
The first, second and third eleven’s all play in the Premier Leagues.The third eleven are also members of the Just Sport West Tyne Cricket League and the midweek Northumberland County C Division.
Benwell Hill run junior teams at Under 18, Under 15, Under 13 and Under 11 levels for both boys and girls.
New players - junior and senior - are always welcome at Benwell Hill Cricket Club.
The Club caters for cricketers of all abilities from Minor Counties standard to recreational level - if you are keen enough you will find a team to fit your standard.
During the season club practice takes place on Wednesday evenings from 6.00 pm and new players are most welcome to come along and try-out before committing to joining the club. The fee for senior players in 2014 is £80, £45 for 18 - under 21s and for juniors it is £35 - for that sum you get full access to the club and its social and playing facilities for the year.
For those who simply wish to watch the cricket and enjoy a pint whilst doing so, we offer social membership at £20 per annum.
Last
update: Wednesday 3 August 2016
21:24 BST
Junior Practice Times
Junior practice takes place every Tuesday evening at Benwell Hill Cricket Club. We are always happy to see new faces and everyone is welcome. Timings are as follows:
Under 11 4.30 to 5.30 Under 13 5.30 to 7.00 Under 17 7.00 to 8.30
Team Selections
Team selections for Saturday 6 August can be found here.
It's Ladies Night . . .
Weekend Round Up
The first eleven reached the semi-finals of the Banks Salver on Sunday (10 July) following a 79 run win over Whitburn. Kyle Coetzer's 97 was the foundation of a Hill total of 263 for 6 in their 45 overs. Whitburn's 10 men - one short due to an injury to bowler Keiran Waterson - were bowled out for 184 with five overs to spare. Young South African Bryce Allchin claiming 5 for 30 in a much improved bowling performance from the Hill.
Saturday saw a somewhat familiar sight for long-standing Hill watchers as both first and second eleven suffered heavy defeats to Chester-le-Street. The first eleven lost by eight wicket whilst the second eleven went down by six wickets at Ropery Lane.
The third eleven maintain their challenge at the top of the West Tyne League with a 32 run win over Haydon Bridge. Batting first the Hill made 132 for 8, Andrew Dawson 36* and Darshana Thrianga 34 the top scorers. The home side were then bowled out for 100 with Darshana (4-27) and Mark Wright (3-27) in good form as the Hill took maximum points.
Weekend Round Up
The first eleven now need to win their final group game of this year's T20 competition if they are to have any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals. Friday's (17 June) game was washed out due to rain which followed on from the previous Friday's heavy defeat to the Durham Academy.
Tynemouth were the visitors on Saturday (18 June) and were in danger of being bowled out for for a low score finding themselves at 106 for 6, but not for the first time this season the Hill were unable to push home their advantage and Tynemouth recovered to declare at 194 for 9. In reply the Hill lost early wickets and a rear-guard action led by skipper Kyle Coetzer was the order of the day. Coetzer ended 64 not out off 134 balls as the Hill closed at 134 for 8.
The second eleven beat Tynemouth by five wickets and the West Tyne third eleven returned to winning ways also with a five wicket win.
In the 2nd XI T20 at Denton Bank on Sunday the second eleven comfortably beat Washington, but the deciding game against Brandon was abandoned because of rain.
Benwell Hill branded clothing 2016
You can now purchase the new 2016 style playing kit or order additional kit by clicking on the TopGear logo. Although the images are still of the previous design the new design will be shipped to you within 10 to 14 days.
Weekend Round Up - EXTRA!
The weekend provided plenty to admire in the club’s cricket with two high scoring games and some high class batting to enjoy. Alas, there was also disappointment to endure as well.
Friday (3 June) at a distinctly chilly Boldon saw the first eleven chase 165 to win, giving them a second straight win in Group B of the Cooperative Funeralcare T20 Cup. An opening partnership of 68 inside nine overs between Jack Clark (41 off 21) and skipper Kyle Coetzer (66 off 40) set the Hill on their way. They reached their target with nine balls to spare. The Durham Academy are next on Friday evening at Denton Bank.
The First Eleven were involved in another high scoring game on Saturday at Jesmond where Newcastle racked–up 309 for 6 declared in 59 overs. The Hill’s response was both brave and admirable but unfortunately failed as they fell 11 runs short of their target with only four balls of the game remaining. James Schofield top-scored for the Hill with 83 and was ably supported by Sameet Brar (54), Jack Clark (41) and Mark Dale (32).
The second eleven made short work of Newcastle at Denton Bank after the visitors had declared their innings closed in the 47th over at 161 for 9. Paul Askell (3-23) and Peter Jones (2-25) easily the pick of the Hill bowlers. The Hill needed only 24 overs to claim the win as Ben Mussett set about the Newcastle attack as if intent on getting all 162 runs himself. He finished on 115 not out off 77 balls, an innings that included 20 fours and 1 six.
The West Tyne third eleven lost by seven wickets at Haltwhistle having been bowled out by the home side for 128. They currently lie second in the league placings.
The second eleven were in Banks Bowl action on Sunday at Jesmond. This was a game that they should have won but they committed the cardinal sin of not batting out their allotted overs having been bowled out for 150 inside 31 overs. Newcastle were cruising to victory on a warm and pleasant evening, but the introduction of the slow bowlers almost allowed the Hill to snatch an unlikely victory. From 83 for 0 the home side collapsed to 133 for 8 and the Hill sensed their chance, but it was not to be as Newcastle reached their target of 151, although not without further alarm!
The NEPL Sunday eleven had a comfortable seven wicket win over South Shields at Denton Bank and on Monday evening the second eleven beat Lintz by 65 runs in the first round of the Roseworth Trophy. They will now meet South Northumberland at Denton Bank on Monday 4 July.
Team Selections
Team selections for Thursday 2 June to Monday 6 June can be found here.
Well done Baz!
We reported recently that Barry Pearson had been invited to attend the First England v Sri Lanka Test Match at Headingley as a guest of the ECB.
Barry, together with Thomas Parkinson of Rock Cricket Club, were winners of the Northumberland ECBCA Coach of the Year awards.
Barry is proudly pictured below receiving his award from former England batsman Mark Ramprakash.
Weekend Round Up
The first eleven got their 2016 T20 campaign off to a great start with a 10 wicket win over Whitburn on Friday evening at Denton Bank. Asked to bat first on a wicket still suffering from the effects of two days heavy rain, the visitors were bundled out for a paltry 54. The Hill required only six overs to reach their target. Boldon are next up on Friday (3 June) in the second round of group B matches.
The wicket still hadn't dried out by the time the Hill were asked to bat first themselves by the Durham Cricket Academy on Saturday (28 May), and consequently were bowled out by the the young Durham cricketers for 155. The cricket academy reached their target with four wickets in hand.
The West Tyne 3rd XI moved to top of the West Tyne League after swatting aside Newton by 225 runs. Batting, first Andrew Dawson's side (captaining the side in the absence of the newly married Dan Hunter) plundered runs for fun against a bewildered Newton attack. Chief amongst the tormentors was Darshana Thiranga who made 109 not out as the Hill declared on 254 for 5 declared. Newton were then skittled out for only 29 inside 17 overs enabling the Hill to move seven points clear at the top of the league.
The Sunday NEPL third eleven lost heavily to Tynemouth, going down by nine wickets after the home side had bowled the Hill out for 68.
The highlight of the weekend came in the Banks Salver game at Gosforth on Bank Holiday Afternoon. Adam Hickey hit 204 not out against South Northumberland in 45 overs to set a new individual batting record for Benwell Hill Cricket Club as he surpassed Nick Craig's 175, a record which has stood since 1978. Hickey's 204 came off 142 balls and included 15 fours and 13 sixes in an display of magnificent and powerful strokeplay. The fact that the home side chose to field a below strength side will not devalue the quality of Adam's innings. The Hill made 336 for 3 in 45 overs. The game ended with the ten men of South Northumberland 57 for 8 in the 21st over and their last batsman unable to bat due injury.
Weekend Round Up
A mixed bag of results for our senior sides over the weekend saw the first eleven come away from South Northumberland on Saturday (21 May) with a hard earned draw. The second eleven lost in the reverse game by 14 runs at Denton Bank in a low scoring game whilst the NEPL third eleven also lost to South Northumberland by 9 runs in yet another low scoring game at Denton Bank on Sunday. The West Tyne third eleven were our only side to taste victory with a 7 run win over Humshaugh to maintain their challenge at the top of the West Tyne League.
Despite having the hosts 109 for 5 at lunch the first eleven let South Northumberland off the hook, allowing them to post 243 for 9 in 63 overs. In reply the Hill had the last pair at the crease when the game ended still 41 runs short of victory.
The second eleven contrived to lose a game they really should have won. Five dropped catches cost them dearly and failed to back up a good bowling performance as they allowed South Northumberland to reach 172 before finally being bowled out. In reply too many of the hill’s senior batsmen played injudicious shots and it was left to 15-year-old Joe Anderson to bring a degree of maturity to the Hill batting. He faced 77 balls for 57 and was last man out at 158 after adding 63 for the last wicket with Paul Askel who made 24 not out.
The West Tyne third eleven were indebted to David Ladd’s 63 in a score of 154 for 6. Ladd’s contribution was backed up by the Hill’s strong bowling unit as Humshaugh were eventually eight runs short at the close.
Two more of the hill’s juniors were able to make an impression on those watching on Sunday at the Hill. 15-year-old William Archbold made 27 batting at number four and 14-year-old Ismael Ahmed, batting at nine and coming to the crease at 114 for 7 with the Hill still 46 runs short, almost steered the Hill to victory. The Hill had been set 160 to win after South Northumberland recovered from 100 for 8.
Weekend Round Up
For the second week in a row the 1st XI had to settle for a draw as visitors Whitburn put up stubborn resistance having been set 298 to win in 62 overs. Whitburn had reached 223 for 8 when play finally came to an end at approximately 8.15 pm.
Kyle Coetzer had won the toss earlier in the day and had elected to bat first on a bright, sunny but cool morning. 90 from Coetzer and 59 from Sameet Brar added a free scoring 138 for the fourth wicket propelled the Hill to 297 for 7 declared in 58 overs. In reply Whitburn lost the dangerous Dan Shurben first ball of the innings as he was caught in the gully by James Schofield of a brute of a ball from Paul van Meekeren. The Hill's bowlers failed to capitalize on their great start and Whitburn began countering at five an over. Despite the loss of four middle order wickets for the addition of only 21 runs the solid Joe Coyne (84 not out) kept the Hill at arms length to secure a draw for Whitburn.
The second eleven recorded back-to-back wins with a 22 run win over Whitburn. The Hill had declared at 245 for 7 off 50 overs largely thanks to Will Taylor (100) and skipper Joe Moore (50). The home side were soon in trouble at 16 for 2, they recovered somewhat but with 100 runs still needed and only two wickets in hand all seemed lost for Whitburn, but a combination of the Hill bowlers taking their foot off the gas and some expansive hitting brought the home side in sight of their target. Thankfully for the Hill the bowlers were able to re-focus and claim the last two wickets for victory.
The West Tyne third eleven beat Matfen by 68 runs after completely out-playing their hosts. The Hill made 134 a typical low and slow wicket with Darshana Thrianga top-scoring with 47 not out. 'Darsh' was again to the forefront of the bowling as his ten overs cost only 17 runs, picking up three wickets in the process. He was given fine support from Saud Shinwari 3 for 20, Mark Wright 2 for 13 and Joe Torre 2 for 5.
Hamilton Cup
On a cold evening in Hexham last Friday, Benwell Hill’s Under 15 team defeated Tynedale after an excellent game to win the Hamilton Cup.
In a game where the batting was considerably better than the bowling and fielding from both teams, The Hill batted first and scored 144 for 2 in their 20 overs. Captain Rory Hanley scored a classy 50 before retiring and was helped along by opening partner Joe Fletcher who continued his recent good form with 25. Joe Anderson capped an excellent week with the bat with a hard hitting 37 while William Archbold finished the innings with a six out of the ground.
Tynedale made a spirited reply, and although they were helped along by several dropped catches, they kept themselves in the game and finished just short on 137 for 3 after their 20 overs. So the Hill held on, and we were delighted that Christine Hamilton and son David were present at the game to present the trophy, named in memory of Christine's late husband Neil, to Benwell Hill captain Rory Hanley.
To coincide with the club's centenary in 1983 Alan Evans, father of Barry, together with the help of Jack Marshall and Allan March, undertook to write the history of Benwell Hill Cricket Club. What followed was clearly a personal and heart-felt history of a club he loved very much.
Alan Evans joined the club in 1933 as a sixteen year old and remained a member until his death in January 2002.The book which is out of print, has now been produced in a pdf format for you to download by clicking on to the image below.
(It make take a while to download as it is a big file. To keep the pdf and not to have to download it everytime, you may have to 'Save As' from your browser menu bar.)
