The cricket season is moving rapidly into full swing and Director of Cricket Philip Nicholson will be pleased that all our senior teams have already found a measure of individual and collective success.
Last Saturday the Hill faithful were treated to two stand out performances. Sam Martin Jenkins bowled with real pace to take five wickets and help to bowl out Shotley Bridge for 115. This was followed by an incredible innings from new Overseas Professional David Christie who scored 102 not out off only 41 balls. In my 43 years at the Hill I can`t recall an innings that gets close to that for quick scoring.
In a very short time David has made a first class impression both on and off the field and looks well placed to enter the Pantheon of Benwell Hill Professional Cricketers.
New Second Team Skipper Joe Fletcher has led from the front with two great wins against strong opposition. Joe is leading a mostly young side in a competitive league and is obviously relishing the challenge. His younger brother Seb has also started the season in fine form with both bat and ball recording a career best 83 in the Third Team at Sacriston on Sunday.
Please follow the excellent match reports that appear on www.benwellhill.co.uk each week. All the teams appreciate the support of the BHCC membership and as ever the Hill is a great place to be when the sun shines. Mark, Geoff and John have the place looking terrific and the winter work at the bottom of the ground has definitely paid off.
Off the field we are still dealing with the repercussions of Storm Dave over Easter. Negotiations with our Insurers are continuing apace and we hope to begin restoring the Pitch Covers and West Road wall soon. I am grateful to Barry Evans for leading on this.
Visitors to The Club will see that the Haves Patio project is nearing completion. Mark Charlton and his new young apprentice David Christie have been labouring hard in the Spring sunshine and the picket fences will be erected imminently. It will then be a question of `what`s next’ as maintaining BHCC is a bit like painting the Forth Road Bridge – ie never ending.
In my Joe Moore driven quest for brevity I will conclude there. You will be please to learn that business remains brisk and that our Cricket, Squash and Social activities are thriving. Junior Cricket practice got underway on Tuesday and Barry Pearson is off the 2026`Paddy` mark with a single down to third man
One sobering thought to convey is to wish those of our members who are currently undergoing medical treatment the absolute best
As ever my thanks to all the staff and volunteers for your unstinting efforts on behalf of BHCC. Please get in touch as below if you can help in any way or indeed if you have something to say!
Simon Lunn
Email: simon.lunn@live.co.uk mobile: 07791-683827
