Saturday (18th September) drew the final curtain on what has been an excellent season for the second XI. The 2s entered the crunch point of the season in contention for all but one of the trophies they’d entered at the start of the season. Having narrowly missed out on the NEPL T20 competition, we approached September still competing for the NEPL 2nd Division, The NEPL Banks Bowl, The James Bell Memorial Trophy and The Roseworth Trophy.
The August Bank Holiday Monday would play host to the first of what would be three cup finals in the season – the Banks Bowl. Having eased past Felling, and beaten a strong Gateshead Fell side in the quarter and semi finals respectively, we faced competent opposition in Hetton Lyons – a side who were unbeaten in the league to that point. Having posted 214-9 from our 40 overs, largely due to 74 from Peggy Janderson and 42 from Billy Archbold, we faced tough opposition in a second innings that would ebb and flow. It wasn’t until the latter stages that we took full control of the game eventually dismissing our visitors for for 181. An outstanding effort in the field and 4 wickets to William helping us get there.
Six days later and after Matty Hynd had secured the league title with a week to spare following a convincing win away to Sacriston, we visited Tynemouth in the final of the Roseworth Trophy. Batting first again, we posted a below par 120-7 from our 20 overs – some late blows from Will and Winnie giving us something to bowl. What followed was an almost immaculate team performance with the ball. We dismissed Tynemouth for 102 with 9 balls of the innings remaining – Joe Torre and Peter ‘Boris’ Jones taking an equal share of 6 wickets.
This brings us to Saturday – a pleasant mid-September day saw us host Whitburn in the final of the James Bell. This would turn out to be our best and most convincing cup final performance posting 151-3 in 20 overs. An opening partnership with Joe Anderson 59 & Joe Moore 40 set the tone for what would be a great performance. We went on to dismiss Whitburn for 90 and cap a fantastic season.
A great return for the 2021 season – a year that delivered a host of excellent individual contributions to team performances many of which I haven’t had a chance to identify above. Well played everyone and onto 2022. Winter well!
James Bell Cup winners
Banks Bowl winners
