Shields need a change of luck
DUKES NEPL
MARTIN RUSH feels Lady Luck has not always been on the side of struggling South Shields this season.
The South Tynesiders go into the final month of the campaign entrenched at the foot of the table with just three wins from their 18 matches.
They are 20 points adrift of second-bottom Whitburn whom they host on Saturday - after failing to win their vital weekend relegation clash with Felling.
However, such are the fine margins in sport, Shields’ precarious position could have been so different if fortune had favoured the Dean Road side.
Club official Rush said: “Although we have lost quite a few games there have been times when our matches could have gone either way.
“With a bit of luck we could have had some victories which would have kept us out of the relegation battle.
“However, our batting has let us down this year.
“It has been difficult after losing Gordon Muchall and Tim David, who were so prolific when we finished sixth last summer.”
Rush added: “After the Whitburn clash we have to go to Newcastle and champions Chester-le-Street and host Eppleton in our last three games so it is going to be a tough run-in for us.”
Felling had the better of the weekend clash with Shields as they scored 169-8 - mainly thanks to Chris Goudie with 39 and Mark Turner 34, Salman Ahmed (3-38) and Oliver Appleby (3-31), taking the bowling plaudits.
The visitors were restricted to 88-6, courtesy of an opening burst of 3-25 from Paul Leonard, to put to bed any thoughts of a run chase by them.
Whitburn lost at home to Stockton to ease the Teessiders’ relegation fears.
The home side batted first and made just 115 all out, George Harding taking 3-18 and Joel Thwaites 3-6 opening batsman James Thompson hitting 37.
South North dodged the wet weather and are now 38 points clear at the top following a nine-wicket success at Hetton Lyons.
The home side scored just 109-7 off their 32 overs, Lee Crozier returning 3-23 and skipper Jarvis Clay top-scoring with 25.
It took the visitors just 14.5 overs to make the runs, Marcus North hitting 58 not out off 46 balls - including seven fours and a six - alongside Callum MacLeod, who made 31 not out.
Newcastle kept up the pressure, defeating Tynemouth by five wickets.
Barry Stewart made 50 and David Hymers 30 not out in a Tynemouth score of 137-8 from 38 overs.
The home side had 31 overs to knock off the runs and duly did, openers Cameron Steel and Alasdair Appleby amassing 57 and 32 respectively.
Ben McGee then made 31 not out to see his side home with 2.1 overs to spare.