Felling are on the up after crunch victory
DUKES N/EAST PREMIER LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
THE only way is up for strugglers Felling after their claimed only their second victory of the Premier Division campaign, writes TONY HODGSON.
An emphatic seven-wicket home victory over Eppleton in a low-scoring affair lifted the Tynesiders off the foot of the table.
Now they hope to build on that morale-boosting performance when they go into Hetton Lyons’ den on Saturday.
Eppleton crashed to 47 all out, Paul Leonard taking 3-29 and captain Chris Nicholls a brilliant 4-3 from 15 overs.
Then Dale Shaw – a recent acquisition from Seaham Park – chipped in with 3-9, not one batsman from the Hetton-based side reaching double figures.
In reply, Felling made the runs required, scoring 48-3 off just 11 overs – leaving fixtures secretary Barry Norman both a happy and a relieved man.
He said: “It was a crucial win for us – if we had lost we could have been 25 points adrift at the bottom.
“It was a game we could not afford to lose so to win it is a massive boost to the players’ confidence.
“We have had a difficult start to the summer – the team is in a bit of a transitional phase and we are still finding our feet in what is just our second season in the Premier Division.
“Hopefully, this win can give us the lift we need and we can build on it in the weeks ahead and climb further away from trouble.”
On Saturday’s win, Norman added: “It was a great win. Chris Nicholl bowled beautifully and that put a lot of pressure on Eppleton.
“We bowled them out for what has be one of their lowest-ever totals and although we lost three wickets in reply the result never looked in any doubt.”
Meanwhile, champions South North were six-wicket victors at home to Hetton Lyons.
The Lyons could only muster 118 all out, Sean Tindale taking 4-34.
At 53-3 the Wearsiders had a slight chance – but 39 not out from skipper Adam Cragg soon put paid to that idea in a final total of 121-4.
Chester-le-Street remain in second place – but level on points with Sotuh North – following a 22-point win at home to struggling Stockton, who now drop to the bottom.
The Teessiders batted first and made just 110 all out, Chris Hooker (39) and George Harding (42) troubling the scorers.
Stephen Cantwell (4-12), Alex McGrath (3-42) and Liam Burgess (3-17) were the dangermen with the ball.
Then Kyle Davis, with 73 not out from 72 balls including 14 fours, and George Harrison (31 not out) knocked off the required runs.
Newcastle could not force the win over the Durham Academy as they held on for a draw at Jesmond.
Tynemouth defeated Benwell Hill by four wickets.