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RECESSION BITES AS CCC REPORT DIFFERENT TYPE OF LOSS

SAVING FOR A RAINY DAY POLICY SLAMMED

The stark reality of the global economic crisis became clear last night as CCC reported losses of £71.45 during the last financial year.

Several contributory factors have been identified, these being 'match fee deficiencies' and 'increased capital outlay', notably the first purchase of new balls this decade.

Club Treasurer Roger French also commented: "Pitch fees rose, but fair play to the university, they do provide an amazing service. However, the main problem was the fact that for several years now we've been saving for a rainy day. Unfortunately during 2007 90% of days were rainy, so we blew the cash."

Club Secretary Cliff Spencer praised quick-thinking French who managed to pocket £0.55 found in the Heaton score-box on 25th June last: "If it hadn’t been for the Treasurer thinking on his feet like that the deficit would have shot through the psychological £72 barrier, something we could ill afford."

The financial problems at the club are not expected to affect the signing on fee for Chris Smith, which are being covered by Peter Finkill Alcoholic Beverage Purchases Ltd.

CRICKET AUTHORITIES TO TAKE NEMWCL TO USA

YANKEES STADIUM TO HOST CCC V SILVER PADDLERS

The latest eexchange hosting of high profile sports events has been announced with the news that New York's impressive Yankees Stadium will be used for the summer 2008 North East Midweek Cricket League Division 3 fixture between CCC and Silver Paddlers.

The decision follows the hosting this month by Wembley Stadium of the NFL clash between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants.

A NEMCL spokesman said: "it's long been our ambition to take our sport the other side of the pond. There's a h huge potential audience for regional midweek cricket in the Americas."

The game, likely to be played in June 2008 is expected to attract several people to the world famous baseball stadium.

CCC are excited by the opportunity, but already planning the logistics: "It's going to be a challenge getting the lads to the Yankees Stadium in time for the 6pm kick off", said club secretary Cliff Spencer. "Some of them will have to leave work early, and we're hoping Mudassar can arrange a private jet, unless the Paddlers get us across in their boat."

Club Treasurer Roger French added: "We're even thinking of investing in a new ball for this one as it is a major event."

The shifting of the fixture to New York has brought with it an additional advantage: "It’s scheduled to rain for the whole of June next year, and apparently Heaton is double booked anyway, so we might have struggled to get the game on at home," admitted Spencer.

CCC SEASON SUMMARY

2007 has been a memorable season in many ways, but one that most people will want to forget.

A tough Division 2 campaign ended with relegation by one point. Though this was not necessarily an unexpected outcome, the circumstances were. Due to the record-breaking summer weather only two home games had been played with three weeks of the season left. Somehow, through this fixture congestion, CCC managed to turn their form around, winning three of the last four games and finishing their season on a reasonable 62 points. However, the following newsletter revealed that Beamish had "failed to offer a suitable date" for a fixture against Seaton Burn, who were gifted 8 points by default. In fact it was Beamish who by virtue of losing 10 points through defaults finished only one point above CCC.

This is clearly an unsatisfactory way to end the season, and the precise meaning of a "suitable date" needs to be looked into. After all, these two teams had since June 25th (two months almost exactly) to come up with a date and a ground.

As CCC's cup experience will testify, there are a number of ambiguous rules kicking around just asking to be misinterpreted. The default to Kirkwood, unwillingly accepted, won't be forgotten. And I'm sure all at CCC would like to congratulate Kirkwood on their cup victory: a victory for cricket. Kirkwood are one of several, mostly top division, teams who seem to interpret (or make up) rules to suit themselves.

Meanwhile Beamish's inability to organise four outstanding fixtures was incompetent and resulted in Adders getting promoted accidentally. Their other two unplayed fixtures resulted in one point apiece, so clearly there was a diplomat lurking somewhere in the old slag heaps of County Durham.

Enough of league shenanigans - CCC need to take a look at themselves. The batting let it be said was excellent. 26 points out of 28 was better than any other team in the four divisions, and the two dropped points were on sticky dogs.

The fielding was about average, with the usual smattering of inconsistency, but on the whole OK.

It was lack of consistency with the bowling that was CCC's downfall. Too many runs were conceded, especially in the four games against Fire Service and Fenham, two beatable teams. That said, the batting was decent throughout Division 2, and difficult to bowl at.

Key matches were the complacent first day defeat at Seaton Burn, the low scoring collapse against Cumberland Partners, and the inability to defend 122 in 12 overs against Adders. Win two of those three and CCC could have been anticipating the First Division in 2008, as only 19 points separated 2nd from 7th.

On the positive side, Division 3 will be a more interesting place to be next season, with some different grounds and one or two teams never played before. And CCC must have a chance of winning the title!

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PARKHOUSE BEAT CCC

Parkhouse defeated CCC to retain the Thornton Trophy in a close encounter at Stocksfield yesterday.

As befitted such a shambolic season the two teams turned up to find the sprinkler on pitch 1 and a football match on pitch 2. Pitch 2 was at least prepared, despite a supporter wondering across it in her stillettoes, and once the football finished Parkhouse and CCC were able to commence play at 3.20 in a 30 overs aside contest.

CCC won the toss and put Parkhouse into bat and John immediately made a breakthrough, Guy taking a sharp chance. Cathart (27) and Jackson (30 retired) batted well, and lower down the order Gilchrist and Gurkin scored 20s, giving Parkhouse a decent 148-6 (30). Andy took two wickets, John 1, Gerry 1, Guy 1, and Simon 1.

The reply was a speedy one with CCC scoring at seven an over. Andy hit a quick 30 and victory seemed a formality given CCCs batting line up. However, fortune turned against them as Simon and Greg both played on and Dave and Alan spooned simple catches. The pitch was slow and sloping end-to-end and sideways and the ball had a habit of stopping or cutting back.

With only 9 men Jack Reed's run out meant Andy returned to the crease to partner Gerry, and they took the score to within 10 of Parkhouse before Andy was caught behind for 37.

Parkhouse thus retain the Thornton Trophy. Had CCC fielded a full team they would undoubtedly have won this match, but as it was the trophy will remain bare until the 2008 treble-winning season.

Team: Andy, Guy, Dave, Simon E, Greg, Alan, John, Gerry, Jack

CAP

Andy won the cap comfortably for his all round performance.

DUCK

Again this was a two-horse race.

Greg won nominations for a couple of bizarre moments behind the stumps, though it should be said in mitigation that this was nothing compared to the shocking spectacle of Guy and Mudassar's keeping on Wednesday. He also uttered a loud expletive whilst batting, which echoed round the village.

Alan won nominations for being phoned by his wife whilst umpiring and then texting her back a bit later - still whilst umpiring. To his credit he managed to multi-task and carrying out his umpiring duties effectively.

Greg eventually pipped Alan to the award.

CCC BEAT MALLARDS

CCC won a thriller in the dark at Heaton last night. Mallards won the toss and put CCC in and Mudassar and Guy opened up steadily. Mudassar skied a full toss to square leg for 12, then Guy was out at last for 13 off 28 balls. Andy was run out in a mix up with Dave, who scored 22 in the anchor role. Big hitting from Usman, Ghulan and Simon E propelled CCC to 115 from 14 overs.

Mallards looked as though they were never in with a chance as John (1-4) and Mudassar (3-6) bowled really well. Most of the team were given at least an over, and then suddenly Mallards realised they only needed 34 from 16 balls. As Roger went for 16, only 18 were needed from the final over bowled by Guy. The tearaway all rounder bowled at full pace in the dark, including one beamer, and CCC won comfortably in the end.

CAP AND DUCK

CCC trialled the Cap and Duck system of awarding an outstanding (cap) and an awful (duck) piece of cricket, as practiced by ORPS.

The cap can only be awarded to those present (Simon E, Roger, Dave, Guy). It was awarded to Guy for geting out when he did, thus allowing proper batsmen go in and score some runs.

The duck, though awarded only by those present, can be given to anyone on the team. It soon boiled down to a contest between Guy and Mudassar, who shared the wicket-keeping duties with stunning levels of incompetence.

Guy (con): barely made one take. Had to have Jack Read positioned as long stop at one point. Added to the slow batting, and the beamer in the last over, plus the usual general gobbiness a compelling case

Guy (pro): I've got a team of researchers still looking for some positives...

Mudassar (con): barely made a take. Stood back to Jack Read (11). Ran away from one delivery saying he was "covering point as well". Edgy innings with the bat.

Mudassar (pro): good bowling spell

In the end it was unanimously decided that though difficult to separate the duck award would have to go to Mudassar.

Team: Mudassar, Guy, Andy, Dave, Ghulan, John R, Usman, Simon E, Roger, Jack R, Sam R