Login

Rowlands Step Back up a Gear!

Rowlands hosted Seaton Burn and Alan elected to bat. Ben and Davo started with conviction but Davo was caught for 10 (one 4) with the score on 45. Ben had been the main aggressor with plenty of boundaries but he then was out to a spectacular one handed catch for 54 (8 fours and a six) with the score on 103-2. Richie Straughan had partnered Ben well and the pair chased up all the available runs. Richie was joined by the Rowdy one, aka James Carr, not unfamiliar with the Percy Main wicket! This bustling pairing could not be parted and after the allotted 14 overs Rowlands had posted a healthy 175-2. Richie was 68 not out (13 fours and a six, no messing about) and Rowdy 37 not out (a four and an overthrows assisted 5). There was also more batting in the hutch with Peter Finch, Ian Younger, Kev Hall et al awaiting a slice of the action. Chris Weldon bowled best with 4-1-17-1.

The Seaton Burn reply had to contend with the Hebburn duo of Pratty and the Young One. Pratty went for only 7 off his first over and then Ian Younger, with his first ball, had opener Kyle caught at the wicket by Mike. The pair bowled three overs each with the score rising to 45-2 after Pratty removed the leg stump of the other opener, Jason Brown. Peter Finch then suffered 2-0-41-0 as Ross Kirkwood cut loose. Don bowled economically and had skipper Andrew White smartly caught behind by Mike to record 4-0-21-1 with Ross Kirkwood contained at that end. Pratty and the Young one each returned to complete their overs, respectively completing with 4-0-28-2, removing middle and off for a change, and 4-0-28-1. Kirkwood was left on 60 not out and Seaton Burn achieved 119-4. Rowlands took 9 points from the game and are improving on their League position of last season.

Rowlands out-gunned at Cowgate

We eventually had eleven and then skipper Ben lost the toss for a 14 overs game V Kirkwood. Pratty opened up well, accompanied by new boy and late recruit Alex Tait. Chad took a catch at mid on for Pratty in his first over and then Richie Straughan obliged for Alex. Good start! Even better when Alex took a catch for Pratty and it was 3-39 on the board. Te second over from Alex was wayward and he recorded 2-0-23-1 while Pratty battled on. Another new boy Peter Finch had second chance to defend a very short boundary and he went for 15 off his one over. Tom took over at that end and suffered 3-0-37-0 as opener Singh and Yasin cut loose. Pratty finished on a creditable 4-0-26-2 as pick of the bowlers. Time for Don but no joy as a massive 35 came off his two overs, partially due to a tightened calf muscle during his second over, and then skipper Ben tried without luck with 2-0-34-0 just missing out on a final ball wicket with a catch at the boundary spilt. Kirkwood posted a massive 181-3 with Singh 80* and Yasin 63*. There were only three byes which passed Mike behind the stumps but we bowled a disappointing 13 wides!

Rowlands replied with Ben and Richie Straughan opening.After showing more promise with firm strokes Richie was caught at mid on for 4 off a half hit ball. Time for Chad! The pair moved the score along well with the left and right combination causing all sorts of fielding movements; the scoring rate was kept up to around 10 per over! Chad was bowled for 27 (3 fours) and MoM Ben caught for 46 (4 fours and a six) so it was then game over in the 12th over. Peter Finchshowed some batting ability with 10 (2 fours) then caught. Adam Tait played some good strokes for 2 singles as the second batting point was secured. Gary Straughan 4 not out and Tom 11 not out resisted to the end and made the total more respectable at 126-5.

Rowlands show the Bay the Way!

Alan lost the toss and Whitley elected to bat as the sun came out at Percy Main. Colour of the day for the balls was orange.

Pratty and Ian Younger opened the Rowlands bowling attack and they sent back openers John Douglas ct at the wicket by Mike off Pratty and Jonny Hymers and then Ben Harris both bowled by Ian in their second overs. This saw the Bay reduced to 25-3 off 4 overs of the 14. Pratty took his second wicket with a catch by Richie Straughan and at 8 overs the score was 55-4. Pratty had 2-22 and Ian 2-34 with his fourth over going for 16 thanks to Mark Harris 20 and Alex Giles 20. Richie Walker and Don then had 3 overs each to go for the kill and keep the score down. Richie bowled 3-0-24-2 (one lost orange ball in two big six hits off, otherwise economical!) and Don 3-0-18-2; all these four bowled. Bay reached 99-8 to deny the third bowling point and made the target a round hundred with both Blyth Duncan and Fred Godson kindly obliging in the scorebox. Alan had set an effective deep field with himself and Mike Boyd as the in-fielders.

Rowlands replied with Nick Brown and Richie Straughan opening against Alex Giles and Simon May. Nick took 6 off the first over but then after hitting a smooth drive for 4, Richie was out to a low catch at mid on for that 4 early in the second over. In came Mike Boyd for a debut big innings and, with Nick, the pair batted sensibly. Nick went bowled Craig Sample for 28 in the
11th over with the score on 72 having hit 3 fours. Mike was still going well and finding gaps in the field but the pair had made plenty of singles also. Phil Hornsey was required and he scored a windmill 3 and a single before being bowled with 80 on the board. Alan promoted Ian Younger ahead of the padded up Kev Hall and Ian justified the promotion with an immediate boundary a single and a well struck 2 in his quicksilver seven not out whilst Mike finished the job big time with a decisive driven boundary and 7 balls to spare. Mike won Man of the Match with his 53 not out including 7 fours. Rowlands finished the job properly on 101-3, unlike in the recent tie with Genetics!

Rowlands Genetics Tied up!

At Swalwell Alan lost a good toss to win and Genetics batted first. Pratty bowled some exceptional pace with good bounce and a pink ball. His first three overs went for only 4 runs and took the wicket of Gardner caught by Ian Younger who was bowling effectively at the other end. At the 6 overs mark the score was only 24 with Jonny Bennett and Andy Jeffrey struggling for runs. Tom and Don took over and their first overs went for a total of 20 as the Genetics main men were forced to accelerate. Don struck with three wickets, thankful for catches by Richie Munro as Bennett tries a silly reverse sweep and then Ben on the line with a final ballstumping from Alan to secure the only bowling point. Tom had a good chance spilt on the line and recorded 3-0-28-0. Pratty returned and his figures worsened to 4-1-19-1, with Ian 3-0-19-0. Don moved on to 18 wickets for the season with 4-0-30-3 and the Genetics score was 102 off the 14. Some crucial runs had slipped through the normally reliable field but surely this target could be bettered with batting points a bonus?

Ben and Davo opened up with confidence at 10 an over but then Davo was caught for 12 (1 four, 1 six) in the third over. Ben was going well but was bowled by the experienced Brian Taylor for 29 (3 fours) and it was now in the hands of Roy and returning Ralff the 'Biffer'. Ralph showed most urgency and unfortunately Roy's timing belt was slipping last night. The score moved on more slowly but still the target was in reach. Ralph was trapped lbw for a MoM 34(4 fours, 1 six) and in came Lee Buglass. The game went to the final over and with 2 required, Roy was spectacularly caught at deep long off by Nick Brown (17 and no boundaries) to leave Lee facing the final ball with Rowlands one run behind. Ian Younger scampered a single to a ball close to the keeper and the scores were tied. Lee on 3 not out and Ian not faced. Great game and all very friendly ... now for Fenham on Thursday at the Main!

Adders not the Main Threat!

At their new home for the remainder of the season, Rowlands took on Adders at Percy Main which is still above water, unlike Ulgham at present - with all due respect to the efforts of Colin and the team. Adders were diplomatically put into bat as they were a few short of the usual head count at 6:05 pm! Chris Wilkie and Ben Twizell faced the pace of Pratty and the guile of Don on a damp wicket. Pratty's first over went for 12 then Don missed out on his hung over hat-trick ball but in his first over still claimed Wilkie with Pratty's first ever catch for Rowlands, well positioned at third slip. Dangerous Dan Clark came in at three but Pratty had him well caught at mid on by reliable Roy for only 8. After three overs Pratty was on 1-28 and Ian Younger joined the attack. Don completed with 3-0-22-1 and at 50-2 after 6 overs to be replaced on familiar territory by Richie Walker. The new pairing saw the score rise to 106-3 after 12 overs with Richie bowling G Fairbairn for 35 while Twizell was still there. Ian completed with 3-0-30-0 most of these having been runs off straight drives. Pratty came back to knock out a middle stump and claim a bowling point with 4-0-37-2 and then Richie made sure with another bowled for 4-0-33-2. The Adders counted up to 126-5 off their 14 overs involving only 4 byes passed the agile Alan at the stumps. Twizell was, yes, still there on 52 not out at the end. Tom More did not get to bowl but was truly athletic in the field with plenty of action demanded. We will never know whether Tom would have got the Twizell!

Rowlands were rocked when Ben was yorked in the first over by Joy Saini for his one shot 4. Davo and Roy linked well and took the score to 84 when Roy put one down the throat of deep mid off for his 30 (4 fours). Ian came in to support Davo well until Davo was bowled by the returning Saini in the last over for a powerful 65 (6 fours and 2 huge 6s over the sightscreen). Richie Munro made sure of the third batting point by wrong footing the keeper off the last ball of the 12th over which went for the required 2 runs as byes. Ian was left on 16 with 3 fours and Richie on 4. This was power play from Rowlands and a deserved MoM for Davo with next in Phil in the wings and Alan still in his umpire's coat! Saini claimed 2-42 off his 4 overs.

Rowlands' next game is at Swalwell on Monday 23rd V Genetics and we hope to have opposition at Percy Main on Thursday 26, to be confirmed as we play catch up after the rains.