More news from happenings up North!

Well, what a fantastic weekend for the mighty Turret and a great weekend for NEPL cricket in general, slightly marred. (More of this later on.) Newcastle CC enjoyed a perfect weekend for the 2nd time this season with all 3 sides registering wins and countless club records tumbling in 2 days fantastic cricket for the club. Starting with the 1’s at Fortress Jesmond – NCC batted first vs Stockton and with the ball swinging around corners the innings was reduced to rubble at 49-6. Massive crisis. However, Kiwi Ben Langrope steadied the ship with Ross McLaren before finding a further substantial ally in Ed Common at 9, with the pair putting on a league record for the 9th wicket of 148. Benjy holed out on 86 with Common batting through for 74*, the Turret declared after 59 overs on an imposing 255-9, quite the recovery!! Stockton came out the blocks blazing and were 175-4 with 20 overs remaining, before collapsing to 215-9. The last wicket put on 37 before Jimmy Ward (75) was bowled by Gareth Bateman (5-37) trying to hit a four to win the game, giving NCC a 3 run victory and sparking jubilant scenes at Turret HQ.

(Pictures from the game are sensational and can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/m?ark_fletcher/5974687466/in/set?-72157627277953964 - with thanks to Mark Fletcher.)

The 2nd XI enjoyed a far more sedate jaunt in the corresponding fixture on Teesside. I called correctly (only failed once in the league!) and decided that given our perilous league position and the increased points available, we had to bat first. We lost Johnny Richardson second ball and were reeling at 10-2. Alex Nicholson then bottom edged a cut onto his own foot and was caught behind freakishly. James Carr steadied the shape as has been his way this season with a determined 50 and youngsters Dan Humble (40) and Jack Sinclair (27) got us up to 177-9, at which point I issued a declaration. (Being bowled out means we get 5 less points for winning, so I decided to back the bowlers on a poor poor wicket.) Stockton were going well through Steven Ward (50) but once I put all the men out and made him run for his partners he soon ran out of steam, before being bowled by my protégé Rob Howarth. I then brought myself into the attack and quickly picked up two wickets to add some impetus to the cause and leave SCC rocking at 90-4. There followed a brief partnership whereby I recalled ‘injured’ opening bowler Kirk Rowland into the attack, and he got 2 wickets in consecutive balls. Content I had only the tail to bowl at, I brought myself back on burgled a couple more finishing with 10-2-18-4, comfortably my best figures of the season in the league and a pleasing return to form following injury problems. I was only robbed of a Michelle by Peter Hirst getting a great fast bowlers wicket (caught at long off) to end the match.

The 3’s travelled to Tynemouth on Sunday and scored a massive 295-3 (their highest EVER score). Dom Smith 120* and David Covell 90* were the chief destroyers, though Sinclair continued his fine form and Andreas Hagemaan helped himself to 35. Tynemouth ended 245 all out but were never really in the hunt despite Legend Alan Docherty (9-2-36-1) being belted for 2 massive 6’s over long on to the delight of the watching 2nd team captain. (The 6’s are notable as it is allegedly the first time Docherty has gone for 2 6’s in the same match since the Korean War.)

All in all, a great weekend for the Turret with 78 out of a possible 80 points garnered. However, as both my regular readers will know – I try to bring in some other point for discussion to talk about so my blog doesn’t always read like the elongated results/ Newcastle CC propaganda service seen above. I’d been thinking about what to talk about and was (pardon the pun) a bit stumped. However, at the NEPL T20 finals day an issue occurred which as well as providing a bit of entertainment on Twitter (#gollygate) made me think about the game in general. The facts of the matter aren’t that important – essentially some bad feeling between two individuals that had been building over time through their fixtures this season spilled over into violence. (Player G struck Player Q in the face at the end of the game.) Obviously this sort of behaviour can not be condoned, and it is my understanding that the club of Player G have already taken internal disciplinary action against him. Yet the overwhelming view from local cricketers I have spoken to has been ‘It (an issue like this involving Player Q) has been coming’ because of the way in which Player Q (and his side) conduct themselves on the pitch. The club of Player G had already complained to the League about this behaviour in a previous league game.

Where this leads me is to ask whether the events on Sunday can be taken in isolation? Or is there to be a chronicle of misdemeanors that can be catalogued to show how both parties have arrived at Sundays event? Speaking personally, the side of Player Q are an exceptional side – possibly the best side in the country, but I find their conduct to be horrendous on the pitch at times. The issue is what level of provocation can be taken into account in these events? For example, if Player Q had slept with Player G’s wife, would his conduct have been more justified in the eyes of the league? Probably not, but possibly. It is my contention that Player G in this instance is guilty of mere naivety and stupidity rather than anything else, he is not that sort of lad and has an otherwise unblemished record. To my mind, Player Q is equally culpable in this incident given his conduct on the day, (as reported to me by eye witnesses,) and the conduct of his side in the past, who will literally stop at nothing to win. If these sort of consequences are happening, is it not time for some sides to look into how they conduct themselves on the field? Surely a game of cricket should not be reducing anyone to this? I certainly believe so, and whilst friendly banter is great for the game this sledging and send offs should be more actively policed in my opinion, with a harder and more responsive culture to reporting players unless there is a significant change in player attitudes, as it seems that currently too much is left unnoticed or acted upon.

It goes without saying that Player G will rightly be the recipient of a huge ban by the NEPL, but it saddens me that Player Q (and others) will possibly get away from this without reprimand if the umpires on the day feel unable to state conclusively what was said. One man’s cricket career may be finished, and while there is humour in the situation it seems to me that this should not in any way be forgotten.
Due to some censorship issues that have occurred re #gollygate, I feel obliged to point out that these views are mine and mine solely, and do not represent the views of Newcastle CC, the NEPL or my immediate family.

If anyone else has any strong views on this debate, irreverent or otherwise then it would be great to hear them. Best of luck to all for the remainder of the season, hopefully the weather in August will be better than July.

As ever,PH

Follow Phil @lovetheturret