The Hexham Courant

posted by John Winn

This week I picked up a copy of a newspaper previously unknown to me: 'The Hexham Courant' described on its masthead as 'Northumberland's leading weekly newspaper'. Two and a half pages of cricket news covering the Northumberland and Tyneside league and the West Tyne league. The lead story concerned a glut of runs in Division Four of  the former where 'Allendale began life ….by thrashing Stobswood Welfare with skipper Tim Raglan hitting 260 and opening partner Tom Scott, on debut 148'. Allendale have for many years been members of the West Tyne League and will be very pleased to have started life in their new surroundings with a win by 313 runs. Not content with his runs Scott also took six wickets. Not a bad start Tom.

The N and T runs to 8 divisions with divisions five and six regionalised into North and South. The Courant gives scorecards for six of these  and there are nearly 90 teams in the competition, mostly in Northumberland but with some in County Durham. A quick check suggests all the grounds would be new venues for me.

The West Tyne league was formed in formed in 1904 and 'provides cricket for teams in and around the Tyne Valley.It has two senior divisions and The Courant has scores for Division 1. Teams include Haltwhistle, Belsay and Wylam. There are 22 teams in the league and again all unfamiliar territory to me

After two matches Hexham Leazes lead Div 1 of the West Tyne with Newton CC just a point behind. In the N and T Morpeth and Swalwell are the pace setters.

Tomorrow I am heading for Clifton Park where both York CC and Clifton Alliance are at home in the Yorkshire Premier North.Woodhouse Grange are York's opponents and Alliance entertain Sheriff Hutton Bridge. Last Saturday's rain meant only one match reached a win/lose  conclusion on the opening week  so let's hope for better weather tomorrow.