IN 228 years of combined history Tynedale and Stocksfield cricket teams have never met in a league encounter.

But they found themselves up against each other twice in two days at the weekend.

The double header was caused by the postponement of the opening fixtures of the season, which were rearranged for Sunday.

It was Tynedale who had cause to celebrate. winning comfortably at home on Sunday, following a tense victory at Stocksfield the previous day.

Saturday’s game was the pick of the weekend, with an entertaining game ending at 7.40pm with Tynedale scraping home by just nine runs.

Having valiantly bowled Tynedale out for 189, Stocksfield, through Andrew Wood (5-22) and James Doneathy (4-58), had given themselves every chance of taking their first win of the season.

For an hour or so, with all 10 wickets still standing and 91 runs to the good thanks to openers Jonny Tobin (30) and Adrian Marrison (61), a Stocksfield victory looked on the cards.

However, when Tom Cant (1-38) had Marrison trapped leg before it sparked a tremendous comeback by the visitors.

Prompted by a penetrating spell from Paul Newton (4-23), Stocksfield lost their next nine wickets for just 89 runs, but not before a final rearguard action kept the final result in doubt.

Batting first, Tynedale’s total seemed a long way off when three wickets were down at 32, all of them going to Doneathy. Captain Cant (13), went first at 25 when the bowler juggled with a return catch.

Ten minutes later Olly Fletcher (12) edged through to keepEr Dan Wylie.

The early rout was completed when James Rainford (4) scooped a shot round the corner into the hands of Marrison at square leg.

Jamie Crichton (23) was looking comfortable, helped no doubt by his new partner, the utterly unflappable Callan McCabe (55). The pair moved the score up to 80 before Steven Henderson had Crichton caught playing to leg by a thin contact to the keeper.

That cleared the way for Sam Peter (37) to come in to score his highest score of the season and contribute to an innings saving stand of 72 with McCabe for the fifth wicket.

While the senior man kept up his consistent run of of form, Peter’s seven shots beyond the rope flashed to the boundary. His score was made in 39 balls before Wood took the first of his wickets when he bowled him.

McCabe reached his third 50 of the season before he hoisted a catch to deep square at 162, to give Wood his second wicket.

Matthew Scott (0) was bowled by Doneathy for his fourth wicket. Richard Byerly (9) fell to Wood with the score on 179.

Josh Renton (13) and Paul Newton (7) made useful contributions before falling victim to Wood. David Newton remained unbeaten with a single to his name.

In reply, Marrison was trapped in front in the 20th over, but before that he had taken on the bowling with determination.

Cant turned to Paul Newton to make the decisive breakthrough. Stocksfield went from 98 for one to 102 for four in the space of six balls. Archer (2) was bowled, then Wylie (0) and Douglas (4) both went lbw.

Tobin was next to go in the 30th over. The opener, having stood his ground as his fellow batsmen headed back to the clubhouse, eventually succumbed as Scott (2-6) bowled him for the first of his two wickets in a fine spell of six overs, at 108.

Paul Newton struck again at 110, removing left hander Steven Henderson (1), before Scott returned to the attack to remove Rob Thirwell (2) at 113

With Wood (27 not out) and Chris Patterson (15) together, a small opportunity opened up as this pair moved the score to 135. When Patterson fell to Renton, Scandle (15) took up the reins, adding vital runs before skying a catch to Cant at 162 for Renton’s second wicket and the ninth to fall.

Wood was effective, fending off and scoring at almost an equal rate. Last man Doneathy (3) gave valuable assistance.

With four overs remaiming, runs needed and balls left gained parity. Renton, in a last effort, conceded just five from his last two overs. McCabe came back to concede 10.

A total of 17 runs were needed from the last over bowled by McCabe. Wood hit a four from the third ball, scampered two from fourth which left 11 needed from two balls. He swung the penultimate ball up to long-off for a single.

From the last ball of the match Doneathy was out trying to play an entertaining scoop shot. He missed it, went through 180 degrees and fell flat outside his crease. The quick thinking Crichton threw down the wicket. gaining Tynedale their full bowling points.

Just 24 hours later, the teams met again, this time at Hexham.

Stocksfield looked in good shape when, batting first, they posted a score of 223 for 7 from 50 overs

James Rainford led the charge of the home side who won by four wickets.

A partnership of 89 between Doneathy (68) and captain Dan Whiley (52) set up the Stocksfield innings nicely.

McCabe came good with the ball for Tynedale, taking 3 for 40 from 10 overs. Scott who took the vital wicket of Doneathy finished with figures of 2 for 22. David Newton (1-29) took his only wicket of the weekend, and Renton took the other one.

In reply, Rainford (77 not out) took control of the chase and got his season back on track with a thumping knock which included seven fours and four sixes, to win the match for Tynedale. That was after after Tynedale lost Cant at 26 then both Crichton (34) and Fletcher (47) at 92. Peter added 27 later on.

Henderson (3-37) and Paul Brown (2-58) took all but one of the wickets for Stocksfield, with Perry Hall adding the other.

l Tynedale II recorded a six wicket win on Saturday against Stocksfield II. Chasing 214 to win, half centuries from Matthew Scandle (52), Nathan Byerly (66) and Craig Barber sealed the win. Veteran Ali Thirlwell’s 3 for 32 was an effort in vain.

On Sunday though, Stocksfield tied the rubber one each, with an emphatic nine wicket win at home. Bowling out Tynedale for 73 in 35.4 overs, there were no problems in reaching their target for the loss of only one wicket.

l In Division Two, Ponteland faced a weekend double header against Tillside. Unfortunately, Ponteland struggled to find any form and slumped to two defeats.

l Corbridge enjoyed success in Division Three on Saturday, seeing off the threat from visitors Bomarsund by a convincing margin of 68 runs.