HAYDON Bridge’s Ian Watson is still mixing it with the young guns as he finished the season with the best bowling average in Division One.

At the age of 49, his 32 wickets and 21 maiden overs from the 103 overs he bowled earned him an average of 8.71 and the Telfer Cup for best figures. In second was Rob Forster, of Humshaugh, with 9.17 (29 wickets) while Wylam captain Ben Duncan was third with 9.80 (41 wickets).

Watson shone in a year when many junior players caught the eye, the shortlist for the Kathleen Waite Memorial Trophy for junior player of the year fiercely contested.

Hexham Leazes II’s 11-year-old bowler Edward Foreman and Stocksfield II’s trio of Sam Beedle, Chris Scandle and Paul Brown were all in-the-running, but the prize went to Matfen Hall all-rounder Tom Scott as the 15-year-old claimed 24 wickets which included 5-36 against Allendale and made 388 runs from 16 innings including a top score of 77 versus Newton.

Eighteen-year-old Beedle played a big part in helping Stocksfield II win the league for the first time in 12 years behind the stumps, and he was rewarded with the Alan Graham Cup for most wicketkeeping victims in the top division.

He made 20 catches and 11 stumpings to finish 10 points clear of runner-up Chris Welton, of Haydon Bridge (11 catches, 10 stumpings), with the retiring Andrew Brown, of Hexham Leazes (14 catches, 5 stumpings) and Matfen captain Alex Pearse (12 catches, 7 stumpings) joint third.

Beedle and Haltwhistle keeper Ryan Bell were awarded league caps.

It was a profitable night for Allendale, who received the umpire’s award for club of the season, as well as four separate individual trophies.

It was a family affair as father John Raglan’s score of 126 not out versus Stocksfield IV won him the Jack Brewis Cup for best batting performance in Division Two, his son Tim winning the Division One equivalent in the form of the Wooding Cup with 169 not out from 139 balls versus Wylam.

Haltwhistle captain Dan Parker (137 v Stamfordham) and Alex Rayner (133* v Hexham Leazes) were second and third respectively in Division One, with Wark’s Greg McConnell (119* v Allendale II) and Wylam II’s Richard Opie (106* v Mitford) making up the top three in Division Two.

Allendale’s New Zealander Ross Laidlaw made a big impression during his time at the club and claimed both the Clayburn Memorial Cup for best batting average (71.48) and Wait Cup as best all-rounder (859 runs and 41 wickets) in Division One.

With an average of 57.58, Parker of Haltwhistle was second and Rayner, of Wylam, with 51.4, was third in Division One batting order, while Benwell Hill III’s Darshana Thiranga (545 runs, 33 wickets) was second and Matfen’s Liam McWilliam (510 runs, 30 wickets) third in the all-rounder stakes.

Simon Richardson, of Hexham Leazes II, was the recipient of the Steinberg Shield for most wicketkeeping victims in Division Two as his nine catches and five stumpings saw him top Jonny Lees (six catches, four stumpings), of Mitford A, and Jasper Gray (eight catches, one stumping), of Belsay.

Wylam skipper Ben Duncan put in the best individual bowling performance in Division One as his 8-21 against Newcastle III earned him the Manning Memorial Cup. Tom Waugh (7-22) was second with his display for Haydon Bridge against Hexham Leazes, while Ryan Chamberlain’s 7-25 for Stocksfield II against Humshaugh clinched him third spot.

Duncan’s second team counterpart Tony Parker with an average of 10 as he claimed 26 wickets and 21 maidens from 110 overs was Division Two’s best bowler.

In second was the division’s leading wicket taker Dan Tuite (10.35), of Mitford A, while Medomsley’s Mark Charlton (10.9) was third.

Corbridge Millers picked up their first trophy since forming two years ago as they possessed the best all-rounder in Division Two in the form of Kiel Zurawlew.

With 353 runs and 26 wickets, he finished ahead of Wark captain Paul Armstrong (170 runs, 28 wickets) and Mitford A’s Kieron Mole (226 runs, 16 wickets).

Division Two champions South Northumberland 1864 were in the individual honours too when Owen Hollins put in the best bowling performance with 8-22 against Humshaugh II. Teammate Allan Davidson (8-29 v Wark) was second, with Hexham Leazes II’s Jerry Taylor (8-35 v Mitford B) third.

Mitford A’s Matthew Ellinor (68.86) recorded the best batting average in the division, ahead of Leazes II’s Tony Crosby (43.45) and Wark’s McConnell (43.2).

Team prizes were also handed out as Stocksfield II skipper Phill Bewick was on hand to receive the Division One trophy, with Graeme Pigg presented the KO Cup, with Jamie Taylor shining with five wickets in the victory over Allendale in the final.

Wylam II received the Division Two KO Cup after defeating Allendale II, Greg Brown named man of the match with 112 not out.

Haltwhistle Hurricanes lifted the Twenty20 Trophy after victory over Wark Reivers in the final.

Benwell Hill won the U15 League and Tynedale the U13 title, while Newton were present to receive the Courant Cup as quiz champions!

All prizes were presented by former England, Durham and Derbyshire man John Morris, famed for joining David Gower in flying a small plane just above the ground while England were touring in Australia in 1991, who delivered a hugely entertaining speech.

l View an online picture gallery of all the winners on the night at www.hexhamcourant.co.uk.