Our first proper season in the Durham & North East League has come to an end and what a brilliant season it’s been. The first team became the first club to go a full Durham & North East Cricket League - DNECL Official club to go unbeaten in all league and Cup competitions in a season, a new league record! Being crowned division 4 champions and lifting the Johnson/Coates Trophy on the last day of the season.
Lee Henderson was both the clubs and divisions leading run scorer with 496 runs, whilst Ben Storey was joint second with 306. Chris Vallance was the leading wicket taker at the club with 26 wickets and second in the division, Jordan Bell putting in the divisions top performance of 6 for 10. Finally Luke Richardson again stopped the wicket keeping tally, with 16 victims.
The seconds recovered from a poor start and a brilliant team effort saw them to a comfortable mid table finish with 199 points. Winning 5 and losing 7 during the season. Top Scorer with the bat was Skipper Kieran Burrell making 197 season runs, Jon Arnold finished 6th in the league bowling with 22 wickets, whilst Ralph Richardson took 11 victims behind the stumps.
Congratulations to all players, and the captains Jack Holding & Kieran Burrell and vice captains Lee & Colin Henderson for a brilliant season on the field.
Off the field has been a big one for the club too. Finally we got to use our Sport England funded Pavilion, no grand opening just yet, but finally the lads, lasses and officials have proper changing rooms, no more shipping containers! Our drive to improve our facilities has continued with a new batting cage arriving, a new ladies toilet, the addition of more fencing and seats around the ground. Plus at the end of the season the levelling of the playing area and the installation of new drainage is a huge step forward. The club also joined the Carbon Centurions, with the aim of reducing our Carbon footprint and being the North Easts first Carbon neutral cricket club.
Finally a huge step towards the clubs future was the All Stars Cricket programme and the launch of the Rainton Rockets, this brought junior cricket back to the Hazard, and has now launched us into finally having our own junior teams. A massive thank you to all the parents, children, activators and coaches that made it happen!