On the first real day of sunshine this season, Bates won the toss and decided to bat first against Stocksfield in the village cup. Bates got off to a slow start losing Lamb without scoring in the 2nd over with the score on 4. With some tight bowling Stocksfield managed to pile the pressure on Bates reducing them to 17-3 after 5 overs. This brought Mark Allan to the crease to accompany skipper Baston and they seemed to steady the innings with some good running and intelligent batting. But, with the score on 43 Allan tried to pull a ball that didn't quite bounce and was bowled. Heathcote shortly followed leaving Bates on 45-5. Youngster Nathan Allan managed to hang around and got Bates up to 70 before he was bowled by Henderson. Robinson didn't last long along with Bailey, which brought Dennis to the crease, and he was able to support Baston and get Bates up to 121 before Dennis was bowled advancing. Some big hitting from skipper Baston took Bates up to 143-9, Baston finishing on 72 not out. 

Defending 143, Bates had to take early wickets if they were going to put any pressure on Stocksfield. Baston chose to open with Dennis and himself with limited bowling options to choose from. Dennis started well keeping it tight with some swing and good lines, with Baston making the breakthrough in the 4th over removing Mannion without scoring. However, the extras started to accumulate and Baston took himself off and brought Cragg on. Together with Dennis they managed to build pressure by not giving the batsmen any room to play their shots, and after Dennis had finished his spell (9 overs, 1 for 13), Stocksfield were 38-3 well behind the run rate. Cragg managed to pick up 2-20 from his 9 overs which left Stocksfield needing 86 from 14 overs. Lamb and Symington were the bowlers who were given the job of finishing it off for Bates. Unfortunately due to some dropped catches and poor fielding Stocksfield played their way in to contention needing 17 from 4 overs winning with 2 balls to spare.

Captain Dave Gillott won the toss on a decent looking track but as things so regularly turn out, it didn't play as expected. Coupled with some good bowling from Ashington and some bad shot choices Bates were struggling at 13-3. With opener Nathan Allan, Jamie Heathcote and Chris Wilson back in the hutch with 1 run between them. Then captain Gillott and opener Kevin Golightly managed to get Bates up to 32 before Gillott hit one straight to the fielder, leaving Bates in a nightmare situation. All-rounder Dennis then failed (3) with the score on 35/5, leaving Golightly at the other end rapidly running out of partners. Wicketkeeper Rachel Gillott then came to the crease at number 7 and together with Golightly put on 52 for the 6th wicket taking Bates to 87/6 when she was given LBW. And some good running, although most of it suicidal, by Bates number 8 Rob Burns (at one point the ball went 5 yards from the wicket and they managed to pick up 2 runs) managed to get Bates up to a somewhat respectable total of 109/6 off their 40 overs. Opener Kevin Golightlywith a very well constructed 73 not out, batting through the innings.
 
Needing quick wickets to have any chance of winning the game, captain Gillott opened with Tony Burns and Gary Dennis. Dennis regularly beat the bat but had no luck at all, one delivery missing the bat and actually bouncing over the stumps from pitching inside the popping crease. Gillott changed the bowling regularly from one end with Dennis keeping it tight at the other hoping to pick up wickets, with himself taking the first wicket, caught by Nathan Allan at cover. Binns picked up the 2nd wicket after replacing Dennis who bowled his 10 overs without a wicket, in his 1st over. Bates then picked up wickets at intervals but never really got stuck in to the Ashington Rugby batting line-up and they managed to knock the runs off in the 38th over, Bates doing well to make it last that long.
 
This now leaves Bates 2nd XI in the bottom 2 after 3 games and in dire need of picking up a few wins to propel them up the league table. First opportunity is this Saturday at home vs Blue Flames who had a good season last year and Bates will be looking to bat 40 overs again, but this time bowl well too.
 
Man of the Match: Kevin Golightly 73*

On a day where the toss was vital, captain Gary Dennis called wrongly and Clara put Bates in first on a green wicket. Making his debut Kevin Golightly and  junior Nathan Allen got Bates off to a decent start, both looked solid batting for a number of overs without much scare. Then trying to go over the top with a drive to a full ball, Golightly mistimed it and hit it straight to mid-off which started the collapse for Bates. The only real highlights being the 43 scored by  opener Nathan and the 2 sixes hit by debutante Chris Doyle, Bates closing there  innings 78 all out. With a small target to defend Bates knew they had to take early wickets, which was the main reason behind captain Dennis opening the bowling with himself and David Binns. Binns took the first wicket in his first over, the batsmen playing on. Then it was down to Dennis to try and deliver for his side, but could only manage 4-17 from 8 overs. Without help from the other end it was always going to be a big ask. Man of the Match: Nathan Allan 43 runs.

Bates Bears host Stocksfield Cricket Club in the second round of the village cup on Sunday May 20th with the winners playing either Kirkley Cricket Club or Warkworth Cricket Club on Sunday June 3rd.

Ho ho ho no!! It's nearly that time of year again people when everyone eats and drinks far too much. We are having our party on Friday 16th December, hope to see everyone there. There will be the usual games such as Play your Cards Right, Word Association etc. Fancy dress is optional!!

Bates will be open from 7pm on Friday and drinks will be at a reduced price for the event. Friends and family are welcome as always so we hope to see you all then.

Bates AGM will be held at Bates Cottages Cricket Club on Sunday 4th December at 4pm for all current members.

Bates Cottages CCSenior Presentation Night
The fun starts at 1900 with

Play Your Cards Right
Bingo
Raffle..............and some classic Bates Entertainment "Guy Fawkes" style, suitable for all the family.

Hope you can join us on Saturday night for presentation of the main awards for 1st and 2nd XI - "Player of the Season" and "Player's Player of the Season" for both sides.

A great chance for all the Bates "family" to get together and have a knees up - AS USUAL - DONATIONS ACCEPTED FOR THE RAFFLE!!!

See you all on Saturday night at 1900!!!