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Promotion Push Paused at Prior's Park

With the fate of the nation about to be decided (vote Labour) PHCC faced their own date with destiny on the eve of the general election.

On winning the toss the plan was simple - bat first, build a commanding total and let the combined bowling firepower loose to precisely set attacking fields.

However like all good theories they're better on paper than in action as PHCC's batsmen struggled once again with only a few lusty blows pushing the total up to a final 71.

Even tight bowling and keen fielding couldn't prevent eventual defeat by 9 wickets. Questions are bound to be asked of the stand in captain who is resembling Gordon Brown - the right man for the job and to turn things around but under pressure to deliver.

Next week sees PHCC in cup action at Cochrane Park

Team: Hearn, Crowe, Gilchrist, Dures, Gurkin, Jackson, Dawson K, Reader S, Reader K, Bandeen

Season Starts Here

"The opening of each cricket season is a voyage of most joyous adventure, for it brings promise of the thrilling unknown, together with the prospect of sailing again certain charted and well loved seas. We go again where we have so often been before to find new paint upon the pavilion railings, to see new figures tread the old steps well-worn by the feet of the mighty ones of yesterday"

(With thanks to Mr Jim Kilburn, "In search of cricket")

Following skipper Dawson's intensive pre-season training programme, Park House entered the new season with promotion their target. Maybe such a vigorous and punishing regime was not the ideal way to prepare for the season when skipper Dawson withdrew injured.

With Bandeen (snr) taking the armband for the evening, he won his first ever toss and elected to bat against new boys Ponteland. Early season optimism soon gave way to despair as the Park House batsmen, looking very rusty indeed, gave their wickets away through a combination of poor shot selection and good bowling by Ponteland. Too much T20 and not enough application.

Alas even a rousing team talk and honest team discussion between innings proved too little too late as Ponteland raced to their target with the minimum of effort and fuss.

Only one word to describe this performance OUTCLASSED.

Next week sees PHCC travel to Priors Park to take on Kings Old Boys

Team v Ponteland: Hearn, Crowe, Gardiner, Cawthra, Gurkin, Gilchrist, Tipping, Reader, Dawson, Scurr, Bandeen

Winter Blues

As autumn beckons, our thoughts turn from the season ended to prepare for 2010. key to this will be the player of the year award and night out. Watch this space for details

End of Season Report

Well that's that for this year - how did everyone do ?

John Dawson: Faced with the worst ever injury crisis to himself and his squad, skipper Dawson remained calm in the face of adversity. Still can't call a single but played some good knocks. As ever organised the team.

Ian Hearn: Mr Cricket himself had an outstanding season with bat being the backbone of the innings. Chipped in with useful bowling and fielding performances. Candidate for player of the year.

Croweman: Injury ruined what could of been his best season. Unflagging with bat and ball. Good luck in the Great North Run.

Ryan Gardiner: Super performances with the gloves but struggled sometimes with the bat. He has the potential to be a big player in 2010.

Mick Gurkin: Talisman who never gave up inspite of injury. Top bowler with decent scores with the bat to match.

Dave Pearce: Steady performer at the top of the order. Good gully man too.

Stu Jackson: Came good with the ball this year, reliable batting and decent fielding.

Keith Reader: Good performances opening the bowling and always a threat with the ball but a tendancy to be his biggest critic. Some delightful cameos with the bat.

Tony Gilchrist: Could be opening the attack for years to come, a natural talent but musn't get downhearted.

Danny Gilchrist: Magic performances but again don't let your head drop.

Kevin Dawson: Came of age this year, consistent performances with bat, ball and in the field. Well done.

Peter Bandeen: Like all young 'uns it comes down to confidence. Good bowling now needs a winter of hard work for summer 2010.

Bill Cawthra: Enthusiastic throughout and a team man through and through.

Phil Pollard: Encouraging debut season. Needs to turn good starts into big scores.

Ben Dures: The arc is still there but have the reactions slowed ?

Paul Bandeen: You tell me (though I can't resist recording my 7 catches!)

Over and Out

That's it for another year. PHCC completed their league programme with games against Black Widows and Stocksfield. Because of the demand for pitches the games were held at New Hartley and Stocksfield respectively.

Starting with the game against Black Widows, skipper Dawson say Park House bat quickly to post a score of 95 which didn't prove to be enough against the big hitting Widows. Although Reader took 4 wickets and Bandeen demonstrated the art of catching yet again, the two couldn't halt the enevitable. A Widows win by 6 wickets.
Team:Hearn,Pearce,Gardiner,Cawthra,Dawson,Dawson,Gilchrist,Bandeen.

With skipper Dawson absent Bandeen (snr) led a team comprising of old salts and young uns to take on Stocksfield. In what turned out to be a poor all round performance from PHCC they lost by 7 runs a somewhat flattering result thanks to a rapid 48 * by new boy Courtney for PHCC. Quick thought, Mick Gurkin's innings put this writer in mid of P G Wodehouse who said "The new batsmen went into the crease and came back so fast that he almost met himself coming back".

So with the season done and dusted, spare a thought for those who skipper when it is never truer to say "They call it a team game, but in fact it is the lonliest game of all"
Team:Jackson,Pearce,Gardiner,Courtney,Gurkin,Dixon,Bandeen,Bandeen,Gilchrist,Dawson,McAdams.