NEPL Division 1 1st and 2nd team winners?

[Super Ted]

They certainly did. According to the report on the Whitburn website, Washington didn't make much of an effort to get the game going and it was reduced due to a late start. From that report it appears Washington then blocked their 30 overs for just 60 - making no attempt to make a game of it. Pretty dissapointing for Whitburn I'd imagine. Whitburn made a sporting declaration at 160ish, leaving it at just over 5 an over for the chase, more than gettable.

Im current captain of the Washington 2XI and i find the comments made on the Whitburn website absolutely baffling and disgusting.

How anyone from Whitburn can criticise the effort made to get the game ahead is embarrasing. Upon Whitburns arrival to Washington, Several members of playing staff and coaches were busy pumping away the lake of water that had developed overnight, the super soaker was also being used across the bowlers run ups and surrounding square.

Washington gave the game every chance of play despite being pushed out of the title race themselves due to having two more games abandoned over leaders Whitburn and Sacriston in previous weeks.

The game finally got the go ahead after NO negativity with regards to actually playing the game from ANY member of the Washington side. Washington then won the toss and i elected to field in order to be in full control of a reduced over game.

Whitburn then proceeded to bat 33 overs before declaration in a 35/30 over game split leaving Washington with a severely weakened side to score 167 in 32 overs to win the game.

We, admittledly in turn, looked to stifle the game meaning Whitburn had to bowl us out to be champions. In the end Whitburn failed to do so and Sacriston claimed the title.

Washington also set there target at the start of the day to make sure we ended up losing the LEAST games in the entire league for the season, with the knowledge that if we avoided defeat, in our own minds we have been the best team this season having beaten the eventual winners both home and away.

The fact the Whitburn players didnt even bother stopping behind for a pint after the game, thank anyone from Washington for the efforts to get the game ahead (despite false information from the Whitburn website) and for the captain to just walk out without signing the captains sheet and meeting with the umpire left a very sour taste amongst our lads.

Maybe Whitburn need to take a look at themselves before criticising others, they had the league in their own hands and lost it on the last day. Well done to Sacriston.

 

[leecoo]

Washington also set there target at the start of the day to make sure we ended up losing the LEAST games in the entire league for the season, with the knowledge that if we avoided defeat, in our own minds we have been the best team this season having beaten the eventual winners both home and away.

cricket doesnt quite work out like that though does it

 

[Super Ted]

Washington also set there target at the start of the day to make sure we ended up losing the LEAST games in the entire league for the season, with the knowledge that if we avoided defeat, in our own minds we have been the best team this season having beaten the eventual winners both home and away.

cricket doesnt quite work out like that though does it

We couldn't win the league on the last day so we set out our stall to avoid defeat and prevent Whitburn winning the title.

Any side with a competetive edge would have done the same to 'spoil the party' so to speak. With the side we had out, the target they left us was negative of them, If they posted 130 in 25 overs they would have put us in a win or lose situation, us going for the runs and them having 40 overs to bowl us out. Theres an argument for and against, Personally we didnt want Whitburn to win the league at our place..

 

[leecoo]

We couldn't win the league on the last day so we set out our stall to avoid defeat and prevent Whitburn winning the title.

Any side with a competetive edge would have done the same to 'spoil the party' so to speak. With the side we had out, the target they left us was negative of them, If they posted 130 in 25 overs they would have put us in a win or lose situation, us going for the runs and them having 40 overs to bowl us out. Theres an argument for and against, Personally we didnt want Whitburn to win the league at our place..

Agreed I would have done the same, if they wanted the league that badly they should have declared earlier...it was just that comment that made me smile

 

[Carteron]

Agreed over 5 an over with the title at stake is pretty negative IMO. Surely you pull out all the stops and try and take the draw out of the equation.

 

[Scimmy]

We couldn't win the league on the last day so we set out our stall to avoid defeat and prevent Whitburn winning the title.

Any side with a competetive edge would have done the same to 'spoil the party' so to speak. With the side we had out, the target they left us was negative of them, If they posted 130 in 25 overs they would have put us in a win or lose situation, us going for the runs and them having 40 overs to bowl us out. Theres an argument for and against, Personally we didnt want Whitburn to win the league at our place..

Exactly as stated in the Whitburn match report that you slate.....

 

[Carteron]

Surely the fact they got the game on at all deserves credit. Nobody could really have complained at any game being called off given the amount of rain that actually fell on Friday. Sounds like they have pulled out all of the stops to actually give Whitburn a chance, they shouldn't be expected to roll over and die chasing a very tough target from the sound of things.

Of course I wasnt there so there may be some subtext to the already mentioned issues I know nothing of.

 

[Scimmy]

Surely the fact they got the game on at all deserves credit. Nobody could really have complained at any game being called off given the amount of rain that actually fell on Friday. Sounds like they have pulled out all of the stops to actually give Whitburn a chance, they shouldn't be expected to roll over and die chasing a very tough target from the sound of things.

Of course I wasnt there so there may be some subtext to the already mentioned issues I know nothing of.

I agree absolutely, but I wonder therefore why the Whitburn report claims "seemingly minimal attempt was made by home ground staff to make the playing surface playable"....Perhaps this was in comparison to the huge effort being put in at the Whitburn ground for the corresponding First Team fixture. It may have course just be a pet lip on by the bitterly disappointed Whitburn correspondent.

It will certainly be an interesting pair of fixtures when the teams meet again next year!

 

[Carteron]

I agree absolutely, but I wonder therefore why the Whitburn report claims "seemingly minimal attempt was made by home ground staff to make the playing surface playable"....Perhaps this was in comparison to the huge effort being put in at the Whitburn ground for the corresponding First Team fixture. It may have course just be a pet lip on by the bitterly disappointed Whitburn correspondent.

It will certainly be an interesting pair of fixtures when the teams meet again next year!

Exactly, if they were that against playing they could have called it off at 8am!

 

[Scimmy]

Exactly, if they were that against playing they could have called it off at 8am!

Would that not have required the agreement of the umpires and opponents? Serious question, I do not know.

Also, Sproatesy has stated they wanted to stop Whitburn winning the title. To me that sounds like they wanted to play them and actively deny Whitburn success and spoil the party due to their competitive edge.

 

[Sweeper]

How many wickets did Washington lose before the wood went up? I like a block more than just about anyone, but 60 off 32 overs is a bit special when only 5 an over were needed for the win?!

What had Whitburn done that Washy would go on like that just to stop them winning the league? Is there some history of bad blood there?

 

[Greavsie]

Can't wait till thesetwo play each other next year. Gonna take a bag of cans and enjoy the show.

On serious note, thought these clubs got on canny.

 

[Scimmy]

How many wickets did Washington lose before the wood went up? I like a block more than just about anyone, but 60 off 32 overs is a bit special when only 5 an over were needed for the win?!

What had Whitburn done that Washy would go on like that just to stop them winning the league? Is there some history of bad blood there?

Can't wait till thesetwo play each other next year. Gonna take a bag of cans and enjoy the show.

On serious note, thought these clubs got on canny.

Washington Cricket Club have two ex-Whitburn players in their ranks in the form of Ash Thorpe and Ian Elliott. The spirit between the sides was very good at the first team match at Whitburn, I don't know why there should be any bad blood between the second teams, except maybe that the match report for the match earlier in the season at Whitburn mentioned an obvious gulf in class between the two sides following an emphatic Whitburn victory.

Revenge probably. A shame really as for the Whitburn Firsts and Seconds to be promoted together would have been special for the club.

 

[Greavsie]

Not sure of the wisdom of having s pop at opponents on your website. Whitburn are not the only local club where I have read this sort of thing this season.

 

[mrreal]

I know Washington 2s were missing 5 or 6 of their normal side. So it would of been a tough chase for them. But it was down to Whitburn to take 10 wickets if they wanted to win the game.

As for the reduced overs, I was surprised they got on at all as our ground was very wet.

Also, a counter argument about the way Washington 2s approached the run chase. You only have to look at the 1s game where I was playing to see what may of happened. We were set 250 to win off 57 overs. We believed we could get it and Turnsy knew it was a risk declaring on that score, but it was one he had to take. Just under 5 an over at Whitburn isn't a lot. Washington chased the score throughout the innings, didnt shut up shop but fell short and were in turn beaten. Very brave declaration from Whitburn which encouraged us to try and chase.

It does seem a lot of fuss has been made because Whitburn 2s are disappointed they fell short on the last game. Bit of sour grapes. Hopefully there is no bad blood between the teams. I have had a very enjoyable weekend at Whitburn and feel both clubs have a great relationship. Both should be proud of their efforts this year.

 

[harmy]

what is all the fuss about 2nd teams getting promoted or relegated?

the 2nd team goes in the same league as the first team ie 1sts in prem then the 2nds in prem 2nd div.

logistically your 1st and 2nds couldnt play in seperate leagues.

this is how the pyramid system works.

shields 1sts in prem have been relegated and so that means the 2nds are also relegated.

whitburn 1sts go into prem and so does the 2nd team in the 2nd team league.

 

[The Colonel]

Not sure of the wisdom of having s pop at opponents on your website. Whitburn are not the only local club where I have read this sort of thing this season.

Not sure of the wisdom of having s pop at opponents on your website. Whitburn are not the only local club where I have read this sort of thing this season.

I think that the change in setup this year has made local cricket very much more competitive at all levels. Some traditionally successful clubs being challenged by teams that previously they weren't

 

[Greavsie]

I think that the change in setup this year has made local cricket very much more competitive at all levels. Some traditionally successful clubs being challenged by teams that previously they weren't

I daresay but there is certainly a little naivity in allowing things on your websites that are inflamatory or disrespectful. Usually they are in the game reports written by the skipper or designated person, in the sftermath of the game while tempers are still frayed. I wonder if clubs have codes of conduct in place for the writing of these.

Another cyber bug bear is twitter. Apart from one or teo honourable exeptions (CLS, Eppleton, Brandon) how hard can it be to provide regular score updates on a sat afternoon and up to date fixture info

 

[Scimmy]

what is all the fuss about 2nd teams getting promoted or relegated?

the 2nd team goes in the same league as the first team ie 1sts in prem then the 2nds in prem 2nd div.

logistically your 1st and 2nds couldnt play in seperate leagues.

this is how the pyramid system works.

shields 1sts in prem have been relegated and so that means the 2nds are also relegated.

whitburn 1sts go into prem and so does the 2nd team in the 2nd team league.

As I said, the understanding at Whitburn, 2 days after the events, is that the 2nds are still in the NEPL First Division (2nd team league) , not in the Premier Division (2nd team league).

Are you sure of your facts Harmy?

 

[the_scoreboard]

Yes only one team goes up and one team go down. As you all know Whitburn 1st team won the NEPL Divison 1 so they go up but Whitburn 2nd team stay in the NEPL Divison 1