Club Records

Highest Individual Score First XI             Uzzi Afaq 150 v ORP  Northumberland League 2 May 2005.

Highest Individual Score Second XI         Andrew Sherrin 191 v Cramlington B1 1995

Highest Total Score First XI                    317/5 v ORP  Northumberland league 2 May 2005

Highest Total Second XI                         319/8

Best Bowling First XI                              9/11    Billy Simpson v Northern 2001

Best Bowling Second X1                         10/19  David Craig v Stobswood 1985

Highest Aggregate First XI                      978    Nicky Boye Premier League 1992

Highest Aggregate Second XI                  1005  John Douglas B2 2006

Wicket keeper dismissals First XI             G Ellis 1984

Wicker keeper dismissals Second XI         D Carter

31st July 2004 Firsts lose at home to Alnmouth. Bay 104 Alnmouth 192, Whitley won the toss and decided to bowl on a damp overcast day. It proved to be a good decision as Pearson was soon amongst the wickets (4-23) having the visitors 38-5. The visitors then got back into the game as the rain got heavier making bowling and fielding more difficult. Alnmouth batted all the down the order to be all out in the 49th over for 192. When batting the bay made another poor start, 20-3 on a slow wicket. Moody (12), Douglas (29) and a late flourish from Pearson, Ewen and Grainge were the only batsmen to make any progress.
July Poor month for both sides with several rained off and reduced overs matches being lost.
19/6/04 Firsts lose at Kirkley by 4 wickets in a game reduced to 40 overs. Bay 180-6 Slaven 18, Kemp 23 Douglas 85 not out Grange 22. Again superb batting from John Douglas who likes these trips into the country. On the Sunday we lost to them again in the Cup when John got 96 not out, Dave Sproat 42 and Lenny May 28 posting 198-6 in 28 overs. They got the runs in the penultimate over.
12/6/04 1st XI V New Hartley, lost by 6 wickets. Bay 89 all out. Seconds lost at Bates. Bay 158 all out McPherson 49 Mason 14.
5/6/04 1sts v Blagdon, Bay 184 Blagdon 185-5. Bays innings was rescued by Douglas (74) and Took (36) after a slow start against lively bowling. Again the Bay did not bat for 50 overs which proved decisive. Seconds 98 all out chasing 102 against Cowgate
22/5/04 Firsts lose to Heaton Park at home. Whitley 159 Uzzi 70 Took 20 Heaton won the game in the 35th over losing 5 wickets. Seconds beat DSS by an innings. Tight bowling from all the bowlers restricted DSS to 110. Slaven 66 no and Shaw 33 no won the game in the 23rd over. In the week the seconds beat New Hartley in the Enid Farmer Cup and now play Blagdon in the quarter final. Bay 124-4 Hartley 75 all out.
15/5/04 First team beat St Georges Rovers by 10 wickets. Chasing 220 Uzzi Afaq 143 not out and Garry Benns 50 not out won the game in 26 overs. An exceptional batting performance from both players during which Uzzi narrowly missed getting the club record of 145 from Nicky Boye. Seconds beat Wallsend by 9 wickets Wallsend 128 all out with evergreen Steve Flanagan taking his usual 3 wickets. Chris Wrigley made a timely appearance bowling economically 2-18 from 10 overs. When batting Lenny May (35 no) and Loone (67 no) played well.
Civil Service 1st XI
ON Saturday, 8/5/04 Whitley Bay 1st XI entertained the Civil Service at a damp and dreary West Park.
Skipper Took lost the toss and the Bay were put into bat. Early loss of openers Benns for three and Pawley for nine brought the exciting Pakistan batsman, Uzzi Afaq and James Morton to the crease.
Uzzi was out lbw for a rapid fire 34, whilst Morton and Pearson pushed the score along with some cultured play.
After Pearson's dismissal for 14, Morton and Douglas soon followed for 30 and 0 respectively, leaving the Bay struggling on 84 for six.
Sproat, returning to First Team action after a spell in the Seconds, started cautiously but was soon back to his big hitting best, supported ably by skipper Took.
When the skipper went for the surprisingly small total of eight, Sproat had passed the 50 mark for the first time in his Whitley Bay career and the Bay total had been pushed on to a respectable 150.
Sproat was dismissed for 54 and the Bay innings came to a sudden end after Thomas and young Colin Girdlestone were both out for ducks, leaving the unlucky Harrison stranded on two.
This 152 looked like a winning score with the weather deteriorating and so it proved with the Civil Service recording a score of 77 all out.
Most damage was inflicted by James Morton who recorded figures of six for 18 with his slow, left arm spin.
However, all of the Bay bowlers got a piece of the action with opening bowlers, Thomas and Pearson recording figures of two for 13 and one for 29 respectively and Uzzi Afaq one for 12.
All round, a good win for the Bay which takes them to the top of Group 2 in the Northumberland A Division Barlow Cup.

Whitley confirmed their return to form with a good win over Corbribge this weekend to follow up mid-week cup victory over local rivals Monkseaton 2nd XI.

The Lighthouse men had taken last weeks defeat to Bedlington hard and were looking to bounce back quickly. Skipper Chris Mason began the day on a positive winning his 3rd toss in a row and invited Corbridge to bat first on what was expected to be a slow, low and wet looking wicket. Underfoot conditions were proving difficult to bowl in. Mason began his spell with 4 wides and was forced to reduce his run up substantially as he looked to regain confidence . Once into his rhythm, he recovered well bowling an unbroken spell of 10 overs taking 3 wickets for only 28 runs. Support came from change bowler Harris who frustrated the Corbridge Batsman with his tight line and length. The introduction of Pakistan superstar Mohammed Farooq Loan into the attack bamboozled the Remainder of the Corbridge line up the spin sensation finishing with figure of 4-22. Whitley looked a well groomed tight knit unit in the field throughout and were aided by stunning catches from Mason, Slaven, Shaw and Bird en route to dismissing Corbribge for 108. Wicket Keeper, Haggie, top scored with 42.

Whitley's Left handed opening pair of Slaven (16) and May (19) looked solid as the began to chase down what was potentially a challenging total in deteriorating conditions. Both made it into the teens before eventually being dismissed. Bay's no' 3, Kemp, Fell cheaply to a as did Bird who made an impressive 8 and looked in fine form before finding the fielder unluckily. It was left to In form wicket keeper Batsman Iain McPherson to ensure Whitley Cruised to victory. The only other wicket to fall was that of Shaw, run out looking to pressure the fieldsman. McPherson and Loan both ended not out and never looked in trouble as Whitley completed a beautifully paced run chase.
1/5/04 Bay firsts lost to Riverdale by 110 runs.
Seconds lost at home to Bedlington. Visitors 158 all out Slaven 4-27 Harris 3-28 were highlights of a poor fielding and bowling effort. When batting only McPherson 46 and Slaven 28 got started.
WHITLEY Bay started the 2004 season at Bomersund on Saturday in what was expected to be a tough start to the campaign.
New captain Chris Mason won the toss and invited the opposition to bat on a damp looking wicket. Mason himself opened the bowling but it was his new ball partner, Steve Flanagan, who made the early inroads.
Wickets fell at regular intervals even with Boomer looking to consolidate. Their inexperienced line up failing to deal with Flanagan's accuracy and movement through the air.
Flanagan's heroics saw him return with figures of 8 wickets for only two runs. Mason was the other wicket taker, Bomersund all out for only 18.
May and Slaven opened the Whitley innings. The two left handers looked in good touch until May was run out at the non-striker's end.
The big hitting Sproat replaced May and quickly lived up to his reputation with a sweetly timed leg side boundary. He fell shortly afterwards, caught at Square leg looking to wrap things up quickly.
Slaven doubled the boundary count en-route to victory and looked comfortable throughout. Whitley cruising to victory inside six overs.
It was an emphatic win for Whitley in what has historically been a hard fought fixture. Bedlington visit West Park on this weekend and Whitley will be looking to repeat one of their best ever results.

13/9/03 First win at Stobswood.  Stobswood 201 all out Bay lost 5 wickets in reply.  Dave Barron continued his good form to end the season with 4 wickets and 78 runs.  Good luck back in Melbourne to Tim also.  James Morton was in the runs and wickets taking 3 wickets and making 37 runs. Solid batting from Douglas, Benns, Grange, Harrison and May say the bay home to end the season in style.

Seconds beat Cowgate for the 4th time in 2003.  Bay restricted opposition to 130 after good bowling from Flanagan, Took and Slaven.  Openers Mason and Wrigley were very unlucky with the new ball.  The evergreen Flanagan has proved to be a masterful signing as his haul for the season was 40 wickets closely followed by skipper Took with 37.  When batting Bay lost 5 wickets chasing and had to endure some lively opening bowling, Slaven (30) and Moore (27) stuck in to see off the openers leaving Sim (20) and Bird (25) to play their usual classy shots to progress the score to 120.  Sim is returning to his native Yorkshire after a successful season, good luck in Leeds.  This left the skipper to finish the game but after hitting a 4 he was bowled leaving Shaw and Thirlwell to win the game.

30/8/03 Firsts beat Chopwell by 4 runs.  Bay 168-7 Chopwell 163 all out. Bay batted first and got off to a great start by Barron and Douglas 60 from 9 overs.  Douglas went for 20 then a good partnership developed between Barron and Benns (27).  Sim then replaced Benns and continued his recent good form, Barron was out for a stylish 50.  Harrison then joined Sim (21) and both played sensibly to progress the score to 140.  Thomas played the final few overs out for 8 no with Harrison also not out on 20.   Opening the bowling were Barron and Ewen who were confident after the win against Cowgate.  For the visitors Veitch played some great drives but soon lost his opening partner to a catch by Slaven in the gully off Barron.  Ewen then got amongst the wickets having Veitch caught by keeper Harrison for 19.  Mason then took a good catch off Ewen for the wicket of Hussain.  Solid batting took Chopwell to 80 from 25 overs.  Thomas replaced Barron and started bowling with good pace on a deteriorating pitch.  Unfortunately for the Bay Anderson was playing well and reached his 50 taking the score to 135-6.  McMullen bowled a few overs without success and was replaced by Grange who slowed the run rate down and took 2 wickets, one was a towering catch by Ewen.  With 10 overs remaining Ewen and Thomas were bowling and Chopwell needed 25 with 2 wickets remaining.  The game was slipping away from Whitley until Thomas got a wicket with 10 still needed, then Ewen bowled the last man to return 4-28.

23/8/03 First team beat League leaders Cowgate by 7 wickets.  Cowgate were 90-1 after 18 overs when Barry Thomas started bowling , he soon had 3 wickets as did  Dave Barron leaving Cowgate all out for 135.  Mark Ewen doubled his wicket total  when opening with Dave.  When batting the Bay had a good start with Dougie and Dave Barron both getting into the mid 30s, James Morton then continued the sensible batting with Skipper Benns and Bob Grange seeing the Bay home.

Seconds lose to Bates by 9 wickets, a poor total of 135 was to blame for a heavy defeat.  Only Slaven (35) and Took (45) got established in the Bays innings.  The bowlers had a rare off day with Bates openers playing well to win the game with plenty of overs to spare.

16/8/03 Seconds beat New Hartley by 4 wickets. Bay 180-6 Hartley 142 all out Good batting by Moore (32), Sim (25), Bird (35) and Took (42) ensured a decent total.  After a great bowling start by the bay (13-2) Hartley eventually were all out in the final over.

9/8/03 Seconds win local derby against Monkseaton Bay 161-2 Monkseaton 160 all out.  On a glorious afternoon Monkseaton won the toss and decided to bat, good bowling and fielding restricted the total on a good batting wicket.  Coleman and Flanagan bowled well in the early stages without success, Coleman shrugging off his recent nickname of  'Sicknote' took 3 wickets but could easily have had more.  Chris Wrigley in his second spell did the damage with assistance from Dixon and Mason, Wrigley 4-23.  When batting Slaven and Sim put on 100 for the second wicket then Bird joined Sim to finish off the innings in some style with 10 overs to spare.  Sim finished on 65 no, Bird 29 no and Slaven 45.

On Sunday 13^th July Whitley Bays IIs beat Cowgate Sports IIs to win the Beverley Cup, Bay 180-8, Cowgate 168 all out. On a glorious afternoon the Bay travelled to Corbridge to record their third victory of the season over Cowgate in a close game.  All the team played well and started the celebrations with a swim in the Tyne !  Whitley batted first after winning the toss and recovered from losing the unfortunate Shaw early in the innings.  Bay were 44 for 1 after 10 overs, this brought the first bowling change from Cowgate.  This did not affect Slaven and Sim who continued to plunder runs from short pitched bowling.  The loss of Slaven for 49 brought another left hander to the crease, Bird.  Another good partnership developed until Bird went for 15 with the score on 80-3 after 22 overs.  Reid another left hander joined Sim in the middle and plundered 20 runs in one over.  Unfortunately Sim was run out shortly afterwards for a classy 35 which brought skipper Took into the action.  Reid fell attempting another bit hit but a quick 25 accelerated the score to 128.  Bay scored 50 runs from the final 6 overs with Took and Wrigley adding useful runs to the total of 180 after 40 overs.

When bowling the regular opening bowlers Mason and Coleman soon caused trouble for Cowgate, no wickets fell but not many runs were scored.  After 10 overs Cowgate had scored 40 without loss and Chris Wrigley and Flanagan began their usual miserly bowling.  The opening bat fell to an excellent catch by wicket keeper Sim off Flanagans bowling but Cowgate were still behind the run rate.  A bowling change saw Coleman return to bowl a good spell in the heat of the day, Wrigley at the other end was bowling well without success.  Bird held a juggling catch from Colemans bowling that gave the Bay new impetus, Cowgate had lost 2 wickets.  After 30 overs Cowgate required another 70 runs and skipper Took began his first spell of the afternoon.  At the other end Slaven started his slow bowling to slow the scoring rate.  Wickets soon started to fall, Mason took a superb catch in the slips off Slaven and Took bowled the first of his 5 victims.  Slaven bowled the skipper and was replaced by the experienced Flanagan to finish the innings, Cowgate needed 36 from 6 overs.  Flanagan was unlucky in his first over as 2 catches were put down but then Took held a stunning catch to put Bay back into the game.  More wickets fell to Took and the game was getting tense.  Cowgate needed 21 from 3 overs with 3 wickets remaining to win the game, Took got another victim.   Quick singles were needed and Cowgate lost another wicket from a direct hit from Slaven.  Skipper Took the bowled the last man to win the cup, returning 5-35 from his 8 overs.

5/7/03 WBCC 160 Clara Vale 161-5.  Bay posted a decent total thanks to Barron 64, Bird 30 and Took 20.  Hutchinsons 80 saw Clara home after good bowling from Ewen 13 overs for 22 and McMullin.

Seconds lose at Chopwell. Chopwell 201-9 Bay 139 all out.  Slaven 33 ,Moor 32 and Harris 24  made a good start in the chase 80 off 19 overs but momentum was soon lost as wickets fell.

29/6/03 Firsts lose to Stobswood at home by 1 wicket.

Seconds beat Cowgate in low scoring game on a wet pitch.  Again good bowling from all of the Bays bowlers restricted them to 80. Bay 81-6

15/6/03 Cup semi final Bay 131-7 Chopwell 70 No details available but I did hear Tooky got a top edge in the face thats added to his rugged good looks.

14/6/03 1st XI lose at Chopwell despite good knocks from Farringdon and McMullin.  Mark had to retire hurt on 48 after suffering knee ligament damage.  Bay 181 Chopwell 182- 3.

Seconds beat Wallsend by an innings.  Wallsend posted 89 after good work by all the bowlers, Took got 5 wickets.  In reply the Slaven (69)and Moor (22)carried their bats.

7/6/03 1st XI lose against Cowgate.  No details available Cowgate posted 259, James Morton took 5 wickets and Dave Barron and Dougie batted well in posting 140.

Seconds beat Bates chasing 191.  Good bowling from Mason and Coleman (strangely not available for 4 weeks !) finished off the game well for the Bay.  When batting Moore looked rusty after his holidays but Slaven and Bird got the innings going.  Bird played in his usual stylish manner and finished unbeaten on 85 with Took playing well for his 50

31/05/03 1st XI WBCC 139 Bomarsund 140-6

Seconds beat New Hartley by 3 wickets.  NH 158-4 Good bowling again from Steve Flanagan and Chris Wrigley restricted Hartley to a modest total on a good pitch.  Scott played well for 75 not out supported well by the skipper and Wriggers.

24/5/03 Firsts lose to Stocksfield The Bay got off to a solid start but then lost momentum and posted 139-9 after 50 overs.  Skipper Benns kept his good run of form with a 50 and was suppported by May and Morton.  Stocksfield took 47 over to get the runs after another good bowling performance.

14/5/03 Midweek BAy 126 -9 Sproaty bludgened 48 in his usual fashion DSS 76 all out.  Good bowling throughout included Bob Grange taking 5 wickets.

10/5/03 First lose at Warkworth. Bay 56 all out, only Garry Benns and Dougie troubled the scorers.

Seconds win again

10/5/03 Seconds beat Corbridge at home. Corbridge 139 all out Bay lost 5 wickets in the chase.

5/5/03 Seconds win again at Cowgate. Cowgate 110 all out, WB 114-6. This result followed a close victory over Bedlington.   The seconds continued their recent good run with a 4 wicket victory. Took 2-18 (with 4 dropped catches) and Flanagan 4-16 bowled well to restrict Cowgate to 110.  The bay had a solid start 40-1 off 9 overs but lost wickets regularly until a useful 20 from Took brought the game back into reach.  Wrigley senior 10 not out and bit hitter Dan Thirlwell 19 not out finished the game in their customary styles.

3/5/03 First team lose close game to Bates. Whitley got 158-7 with Bates winning by 5 wickets.   A better batting performance was needed after the previous games display against Bedlington and some useful partnerships developed on a damp wicket.  Douglas top scored with 42 batting at 7 with contributions form Pearson, Sproat and Grange.  Barry Thomas again bowled well without much luck returning figures of 2-23 from 13 overs.

23/4/03 WBCC 127-5 Belsay 118-8 A solid start to the season with regular openers Sproat and Slaven starting well.  Sproat went for 49 whilst attempting another big hit.  Bird returned to action in usual style hitting 26 in one over.  When bowling Thomas and Douglas removed the openers but dangerman Storey played well for his 50.  The game was edging Belsays way and 24 were needed from the final over but the Bay held out with Slaven bowling the final over.

Firsts start season in style

19/4/03 WBCC 181-3 Clara Vale 179 all out.  Captain Garry Benns lead from the front taking a stunning catch in the slips to remove Hutchinson and top scored with 88 not out.  The Bay recovered from a bad start to record an away victory at Clara Vale.  Bowlers Grange and Douglas got Bay back into the game, Douglas took 6-10 in his 13 overs and Grange 1-44 from his allocation.

Big hitter Dave Sproat started 2003 in style with 44 and Howard Kemp contributed a solid 20 which stopped Clara getting back into the game.  Pearson and Benns then finished the game with 6 overs to spare.

Whitley edged out in Season Curtain raiser.

 19/4/03 Whitley Bay 2nds opened their 2003 campaign with a close run home defeat at the hands of established B1 side New Hartley 2nds.

 In their first game since gaining promotion to the top flight Whitley did not look overshadowed by their big league opposition. Bay batted first, after Skipper Sean Took (continuing his dismal run of form) lost the toss, on what looked to be a dry but lively West Park track. Took and opening partner Ken Moore looked in control, Took in particular plundering runs at both ends. Unfortunately this was to be short lived as a rush of blood led to Took to swing wildly across the line of a straight ball from Hartley opening bowler, M Stokes, only to see the bails dislodged. Moore followed shortly after, Caught behind off the bowling of veteran T Burns. This gave Hartley new impotence and a series of Whitley wickets tumbled in quick succession. Both Chris Wrigley and Bay new boy Steve Flannagan played on, Peter Wrigley was dismissed without scoring, as was the energetic Daniel Thirlwell. Hartley were now firmly in the driving seat, skipper A Stokes had picked up 4 wickets in his spell and with 17 overs still remaining in the Bay innings only Lenny May, returning to Whitley following a career break, provided any resistance. Together with the talented all rounder, Chris Mason, May led the Whitley fightback. Both rotating the strike and running well between the wickets. Both looked in good form on a pitch which was becoming easier to bat on by the minute until May was dismissed by a ball which kept low, for 33 the highest score of the innings, by young left arm Seamer Moor who like his counterparts had bowled a tight line. This brought the hard hitting Sean Coleman to the crease who despite an early let off added valuable runs to an increasing Whitley Bay total before being dismissed by Crowe. Mason continued to look solid, crashing two boundaries and surviving a good examination from some short-pitched bowling by returning opener Burns. Mason now batting with another Whitley new boy, Alan “the Don” Homer, steered Whitley to within 2 overs of their allocation before sending a return catch to be dismissed for a classy 19. Colin Girdlestone replaced Mason and scored the first runs his career ending on 3 not out, but more importantly providing The Don with support and allowing him to carve out 12 runs from the last over leaving him unbeaten on 13 and Whitley with a respectable 129 for 9 for their 40 overs.

 In the now bitter cold and on a flat, easy paced wicket Took kept faith with his preferred opening bowling duo from their championship campaign. Coleman looked a real handful generating pace and bounce from the Ice rink end, Stand in wicket keeper Took spilling a regulation take early doors. But was unable to make a breakthrough and eventually the slow paced wicket allowed Stokes to make runs off the back foot. Mason persisted with an off stump line below full pace and eventually enticed Stokes opening partner to force the ball in the air to Homer at mid-off where he took a good catch low down. Unable to make further inroads Took turned to Chris Wrigley and Flannagan to replace his new ball pairing. Stokes continued to go hard at the ball and eventually ended with 44 before falling to the impressive Flannagan who was now into his rhythm and mixing his pace and varying his length bamboozled the Hartley middle order and lifted Whitley fieldsmen.  After 4 Wrigley overs The Don stepped forward to bowl his first over for Whitley bay. Nerves’ clearly getting the better of the made man early on but his 2nd over was much improved and a good spell culminated in his first wicket.  Flannagan continued his good form at the Pavilion end ending up with the impressive figures of 4-9 from his 8 overs. With the Hartley lower order now exposed and not many runs to play with The Whitley Skipper turned to his Hitmen, Coleman returning for a final push from the Ice rink end and Mason once again from the Pavilion end. It was Mason who made the breakthrough for his skipper trapping the Hartley batsmen LBW with the first ball of his second over then taking a breathtaking return catch to dismiss Moor from the 4th ball. Mason bowling full, wicket to wicket, brought moor forward, an attempted straight drive looked to be splitting mid on and off until Mason, still in his follow through, leapt full length taking the catch 1 handed to the delight of the Whitley faithful. Whitley now had their tails up but alas did not have enough runs to play with and the Hartley youngsters eventually found the gaps to see them home safe with 2 wickets still remaining.  Nevertheless Bay can take heart from this display and never looked outclassed by Hartley.

 Bay are sure to improve as the season progresses and certainly seem able to mix it with the big boys. Bay show all the signs of a good side: long batting line up, Strong bowling department and good fielding unit. What is most impressive about Took’s outfit is their commitment to each other, never say die attitude and ability to enjoy the game for what it is. A good mixture of experience and youth should see another successful season for Whitley bay’s 2^nd XI. 

Chris Mason.