Division 1
This year the championship went to Hunwick in a close fought contest with Burnhope, East Rainton, Wearmouth and defending champions Kimblesworth.
Hunwick won 12 of their 18 games finishing on 278 points, moving up one place from last season. Hunwick were elected to the Durham cricket league as part of the pyramid system, so have left us for the 2018 season we wish them all the best. However no team will replace them due to the DCL ignoring the county boards own pyramid system.
Burnhope finished second, seeing a revival from last season where they finished fifth. They gained 266 points for 11 victories. Whilst East Rainton moved from fourth to third with 250 points.
It was Wearmouth who saw one of the largest moves of the season, finishing third bottom last year, to finishing fourth this season with 224 points. Kimblesworth dropped from champions to fifth, moving from 362 points to 218 points.
Stanhope remained consistent this season moving one place with 271 points, likewise South Hetton on 133 with 4 victories. Beamish moved down from third place last year to seventh, more in from 299 to 148 points. Belmont and Coundon were the teams which found themselves at the foot of the table this season, Belmont on 102 points and Coundon on 78, both with one victory. We hope to see them both move up the table again next season.
The 2017 Batting average was won by S McCoy with an average of 61.71.
S Savarimuthu won the top score with 207 not out and the most catches with 13.
L Richardson took 23 victims from behind the stumps as the top wicket keeper.
Whilst D Bates had the best bowling average of 8.49 and the best be for mange with 8 for 34.
Division 2
Division 2 was slightly more clear cut than the top flight. Whilst Division 1 came down to the last few games of the season. Kimblesworth were crowned champions much earlier, eventually opening up a 100 point gap with the chasing pack. And they finally removed East Rainton from the top spot after four seasons.
Kimblesworth gained 391 points and only lost one game to Simonside in the opening weeks of the season. They moved up one place from last season’s runners up place. Burnhope came second with 293 points and 13 victories, they also moved up one place from last season. Hunwick also so a one place movement up to third, with 12 wins and 291 points.
Simonside found their feet quickly to life in Division 2 finishing fourth, on 267 points and being the only team to beat the champions in the league. Kibblesworth also climbed a place this season, to fifth, winning 10 games (the same figure as last season) and achieving 252 points. Wearmouth saw an upturn in fortunes, climbing from eighth place to sixth, with 8 wins and 214 points.
The team to see the biggest drop this season, we’re the defending champions East Rainton who fell from first to seventh, winning nine games compared to last season’s fifteen. They amazed 213 points compared to last season’s 333. Belmont also dropped down the table from fifth to eighth, with 147 points compared to last season’s 244. They win four games compared to last season’s 10.
Tantobie struggled this year as they ran a single team in Division 2, they finished bottom of division 1 last term and came second bottom after a tough season, they still won five games and reached 126 points. Beamish hold the basement spot this season, after being seventh last year. They won two games and reached 54 points.
Finally Coundon seconds struggled to put a team in the field this season and resigned in August. They did record one win against fellow struggles Beamish, and we hope to see them back, stronger next season.
M Messer tops the Batting average with 102.5, whilst S Emmerson was this season’s top scorer with 161 not out.
B Throwe took 10 outfield catches , whilst C Glancey was the top wicket keeper with 18 victims.
G Puncheon took the bowling averages with 6.675 and the best performance with 8 for 32.
Cups
The cups were evenly distributed this season, with four different clubs etching their names onto the various trophies and Shields.
The league cup, a T20 competition, was won by Beamish, they beat Kibblesworth, Stanhope and South Hetton to reach the final, where they beat Hunwick by 8 wickets.
The Vinton brothers trophy, was won by Hunwick, who beat Beamish, Wearmouth and finally South Hetton to win the to trophy.
The Glenn Pattison memorial trophy, was also won by Beamish. They passed Belmont, Burnhope, and Coundon to reach the final. In which they beat Wearmouth.
The second team cups saw. Burnhope win the Robert Dunett T20 cup. They beat Coundon and Kibblesworth to recharge the final, where they beat Simonside by 96 runs.
The Amos lowing/Wilson shield, was won by East Rainton, they beat Belmont and Burnhope to reach the final. Where they beat Kimblesworth by 9 wickets.
The Johnson/Coates cup was also won by East Rainton. Beating Kibblesworth and Hunwick in the round to reach the final. Here they were meant to play Kimblesworth, however they withdrew and East Rainton then beat Hunwick in the final.
Finally the Norman Martin was won by Burnhope. They beat Beamish and Kimblesworth to reach the final, where they beat Wearmouth by 63 runs.
2018 season preview
Finally a preview of NEDCL cricket in 2018. Division 1, will field 8 teams with the promotion of Hunwick to the DCL. They are Beamish, Belmont, Burnhope, Coundon, East Rainton, Kimblesworth, South Hetton, Stanhope and Wearmouth. The team winning Division 1 will be eligible for promotion to the DCL , subject to criteria, with their bottom team being relegated. Rumours of player movements should see Burnhope and Kimblesworth in with a tilt at the title.
Division 2 will be contested by Beamish, Belmont, Burnhope, East Rainton, Kibblesworth, Kimblesworth, Simonside, Tantobie and Wearmouth. In Division 2 Burnhope will look towards the title, whilst Simonside and Kimblesworth should also be contenders.