26/06/2025
95 not out… must of been that physio session 💥 🙌🤣 well done Chris!
With temperatures hitting 30 degrees on Saturday, it was the first team who put on another red hot performance as they climbed to the top in Division 2. Under the tutelage of stand-in captain Tom Ward (Swale Scaffolding), Rockliffe hosted Northallerton. As the sun beat down, Park batted first and were more than equal to the Northallerton attack, reaching 294 from their allocated overs. Runs were shared amongst the team with notable highlights including Tom Ward with 81 and Gary Lee 82. Their bowling was equally sublime. Mark Swanwick (Redfern Building), took 6-43 from his 15 as Rockliffe wrapped up victory inside 39 overs.
The second eleven were on the road this week as they took on Thornaby in Division 3. Put into bat, Stuart Pounder (Wheelers Woodworking Solutions) and Chris Lupton, pictured (Phil Bilmer Physiotherapy) got Rockliffe off to a fantastic start putting on 89 for the first wicket, with Pounder making a quick-fire 46 before being dismissed. Lupton continued to accumulate runs and batted through the full 40 overs falling just short of 100, as the innings closed on 215 with Lupton making a season best 95 not out. Rockliffes bowling, however, was no match for the Thornaby batting as the home side plundered RPCCs attack vigorously and coasted home with 10 overs too spare. The seconds are, nonetheless, still very much in the mix in Division 3.
On Sunday the third team were involved in a rain affected game at home to Sedgefield. Bowling first, the thirds pinned back the visitors who reached 181 from their 40 overs, with Joe Brookes (Medicolegal Reports) taking 3-41. Replying, Rio Swapnil and Danny Shoulder put Rockliffe in the driving seat with an opening stand of 105, before rain intervened, This interlude only delayed the inevitable as when the clouds cleared Rockliffe made short work of the remaining runs and romped home with 17 overs to spare with Rio making a fantastic 66.
This Saturday, the 1sts travel to Whitby whilst the 2nds host their counterparts.