Young guns' draw offers Shields hope
SATURDAY'S high-scoring draw at Jesmond brought South Shields's season to a close, but provided plenty to warm the cockles of supporters during the cold winter months.
Rhys May notwithstanding, South Shields's team was packed full of South Tynesiders all aged 22 or under.
Gaining an individual and collective confidence from each others' presence, a swagger and belief returned to the side.
Few would have bet on the Sapphire Engineering-sponsored side, unable to call upon the batting prowess of Dan Shurben, Mike Fishwick and Oliver Stedman, compiling their highest ever Premier League total.
But on a flat deck in ideal batting conditions the youngsters thrived, although Chris Rainbow fell to Ross McLaren early in the piece.
Chris Watson, the beneficiary of Rhys May's badly-timed visit to the men's room, revelled in his inadvertent rise to number three.
A confident 41 in partnership with stand-in skipper Paul Muchall (30) suggested that the key position in the batting order would befit the solid right-hander, whose opportunities to date have been in the lower middle.
May (80) made the most of his late arrival to the crease by forging an entertaining partnership with Michael Dunn (77).
The ability to adapt to conditions and match situations will, in time, be the making of this talented group of players.
Nicky Quinn is an impact batsman with a justifiable claim to a middle order position given Shields's tendency to flounder mid-innings. The former Marsden man packs a solid counter-punch.
He is particularly effective when a solid platform has been set – as illustrated at Norton in May, and in this match to record his highest score for the club (33 not out).
His brother Martyn enjoyed a rare opportunity at this level to smack a bright and breezy 30 before Shields declared on 315-8 at the halfway mark.
Shorn of the cutting edge of Matty Muchall, Shields lacked penetration on the benign surface, but admirably bowled with discipline, keeping the run rate in check.
Newcastle's early run rate left them with little chance of victory.
However, the news at tea that bottom side Norton were struggling against Durham Academy rendered the final session a bonus point-gathering exercise as the home side's top-flight future appeared secure.
Shields used 10 bowlers as James Carr dug in to bat through, for his highest score of the season (81 not out) while the game took on a distinct end-of-season feel.
Kris McShane was again tidy, and collected the deserved scalp of Rondal Lake (27).
Nick Quinn completed a good all-round performance with the wicket of Nick Tomlinson (20).
Newcastle closed their innings on 206-3 to preserve their NEPL status.
Shields, meanwhile, restored some pride on a day where the talents of the productive junior set-up gleamed in the September sunshine.
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Weather for South Shields
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
