Last updated at 10:46, Friday, 24 October 2008

THE season just ended was one of the worst in living memory for the Dickinson Dees West Tyne Cricket League, with non-stop rain wiping out much of the programme.

Special occasion: Peter Baxter, seated far right, joins officials at the West Tyne League Cricket presentation night.

However, the league's annual dinner at Tynedale Function Suite on Friday was as memorable as ever.

Setting the ball rolling was one of the biggest characters in the league, Matfen Hall's king-sized comic Simon Buckton, complete with Northumbrian kilt and a speech that is likely to be talked about for many years to come as he proposed the toast to the West Tyne League.

In complete contrast was the urbane Peter Baxter, the man behind the legendary Brian Johnston, John Arlott and the rest as producer of BBC Radio Four's Test Match Special for many years until his recent retirement.

His anecdotes of the great men in the TMS box, and what England players and supports could expect of their forthcoming tour of India were rapturously received.

However, the main purpose of the evening was to give the cricketing year the send off it hardly deserved, with the award of more than 30 trophies.

Sadly, one of the main trophy winners was not there to pick up the many accolades he had received.

Matfen Hall's Liam Bartholemuesz has returned to his native New Zealand, and was unable to collect the Telfer Cup for the best bowling average in Division One with 20 wickets at 5.6 each, the Manning Cup for the best individual first division bowling performance with his 7-10 against eventual champions Haltwhistle, the Wooding Cup for the best individual batting performance in division one with his 111 against Wylam - a category in which he was also third with 106 against Stocksfield - and the Waite Cup as best first division all-rounder.

Liam's amazing individual trophy haul helped ease the pain for his club Matfen, who were pipped for the title by a single point.

The Kiwi didn't have everything his own way, however, for the best overall batting performance was produced by the Newbrough giant Stuart Cowan, who hit a magnificent 195 not out against Hexham Leazes.

That helped him retain the Douglas Smith Cup for the best second division batting average of 50.12 in 10 knocks, as well as the Jack Brewis cup for the best batting performance in that division.

The Steinberg Shield for the best division two wicketkeeping performance went to Riverdale Hall's Greg McConnell, with 15 victims.

The top stumper in division one was Alex Pearce of Stocksfield, who bagged 16 victims to claim the Alan Graham/ Cup.

The Corbridge Cup for the best division two bowling average was Stamfordham's Ian Harkness with an average of 5.33.

Picking up the Clayburn Cup for the best First Division batting average was Haltwhistle's Michael Parker, whose 265 runs came at an average of 53.

A superb 8-42 against Allendale saw Stamfordham's Jamie Irwin pick up the Nat West Trophy for the best bowling performance in division two, while the Waite Cup for the best all-rounder in the second division went to Allendale's Dillan Manchan-aika, with 272 runs and 29 wickets.

The quest for the junior player of the year produced some strong contenders in Stocksfield's Matthew Thompson, Ross Davies of Hexham Leazes, Ryan Bell of Haltwhistle,and Dan Parker of Haltwhistle.

However, the Kathleen Waite Trophy went to Humshaugh’s Cameron McKenna, a wicket keeper batsman who helped his team to the junior league title and KO Cup, as well as turning out for the first team, and playing for the league’s U21 side.

Corbridge won the U13 league, and Wylam the U15 league, while the U17 title was shared by Benwell Hill and Humshaugh.

Stamfordham won the second division title, and also took the Umpires' Award for their feat in knocking out the top three teams in the first division knockout, before losing to Newton in the final.

Humshaugh won the second division knockout.

Chairman Michael Baker's special award went to Philip Thompson from champions Haltwhistle for making such a major contribution to his side's success.

First published at 13:10, Thursday, 23 October 2008
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk