So, you barely survive the winter with the tantalising hope that April will bring Easter Eggs, Spring blossoms and most importantly Cricket! Winter nets are thing of the dark past, each player is working out how many layers they need to keep the blood pumping, you might have even done some exercise to shift a bit weight – all in anticipation of your first match in mid-April. And what happens? It lashes down! And to make matters worse when the rain does stop the heavy roller decides to pack in!!
To date we’ve managed 1 competitive home match out of 5, albeit the first win for our Girls team playing in the u13s boys league so good on them. Our Thirsty Thirds Team travelled to Boldon CC last Thursday for a 15 over slugfest but were pipped by 4 runs.
As far as the seniors go we’ve had a very good winter signing some good young players that will add real talent and competitiveness to the first team which will ultimately trickle through the Club as competition for places heats up. The Club welcomes Jake Pratt and Craig Marshall. Jake is an easy on the eye top order batsman that bowls spin and Jake is menacing attacking spin bowler and middle order batsman. Our overseas pro Paras Dogra arrives in the UK today and will hopefully carry on the form he showed last season. If you’ve not seen him bat then I would urge you to come along to the New Drive and be mesmerised by his wandplay. The One’s take on Esh Winning at home this Saturday and will hope to get the season started with a win.
The Two’s travel to East Rainton with a very youthful and talented team that shines bright for the future. We want these lads to force themselves in to first team consideration with runs, wickets and right attitude under the new captaincy of Nathan ‘Beef’ Holmes. On Sunday Development 1 are at home to Annfield Plain while Development 2 travel to Boldon CC. Both teams have a good helping of juniors hopefully providing the platform for the juniors to move more easily into Saturday adult cricket. Kinky Kev’s Thursday team take on local rivals Dawdon tonight with his job already on the line 
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Given the number of junior players we have signed at the Club (over 100 from ages 5-18) you can pretty much guarantee a junior match every day of the week and 3 on a Sunday! Over the past few seasons our junior teams have set a high bar and the expectations are to carry on that success with hard work and the right attitude. The future’s bright at the New Drive!
Probably the most exciting news for the coming season is the introduction of the first ever SHCC Ladies Team. The Ladies kick off the season this Sunday with 2 friendly matches against Washington CC Ladies Team. We wish them all well for the coming season and we hope this provides the platform for our younger girls to be settled in a Club that offers them cricket for as long as they wish to play.
So, in a nutshell its not all bad! We’re not yet part of the hosepipe ban, weekend teams are unbeaten and the ground looks a picture (when its not under water).
Good luck to all teams and players this weekend. Play well. UTH