SHBCC News Update – September 2026
On 22nd August the 1st XI headed to Driffield which is always a difficult place to win. Batting first the home team posted a very gettable 228 for 6. Wickets went to the slow bowlers with 3 for Tom Shorthouse and 2 for Clark Doughney. Despite good batting from Tom Shorthouse 72 and Matthais Paltridge 66 and support from Alex Jenkins 31 Bridge came up just 8 runs short and slipped to fourth in the table.
Next up was the visit of Knaresborough. Having bowled them out cheaply the heavens opened and 4 points was a poor return for a good bowling effort. Harrogate came to the Bridge next and were bowled out for 187, wickets falling to Mark Fisher, Tom Shorthouse, Clarke Doughney and Alex Wood all with 2 each. The total was reached with 30 from Adam Fisher, 40 from Clarke Doughney and 50 from Matthais Paltridge.
September 12th brought the last match of the season with the 1st XI off to Woodhouse Grange. A good start saw Woodhouse collapse to 135 for 7 with 4 wickets to skipper Fisher, however their tail took them to 237. The reply never got going with the Bridge top four batters going for single figures. Only when Adam Fisher and Matthias Paltridge got together did there look like hope, but when they were dismissed for 66 and 43 respectively the tail did not wag lose by 94 runs to finish joint third in the league.
This was a disappointing end for skipper Mark Fisher who led from the front the whole season and had hoped for better. However, it should be remembered how competitive it is when you are playing against some seriously semi-pro sides. Mark was third in the league’s bowling stats which is an achievement in itself.
The 2nd XI entertained Londesborough and after being asked to bat lost early wickets but rallied to post 162 with Harry Sutcliffe returning to a bit of form with 38. From the previous game Bridge knew they could bowl them out, and so it turned out to be, but only just. Londesborough started well and then collapsed, going from 64 for 4 to 82 for 8 with Dean Coote 6 for 34 in 13 overs. However, a strong rear-guard action took them to 156 before Sam Giannini got the ninth in the penultimate over. With three balls to go Danny Cass got the last wicket to win by one run.
Bowling first at York spinners Tommie Botha and Ben Harrison took three wickets before the rains came and that was that. A changed team went to Easingwold confident of a result but looking at the pitch, it was obvious it wasn’t going to be game of big scores.
Batting first Easingwold reached a competitive 159. The pick of the bowlers were Dean Coote with 4 for 39, Sam Giannini with 3 for 29 with Harry Sutcliffe with 3 for 36. The spin friendly pitch and some great bowling saw Bridge collapse to 82 all out. Skipper Hugill managed a decent 36 but with 5 ducks the end was inevitable.
The last game of the season saw Harrogate visit the Bridge. Batting first the Bridge slumped to 5 for 2 but young opener George Hanson and overseas Tommie Botha steadied the ship with Botha going on to a well-constructed and deserved century. He was well supported by Kieran Chakrabothy with 50 to bring the total to 239. Sam Giannini struck twice early to reduce Harrogate to 27 for 2, but they also recovered to go and win in the last over.
Though a disappointing end to the season, finishing 6th was way above expectations at the start of the season. Some players excelled playing at a higher level from last year. Sam Giannini came third in their section of the league’s bowling stats which is a great achievement for a 17-year-old with another teenager, George Hanson, topping the keeper stats which is outstanding at 15-years-old.
The 3rd XI had a welcome day off with 10 free points from an Easingwold concession, followed by another 10 points when Tadcaster also conceded to guarantee Bridge promotion. With Stockton only managing a tie this put them 10 points behind Bridge, and with Stockton next up another 10 points would win the league. Unfortunately, losing by 9 wickets gave Stockton the upper hand going into the last games. Bridge started slowly but finished with a credible 172 thanks to youngster Sam Nellist 56 , Geoff Schofield 32 and skipper Dan Tuite 39 no. Stockton replied strongly to win easily scoring at nearly 10 an over.
With promotion assured, Yapham visited for the last match of the season. Bowling them out for 145 with Tom Appleton back to full fitness taking 5 for 26. The chase started well with Rich Reynolds leading the way with 67 backed up by skipper Dan Tuite 20 and Andy Frank 29 to win by three wickets and finish level on points with Stockton but second on win %.
A great season for the boys getting the promotion they set out for at the beginning of the season. Skipper Dan Tuite was outstanding all season and topped the 3rds section of the leagues bowling stats.
The 4th XI had a tough day losing to Duncombe Park by 8 wickets. Batting first they posted a credible 192 with Dave Sladen 62 supported by new recruit Harry Ludiman 27, Harry Small 26 and Danny Kiernan 36. Duncombe’s openers were hard to shift and knocked the total off for the loss of 2 wickets.
Next up was Dunnington at Barmby Moor where the game survived the weather. Batting first youngster Sam Nellist opened with an impressive 62, supported by another youngster Otto Bowles with 37 before the more mature brought up the rear with Chris Small 25no and skipper Travis Bowles 47no to post a very credible 214 for 7. The Dunnington innings was curtailed by rain and given a revised total of 145 were all out for 85. Skipper Travis Bowles led the way with 4 for 8 off 5 overs but again all the youngsters bowled well to mop up the rest. A valuable 10 points in the race to stay up in a tightly packed bottom half of the league.
Top of the table Knaresborough were next at the Castle. Batting first Bridge opened with father and son combo with Travis Bowles 30 and Otto Bowles 32, Conor Petch fought hard in middle order with 31 but were bowled out for 124. Knaresbough knocked it off for the loss of one wicket. Other results meant the 4th XI were safe in Galtres 4 with one match left.
The last game at Dringhouses was a game too far with several regulars missing. Batting first they were bowled out for 64 with Steve Popplewell top scoring with 19. It only took 11 overs for Dringhouses to knock them off with Conor Petch who has been a stalwart all season getting 2 for 22 off 5 overs. A disappointing end but the team accomplished what they set out to do which was to introduce as many juniors as possible to senior cricket and stay in Galtres 4.
The other side who introduced many youngsters into competitive senior cricket was the Sunday Vale XI who most weeks would have a total junior line up of bowlers. They finished a very credible fourth.
The only outstanding junior game was the U11 play off final on 6th September which they unfortunately lost against York. However, they have had a great year and will get stronger. The club is indeed lucky to have so many talented youngsters coming through.
Post season work on the squares started immediately on Sunday 13th which will prepare the squares to be at their excellent best again next season.
Looking ahead, Senior Nets start at St Peter’s on Sunday 24th January 2027 at 6.30 -8.30pm for 10 weeks.