Followers of Bishop Auckland cricket club who missed the Second XI fixture on Saturday missed a piece of club history as 17-year-old David Turgoose took his first hat-trick and became the first left arm bowler to take three wickets in three balls since Arnold Simpson on the 1st June, 1963 against Stokesley CC in the B Division of the NYSD League.

David who was without a wicket all season finally came good against Great Ayton. He said "At the start of the game if somebody had asked me if I wanted to buy a wicket I definitely would have said yes. I haven't had much luck with my bowling so today was a real surprise."

David took a wicket with the first ball of his seventh over, the next ball was a dot ball and then came three wickets in a row. He added, "I try and use the seam to swing the ball into the right handed batsmen so with the hat trick I was just aiming for a good line and length and it did the trick."

David is from Newton Aycliffe and joined Bishop Auckland CC as an under 13 player and has progressed through all the junior ranks playing a few games for the First XI last season. His final analysis was 7 overs, 1 maiden, 17 runs for 4 wickets as Great Ayton were bowled out for 53 after Bishop had made 150.

Bishop Auckland are not afraid to give youngsters experience in the Second XI as two 17-year-olds and three 14-year-olds were in the team on Saturday. 14-year-old Mathew Atkinson was also amongst the wickets taking 3 for 25.

The talk in the clubhouse after the game though featured on hat-tricks and no-one is quite sure who the last player to take a hat trick for the club was. The last senior player on record was Tony Hawthorne on 15th May, 1976 against Norton in the A Division of the NYSD.

If anyone knows please contact Keith Hopper on 01325 332663.

Milestone for veteran Keith

Evergreen Keith Hopper, 71 years old, has reached another milestone in his cricketing career because it is 50 years since he made his first team debut for Bishop Auckland CC. Keith recalls, "I played for the Second XI in 1950 then National Service came along so I missed the 1951, 1952 and 1953 seasons. I well remember my debut in 1954 because it was against Norton CC and Colin Atkinson who went on to be a player and then president of Somerset CC bowled me for a duck with a shooter. I then scored 37 not out against Evenwood in a mid-week cup tie and was selected for the First XI at Guisborough on the Saturday. I was full of myself and when skipper Bill Proud who was Durham County CC captain at the time announced the batting order he said "Keith Number 3", I said "thanks Bill", he replied "Not you Hopper, you silly bugger, Keith Jackson."

Keith though went on to make a half century and shared a half century stand with another famous Bishop Auckland sportsman, J R E Hardisty, better known as Bob Hardisty the England and Bishop Auckland amateur footballer.