Supersaturday is a damp squib for McCrea FS West

It was Midsummers day with Magners cases on offer!  Rain was the main winner as it swept across most of Scotland bringing Duckworth Lewis into play in SNCL matches.  West lost their first league match of 2008 at Stenhousemuir while main rivals Aberdeenshire and Forfarshire overtook West as a result of Aberdeenshire’s 1 run win at Forthill.  So halfway stage – third place, lots to play for in the next two months.

Spegsie won a case of Magners with a 52 for Partick (His return from injury well timed)  Jamie Burton missed out by 1 run while Cammy missed out by 1 wicket and a few dropped catches!  Magners would have been swapped for Millers in any case!!

Bobby Kettlewell had a nightmare at Stenhousemuir – no Guinness and Duckworth Lewis on the same day. Bobby tells me that Penicuik and Poloc don’t cater for his pre-match refreshment . Which other clubs will disappoint our scorer during the rest of this season!!

Congrats to Dougie McCrea on managing to climb up and stagger down Ben Nevis for charity.  What a man – Wimbledon, Ben Nevis, Vienna and Hamilton Crescent – all in 4 weeks.  Also congrats to Wilson Galloway on raising cash for West by completing last weeks 10k.  Commiserations to Tony Lewis for dropping a bbq table on his toe 48 hours before the start.  Tony – the distance you will go to avoid.. He’s back in training for September!!

Saturday evening saw a super event at West.  The Outside Edgers organised a food night at West and they were rewarded by raising the superb sum of £409.  Well done ladies, a magnificent effort which brought out the competitive nature of young and old alike.  When last was there a competition on a Sat night at West at 9.45pm to get a pound coin closest to a vodka bottle.  Super stuff – so it was supersaturday after all!

Your blogging chairman is departing this Sat for USA so we need other correspondents over the next few weeks.  Ask Alex Redmond to let you in to the secret of how to blog on this site!

While I am away I expect great things from everyone to maintain the positive progress we have made this season – keep enjoying it!  Sat 12 July sees a return of the McCrea hospitality – hopefully they see another West win – but a bit more cricket!!  Stay around on 12th because Ross Brown and his men have organised a Westathlon that evevning in the Clubhouse.  A large attendance will make for a great day.

On Sun 20th July I return from Cape Cod - just in time for another Outside Edgers event – Kwik Cricket family style, a BBQ and a Junior game v Nunholm at West from mid morning onwards.  The following day is the West Annual Sixes (from about 11am) – with the McCrea All Stars amongst the starters. 

So lots to look forward to – on and off the field, especially as Spegsie ahould have his case of magners by then which he said he would share with all!!     Bye for now from one of the 3 Wise Men of West.

 

West & Forfarshire turn tables on Aberdeenshire

Saturday saw a dramatic shift at the top of SNCL Division One.  While McCrea FS West were taking care of Freuchie at Hamilton Crescent  Stenhousemuir were despatching Aberdeenshire at Mannofield. At the same time, Forfarshire thrashed West Lothian at Forthill so the table now reads:

McCrea FS West   64points, Forfarshire 62points, Aberdeenshire 61 points. 

All to play for next Saturday as West head to Stenhousemuir who are looking pretty challenging and Forfarshire host Aberdeen on Tayside.  This is the last Saturday of the first half of the season  -

definitely SUPERSATURDAY NO.1

Gregg Watson walked into form with 90 important runs. Grant Robinson backed him up well until the ball hit the pads and Gordon Goudie and Dave McNulty sparkled at the end of the innings.  Freuchie never really challenged and West deserved their victory. 

Dougie Lockhart – convalescing from his back injury was able to lift the McCrea FS West Man of the Month for May (with care!) – despite a close challenge from the well oiled machine and the pirate.

Will there be a new name on the trophy for June?

Must close now while my tempramental computer remains alive .  SuperSat will soon be here!!

Who needs Firhill for thrills when West Ones perform!!

A wonderful weekend for McCrea FS West.  The Teacher has already reported on the happenings at Penicuik on Saturday and these were matched at an idyllic Shawholm on Sunday when another great team performance secured an exciting victory over NVT Poloc in the Scottish Cup to secure a trip to Prestwick in the 2nd Round on Sunday 22nd June.  We might have dropped a few (maybe more than a few!) catches but we stuck in there – and won!

On Saturday I was Hamilton Crescent where unfortunately Partick were unhinged by Hillhead.  Phanni was run out by forgetting to step back in his crease at the non strikers end and nobody has yeat told Scott Robertson that he was out to the 7th ball of the over.  mind you, with the Hillhead pro spraying the ball everywhere in his four overs it proved difficult to keep count up to 6 ..or 7…or 8.

Partick got revenge over Hillhead last night in the Western Cup. Phanni stroked a masterful 66 or so to set up a challenging target which Hillhead just missed.

I haven’t reported on the 3s because I am now tempting the 3rd XI Captain and tabloid scribe to take up the challenge and join the 2 bloggers now posted on this site.

Saturday sees the 1s play Freuchie at West and Partick go to Old Anniesland to play GHK – both vital matches.

Until next week……..

 

Unbelievable and thrilling – just like the da vinci code

A post – in true da vinci style – by a blogger known as the    T e A cher

As we got close to Penicuik my better half spotted a sign for Roslin Chapel, where Dan Brown’s novel reaches its climax.  She suggested that she would rather go there than the cricket and I promised to take her there next time we are in the area!!

The Penicuik ground looked a picture in the sunshine but as we were about to find out there were some hidden traps in the outfield in the shape of hills and dales.  In horse racing parlance, Duggie fell at the first and was out of the game.  The pro became the gloveman and a pretty good job he made of it but wasn’t helped by some bowlers testing his agility with 21 wides.  I must say (Editors comment – a further hint on who the author is) as an old opening bowler (not applicable to Davie and Gordy) that they say bowlers come in pairs – and opposites attract.  Here we have the smooth well-oiled machine at one end and the swashbuckling pirate at the other and how well they complement each other.

Talking of old bowlers we had Willie Morton in the opposition doing some pretty good impersonations of Monty Panesar celebrations especially when he got rid of Youngy and Gordy.  I suspect there is a bit of history there!!!!

The climax to the game was spectacular with the unlikely trio of Ricky, Crannie and the Pirate plundering somewhere near 100 runs in the last 10 overs.

Penicuik were shellshocked and so was I!

TA

Mannofield Magic for McCrea FS West

Back blogging after a weekend in Northumberland last weekend – so missed that cracking stand between Grant Robinson and Ian Young which set up another win in the SNCL.

Survived a long day starting with the bus leaving for Aberdeen at 7.15am and returning just before midnight on Sat/Sun.  In between saw the most focussed and professional performance from McCrea FS West since the heady days of Colin Mair’s stewardship!!  This resulted in a magnificent six wicket win against league leaders Aberdeenshire which leaves us 8 points behind.  Great team bowling brought a share in the wickets with Aftab taking 3 in an over ( a turning point in the game) and then Dougie played a measured innings of 80 no with great support from Grant (40) and Gregg (22) …. and then a cracking square cover drive from the Finisher to bring home the points.  Great facility at Mannofield, Aberdeenshire are deserving of their international recognition and despite the cold weather while Glasgow baked — this was a great day out, rounded off by fish suppers in Stonehaven and some entertainment in the bus on the return journey with Spegsy finding his true vocation as a Travel Courier.     Sunday saw rain at Poloc in the Scottish Cup and we get another chance to plan a trip to Prestwick in the second Round,

Sky Sports filmed the game at Mannofield and it will feature in their Club feature at a  lunch interval at the next test match..  I will let you know exactly when once my spies in Aberdeen confirm the precise time.

A great win for the 2s also on Saturday – suspect the 3s were rained off on Sunday but there is plenty of cricket ahead at West over the next two weeks – check the “Whats on at West” notice in the Pavilion.

We will be welcoming Douglas McCrea and his guests back to West on Sat 12th July when we play Drumpellier.  He is playing safe this time as his guests are being invited in time for…lunch!

That’s all for now folks – how about a reply from someone to make this blog a bit more interesting.