Glittering Goldenacre Win for McCrea FS West…and more

An exclusive special report from our Edinburgh-for-the-day correspondent

McCrea FS West sit proudly at the top of the SNCL Premier Division following an excellent all round performance on Saturday.

When I arrived at Goldenacre to find we were batting I was a bit concerned because in the past the Goldenacre pitch has been a bit suspect to say the least. However on this occasion it was very good with some pace an good carry.  The outfield was immaculate, fast and true. If you add the blue sky and warm temperature it was a pretty good day to be in Edinburgh. Even Jess was doing a bit of sunbathing.

A Partnership of 67 between Duggie who scored 41 and Elly 105 then Elly and Youngy (64) of 152 resulted in West scoring a healthy – if not out of sight – 277 in 50 overs. Elly’s century was a masterpiece of building an innings with a mixture of placements and hard hitting and the running between the wickets with his partners was first class.

5.5 runs per over was always going to be a big ask but credit is due to Heriot’s batters who kept themselves in the game almost right up to the end. They built a number of partnerships with David Ross top scoring on 52 that looked extremely dangerous and potentially match winning but on each occasion a West bowler or fielder came up with an answer to rock them back.

Youngy handled his bowlers very well and everyone responded to his captaincy, especially when he ran out a dengerman with a direct hit from cover.  All in all a great team effort and It was really good to see Dave McNulty (The Pirate) (2-47) back to his swashbuckling best. Cranny took 3-39.  With 3 wins in a row West certainly know how to win a match and can go into next week’s Greenock game with a good deal of confidence.

Tom Anderson – For West Blog – Goldenacre………and…….

A Summary of Sunblest Success for ALL West teams in the last 4 days.

It started dull on Thursday evening but the 3s beat Vale of Leven in an Strathclyde Evening League match at Hamilton Crescent.  Sunny Friday evening produced a great Frank Smith Trophy win at Uddingston for the under 18s with a monumental century from Alfie Lloyd. 

Summer Saturday brought joy to the 2s (Partick) who beat Galloway at West by 6 wickets. Jats and Spegsy (with a sore hand) each scored 43 and Scotty chipped in with a not out 45.  This was after youngsters Max (5-68) and Gav (2-17 off 14) bowled 29 of the allocated overs and had a fine bowling partnership. A great win to match the result in Edinburgh. Finally on superb Sunday at Langloan in the West League Cup (2009 this time!!) McCrea FS West 56-0 (Rosco and Kashif both undefeated) beat Drumps 54-9 (Niki Sood 4-21 and Dion 2-10)  Then it was back to West for an impromptu and thorughly deserved BBQ.

A fine weekend with excellent performances all round.  It is early days yet but we are promising a fine season . Lets keep the heads focussed and keep building on this start to 2009.

PS  There is a vacancy for a Duckworth Lewis expert at West on Sat 6th June. Apply direct to the Chairman  as soon as possible.

Western Cup win for Partick

Renfrew 57 all out

Partick 58 for 6

A good win for the 2s who now face Kelburne away in the next round. Watch out for the date to be arranged.

Dashing Dion Drives West on to Victory

McCrea FS West stand in second place in SNCL Premier table tonight after a Duckworth Lewis win against Ayr yesterday. Dougie Lockhart and Gregg Watson got West off to a quick start before Gregg was adjudged lbw for 12.  Elly and Dougie continued to score quickly before elly was caught behind f0r 39.  When Ian Young quickly followed Dougie Lockhart – another typical half century- West were in trouble at 110 -4.  Enter Ross Brown and Dion McCall with sensible recovery partnership which took West to 155 when Ross was caught.  Dashing Dion continued to hit the ball hard to the boundary and maintained the good work with Chris Tulloch.  Dion eventually fell for a superb 54 while Chris and Dave McNulty took the score to past 200 and to a final total of 226 for 7 in 50 overs.

The clouds which had gathered all innings produce heavy rain during the tea interval and Duckworth Lewis became odds on for an appearance before the game was over.  Ayr got off to a good start but lost 2 wickets for 40 including New Zealand test batsman – Michael Papps c Lockhart b Cran 20 – (something to tell grandchildren about!!).

With rain falling Ayr got ahead on DL just as 20 overs was approaching. A game within a game was now on with West having to attack to take quick wickets.  Elly’s bowling from the pavilion end produced the result with three wickets for 10 in 6 overs (including a great slip catch by the diving Dion) which put West back in the driving seat – in both games!!.  Kashif came on and bowled a misely spell taking 2 wickets and when heavy rain drove the players from the pitch Ayr were on 108 for 7 against a par DL score of 199.  That was the end of the match as the rain did not relent (until Fenwick on the way home) and McCrea FS West returned to Hamilton Crescent with another 10 points in the bag.

A good victory with Heriots on the horizon at Goldenacre next week.

The 2s lost to Kelburne by 8 wickets (shame about the call offs) while the 3s game on Sunday v Renfrew did not take place as Renfrew could not raise a team.

So its on to Cup business on Tuesday evening for the 2s – will Renfrew find team by then – only time will tell!!

Ayr v McCrea FS West was billed as the battle of the Canterbury pros but the man who madevictory possible for West was fellow New Zealander, Dion McCall with his vital 54 to restart the West innings.

Important Cup Dates at West

Tuesday 26th May   Western Cup

Partick v Renfrew at 6pm

Thursday 11th June  Murgitroyd Rowan Cup

McCrea FS West v Renfrew at 6pm

Sunday 14th June

2008 Strathclyde Shield Final

Hamilton Crescent XI v Active Life  at 2pm

Be there to support the 3 West teams

Season 2009 Gathers Pace

At long last – PC has recovered!!  A belated welcome to 2009, especially Elly and Jess who are quickly getting used to the rain!

The story – so far.  McCrea FS West are upper mid table. A loss to Watsonian (not enough runs), a rain abandoned game at the driest ground in Scotland and a great derby victory against Clydesdale. Victory in Rowan Cup v Irvine (next tie v Renfrew on 11 June) but demise in 2008 WLC semi against Ayr who we visit on Saturday (weather permitting).

Partick  (Under Jonny Grahams leadership) drew with Accies  and won at GHK where there was a late start but no rugby!! Jats scored a magnificent 84 not out after Craig Brown’s 5 for.  Top table match v Kelburne at West tomorrow.  Western Cup v Renfrw at West on Tue 26 May.

3s have had a great start in league and cup but suffered their first defeat on Thursday evening against GU Staff.

Overall a good start with more to come.  Lots of work to do to maintain the momentum.

 Feel sorry for the Juniors. It keeps raining on Friday evenings. Their time will come!!

What with Computerised Duckworth Lewis and special passwords to load SNCL scores DIRECT to the Cricket Scotland website this is going to be a season with a difference.