McCrea FS West end Season 2009 on a High Note as Aberdeenshire Clinch Double

From the moment Youngy won the toss and inserted Carlton for a prompt 12 noon start after a wet night, they produced a clinical performance to beat Carlton by 6 wickets at Hamilton Crescent. Gordon Goudie – eliminator of half of Australia just one day before – took 3-16 while Elly produced a devastating spell of 4-8 to reduce Carlton to 87 all out. (later reduced to 86 with the compliments of D/L).  Tea was taken around 2.45 (Well done, Ellane!!) while there had yet been no start at Titwood or Glenpark.

McCrea FS West got off to a quick start (rain about!!) before Gregg was out at 22 after a swashbuckling effort.  Duggie followed shortly after and Youngy was adjudged run out.  Elly steered the ship safely home (38no) with Rosco and the season ended with a third place (11 wins 6 defeats and 64.71%)  a magnificent effort based on a REAL team effort.  Well done guys!!

The rain must have been really heavy in Greenock as the vital game against Heriots never started and Heriots, as a result, are destined to play Forfarshire in a playoff, to determine Premier League status in 2010.  A lucky escape for David Campbell’s troops!!

Titwood eventually dried out to allow a 28 over game between Clydesdale and Grange.  As witnessed by JY, Grange needed 18 runs off the last over for a win and 2nd place in SNCL – and they achieved this!!

Aberdeenshire – promoted last year with McCrea FS West – beat Uddingston to become SNCL Champions  – and today in a rain affected Cup Final at Ayr they achieved the double with a D/L win against newly promoted Dunfermline. Thoroughly deserved – they are the team to beat in 2010 and McCrea FS West will be up to that challenge!!

A good season for all at West – some Cup Cricket still to be played by the 2s and 3s  – and the Players Meeting on Mon 7th September at 7.30.  Be there!

The  Grand Summer Draw was won by Janis Edwards with runners up prizes going to David Snodgrass (remember that name??) and Stuart McLeod.  £1100 raised for West – another good effort.

Update on Cup Games

Partick’s Western Cup Semi v GU Staff has been provisionally arranged for Sunday 13th September at Titwood.  Time to be confirmed but will be followed by the Final v Clydesdale when (or if) we win!!

The Strathclyde Shield Final between the 3s and Active Life has been switched to Hamilton Crescent on Sunday 6th september starting at 1pm.

Gordon Goudie takes 5 against OZ

What a comeback from GG!!   Recovering from his serious shoulder injury he timed his best performance (so far) in taking 5 for 73 against Australia at The Grange yesterday.  Congratulations – this has only been achieved through hard work back to fitness and belief in his abilities.  Perhaps it will be another 5 today when McCrea FS West play Carlton at West in the final league game of this campaign.

Greenock Grab West League Cup in the Gloom

The West Chairman got his hands on a trophy tonight – but, alas, only to pass it to Douglas McCrea who promptly presented it to Greenock skipper, Cameron Borgas.  Greenock deservedly won by 9 wickets (81-1) in reply to McCrea FS West’s 80 all out.  The early finish denied the torchlight parade which might have been needed after half eight!

Congrats to Greenock on their win but as that wellknown Birmingham City manager said this week  Cups are fine but the league is our bread and butter! West were plesed to finish ahead of Greenock in SNCL this year and look forward to renewing battles in 2010!

Ones Undermine Uddy while Twos Topple Irvine

A great weekend with two excellent wins.  A more detailed blog later once I have fuller info on each game after my return from Mannofield (where Scotland weren’t very good!)  A mixed weekend for Cammy – 7 wickets against Irvine and a massive loss to Jonesy thanks to England’s Ashes victory.

Twos Sunday game was rained off at the start of a busy week at West.  Mon sees a Board meeting with some important decisions to be taken.  Tues is the West League Cup Final v Greenock at West starting at 5.30pm. Bring your torches!

Thu is the Western Cup semi between Partick and GU Staff – again an early start.

Sat sees the final league game of season v Carlton at West with a 12 Noon start.  I reckon if we win with 10 points and Grange lose to Clydesdale we will be second.   In evening End of Season (or not if the weather misbehaves this week) Bash with the Grand Summer Draw taking place.  Make sure you are there.

Blog again during the week.

Monsoon Mayhem Devastates All Fixtures in SNCL Premier League

Friday’s monsoon and Saturday’s early rainstorms put paid to the whole programme so its off to Uddingston next Saturday in the penultimate Saturday of the Season.  The 2s game at Hillhead was also washed out.

Congratulations to Dougie Lockhart for his inclusion for Scotland in the 4 day Inter-Continental Cup match at Aberdeen starting on Monday.  Justly deserved!  Also, congrats to Gordon Goudie in his selection for that fixture and the 2 ODIs next weekend.  Great to see him back to fitness.

Well done to Graham McKendry’s troops for winning the Strathclyde League.  They travel to Poloc at High Noon on Sunday 6th September to take on Active Life in a repeat of the 2008 Strathclyde Shield Final

Wednesday this week sees Partick take on G U Staff at West (6pm) in the Rearranged Western Cup Semi Final.

Next weekend the 2s have a league fixture at Hamilton Crescent on both Saturday and Sunday.

The 2009 West League Cup Final between McCrea FS West and Greenock has been arranged for Tuesday 25th August at West at 5.30pm so lets have full support.

Sat 29th August sees the final fixture against Carlton at West followed by the End of Season Extravaganza in the Clubhouse. The Grand Summer Draw will be made and there are a lot of draw tickets still to be returned before that day. I know that I can rely on everyone to make sure that this is a real financial success!

Elly has had a great week watching Partick Thistle draw and Rangers win (memories indeed to take back to the Land of the White Cloud)- lets hope the weather relents and its back to cricket

Greenock Ignore Their Lowly League Placing to Inflict Severe Damage on West’s Title Challenge

After a delayed start it was great to see Gordon Goudie back in action and taking 2 quick wickets.  A recovery from Cameron Borgas and Richie Berrington and some late order hitting by others took Greenock to 209 in 42 overs. Early rain meant a reduced over game.  When McCrea FS West batted the early losses of Gregg, Elly and Youngy put real pressure on the others.  Dougie and Rosco produced a semi recovery but eventually Dougie was out lbw and Ross hit a really sensible 46 – if only the others…….     

West  were all out for 104 and Greenock were deserving winners.  We need to have more continuity of performance and we need to get fully focussed again for the last 3 weeks so that the great efforts of this season are not for nothing. 

Hospitality at Glenpark was again superb and thanks to David Campbell for being such a fine host – (He was not quoted in today’s Herald – must have listened to me!!)    Now we have to meet again at Hamilton Crescent in the West League Cup Final.  Timing of this could be interesting in view of Greenock’s other Cup commitments!

Meanwhile at sunny West the 2s scored a really good win against East Kilbride.  Anjun Luthra and Stuart Beaufoy played match winning innings and the 3s beat Renfrew on Sunday with Jats batting well and 25 not out from maestro Tony Lewis to secure another victory.

Western Cup Semi at West tomorrow and a 2 day game between Scotland under 17s and Lincolnshire under 17s on Wednesday and Thursday….and then its Grange on Saturday.

More Updates

West League Cup Final between McCrea FS West and Greenock will take place at Hamilton Crescent on a date to be arranged.  Watch this space.

3s beat Hillhead on Thursday evening to get back to winning habits.

Its Greenock for the ones today – no Pirate but a return for Aftab – and perhaps some bowling for the newly serviced smooth machine GG.   2s at West v East Kilbride

Cups Update

West League Cup semi final tonight    McCrea FS West 202 for 4 Duggie 91 , Elly 78 , 145 for the first wicket  Renfrew 120 for 5 in 20 overs – McCrea FS West through to final to play either Greenock or Clydesdale.

3s lost last night in Greenwood Cup to Weirs.

Partick have been reinstated to Western Cup along with G U Staff as Irvine have been eliminated.. The rearranged Semi Final beween Partick and G U Staff will take place at Hamilton Crescent at 6pm on Tuesday 11th August.

McCrea FS West Nail Heriots to go Third

In a Duckworth Lewis encounter at West Heriots batted first.  67 for the first wicket and then a rain break which created a 47 over game.  Heriots finished on 154 for 8 with Matt Cowie bowling well again to return figures of 10-1-29-4.

McCrea FS batted and started with a century opening stand before Gregg was out for 22.  Dougie(68*) and Elly(43*) finished the proceedings with aplomb and the home side were winners with 10 points.  Greenock succumbed to Ayr and Clydesdale also lost so we are now 3rd.  My statistician tells me that we now cannot finish in the bottom two but far more realistically if we keep winning we are in with a real chance of 2009 glory.  Its Greenock next week at the Tail O’ The Bank and I look forward to catching up with my old friend, David Campbell!

The 2s game at Galloway succumbed to the inclement weather.