Shipwrecks Friendly Tie With Saints

Despite a poor shipping forecast from the Met Office, Shipwrecks completed their 28 overs a side pre-season friendly versus a St Michael's XI in balmy Spring sunshine yesterday afternoon. 

Invited to bat by Saints' Sandy McNay, an excellent opening partnership by Donald McQuaig (25) and Mike Service (19) set up a total of 116 and most of the 'Wrecks put a few runs on the board, though chief selector Geoff Dean was unwisely run out early by an ambitious call from Sid Oates - who however attoned by achieving second top score of 23.  New recruit Greg Robinson (14) put together some useful hits to accelerate the score late on.

Steady bowling from Sid Barbour, Robinson and brother Matthew becalmed Saints' batting for a while but the usual injuries to crew members left Skipper Taylor short of bowling options.  These he resolved by a cunning act of piracy, pressing substitute fielders loaned by Saints into action, all of whom took useful wickets.  In particular young Daniel Veitch from Lockerbie produced an astounding 26th over of  left arm spin to take 3 for 1 with wickets off his last two balls before being withdrawn by McNay on a hat trick.

This feat nearly turned the game in the Shipwrecks' favour but McNay himself, needing two runs to win off Dean's last ball, chipped the ball over Matthew Robinson's head to level the scores but not far enough to escape being run out as he went for the winning run.

A tie seemed absolutely the right result as the balance between the young Saints team and our own motley crew was pretty even throughout.

Shipwrecks are still looking to pressgang one or two players for the Midweek season, which starts in earnest on 3rd May.  If you don't want us to come looking for you, volunteer straight away by replying here, via Facebook or by ringing Geoff on 07712666794.