Saturday 16 June 2012

Shipwrecks Sunk by Galloway

Shipwrecks went down heavily but unsurprisingly at Castle Douglas against a Galloway XI sporting six weekend First XI players including South African pro Vootoo, having only mustered a paltry 29.

As if the odds were not heavily enough stacked, it turned out to be one of those nights when everything went wrong for the visitors. Inserted to bat, Ian Whitby and Mike Service survived a couple of maidens before one from Conn took off at Whitby who gloved it high over the 'keeper's head, only to be be swallowed up by a multiple juggling effort by Bradley, whose course started at fly slip and ended at short fine leg.

This was only the start as almost every time the Shipwrecks tried to hit their way out of trouble, the ball deposited itself conveniently in the hands of a fielder as Service, Alex Taylor and both Robinsons all shared the same misfortune and Mike Lumb, returning to duty after a prolonged absence, was given lbw to one that appeared to take an edge. 

It was always a game where Shipwrecks, for whom A. Taylor and Rory Dean had also not yet manned the decks this season, would have needed the luck on their side to have any chance and it all became too much for one team member, who abandoned ship altogether after being run out with his bat in the air.

Skipper Colin Taylor's plan of attacking with all guns in mid-innings then battening down the hatches later if necessary was finally scuppered when McCuaig was bowled by a ball from Montgomery that kept low.

With the outcome virtually a formality, Taylor decided to give returning bowlers some practice but not before Gregory Robinson had bowled Briggs and run out Penrice with a superb throw from mid wicket, which he then claimed was "a fluke".  But the sudden prospect of an embarrassing defeat clearly alarmed the opposition, who immediately sent Vootoo out to reel off the remaining runs, splicing the mainbrace with a couple of onside slogs.


Shipwrecks best moment from Wednesday's game - after the stumps had been drawn

Meanwhile news came through that our longstanding rivals Irving Meadow had suffered a similar fate at Dalton where they were all out for 12.  There maybe sends a message about the nature of the Midweek League this season and certainly sets a target for our own next fixture - at Dalton.

Scores: Shipwrecks 29 all out : Galloway 30 -2 (G. Robinson 1-7)


Sunday 10 June 2012

Can You Play on Wednesday?

Thursday's gale which restricted all craft to port and led to the unfortunate (?) cancellation of our top-of-the-table skirmish with the Kingholm XI has also disrupted communications across the fleet.  Team organiser Geoff Dean has been temporarily restationed to the Balkans and asked everyone to send Captain Taylor a signal regarding their availability for the game against Galloway at Castle Douglas High School on Wednesday 13th.

Unfortunately very few communications have been received by morse code or semaphore and we currently only have four players confirmed.

Can you please respond to Geoff's request and let me know on 07837 367924 if you can make this game or not as I do not have a list of contacts.


Friday 1 June 2012

Shipwrecks Eye Cup Booty

The Shipwrecks sailed through to Round 2 of the Sulwath Brewers' Shield after convincingly outgunning the Police in this Wednesday's midweek fixture, although not without incident.  Due to a major navigational error by Third Officer Geoff Dean, the entire crew was ordered to report to their home port at the Kingholm when they should have been posted deep into enemy territory further up the Nith. Finding their berths occupied by Irving Meadow ratings, they then had to be transported to the correct ground in Dunkirk fashion in a variety of different craft.

On arrival at Nunholm, Skipper Taylor, unsure of how many shipmates had made the trip safely and surveying the gathering storm clouds, won the toss and elected to bat.  But it was apparent that the effects of motion sickness had not worn off when he and fellow opener Mike Service were dismissed within the first three overs, both attempting shots that betrayed a lack of concentration.

Sid Oates and Dean started to make amends for the shaky start and the latter went on to complete a maximum in a good partnership with "Jim Lad" Worthington. Fortunately the Police artillery was decidedly off target and Extras quickly became the most valuable cargo as the opposition bowlers jettisoned the ball in all directions.  Meanwhile Worthington and Gregory then Mathew Robinson put on further useful runs and Donald McCuaig and Davey Dillon, who hit one massive six towards the tennis courts, finished off in similar vein to take the visitors to 149 - 6.

The long yardarm of the Law made a reasonable start but, having been warned against complacency and conceding overthrows, Shipwrecks tightened the screw in the field as Taylor and the Robinsons took no wickets but also conceded very few runs.  Almost before they realised, the Police had lost over half their allocated overs for only 49 before Dillon struck by bowling Chalmers. 

The fraternal competition between the Robinsons took on a fascinating symmetry when they returned to the attack. Both took two wickets in two balls with yorkers, but neither completed the hat trick.  By now Victory was a mathematical certainty but Ian "Surrey Star" Whitby rounded off an impressive overall fielding performance with an excellent catch at point.

The Man of The Match Award (temporarily borrowed from the pub's Dominoes Team) was later presented to the forgiven Geoff Dean by Linsey Mallon of The Ship Inn for his excellent 26 not out.

Geoff receives MoM Award from Linsey
Scores: Shipwrecks 149 for 6 (Dean 26 n.o., Worthington 16, Dillon 17 n.o. ; Richardson 3-23, Chalmers 2-10)  : Police 89 for 7 (Brown 27 n.o., Chalmers 15 ; G. Robinson 3-17,  M. Robinson  2-17, Dillon 2-19. Shipwrecks won by 60 runs.