Shipwrecks Plumb The Depths

Shipwrecks failed to do their duty in the Midweek Cup Quarter Final, losing against Lockerbie at the Kingholm on Thursday.  But for the first time in the current campaign, the performance was at such a low level that the result was in little doubt after the first quarter of the game.

Having elected to bat first, Donald McCuaig and Jim Worthington made a slow but steady start for only 28 off first eight overs before Worthington, becalmed on 3, was run out shortly to be followed by Danny McBryde in like manner and McCuaig - eventually bowled by Gracie, whose away swing proved troublesome when on target.

This heralded a middle order collapse as Alex Taylor and Davey Fallas were bowled in successive deliveries. After Geoff Dean was extremely well caught off his own bowling by Gracie for 10, who then had Mike Service very lbw, Colin Taylor and Alasdair McEwen scratched around until McEwen hit a couple of

Skipper McEwan -
not best pleased

decent shots off Jamie Crawford in the eighteenth over.  Shipwrecks finally docked at 75 - 7 after recording no retirals and only three boundaries.

It was never likely to be enough and Lockerbie quickly knocked off the runs inside 12 overs, Dean's opening three overs having conceded 25.  Alasdair McEwan, although struggling with a back strain managed to pick up the only two wickets to fall in addition to his top-scoring 17 not out, but did not seem overjoyed to be nominated by officers and men as the Man of the Match.

Scores: Shipwrecks 75 - 7 (McEwan 17 n.o., McCuaig 12, Dean 10 ; Gacie 3 - 16, A. Veitch 2-9) : Lockerbie 76 - 2 (R. Crawford 27 n.o., S. Crawford 20 n.o. ; McEwan 2-14)

This was an unfortunate finish to an unlucky season, when Shipwrecks ended up second in the League because of the rainoff against J. Walker & Sons last week, having failed to play Burgh Boys and let only fielded a full team in three of the ten fixtures that were played.

Not just any pork scratchings...

Perhaps most tellingly they ended with four long-term injuries to the sqaud and Lockerbie off the hook in the home League fixture.

In a lighter vein, it has been noted that Mr Porky's Pork Scratchings are no longer available in The Ship Inn, having been replaced by what at first apears to be a more up-market offering, M. S. Pork Scratchings. However on closer inspection, it seems that M. S. stands for "Midland Supplies".

With the season effectively over, Shipwrecks have only possible friendlies, tour rumours and the so-called AGM to look forward to.

Shipwrecks Haulted Mid-Voyage

Shipwrecks' final League game against the J. Walker & Son haulk (St Michael's Youth) was diverted onto Kingholm 1 after their home strip was commandeered by pirates last Thursday.

Lieutenant Geoff Dean won the toss and chose to bat against a strengthened Juniors' team, including former

Donald McCuaig retires

Shipwrecks Peter Harrison and Kevin Kirkpatrick.  Mike Service and Donald McCuaig struggled against the pace of weekender Tom Holmes, who eventually bowled Service for 5 before Alex Taylor nervily hoisted one to Saints pro Thapar in the covers.  Fallas then took slightly longer than usual to run up his 25 not out, but the innings maintained forward momentum as Dean and McCuaig plundered maximum runs from the younger bowlers.

On his first trip of the season, Jason Hall also cleared the decks several times succeeding Dean and a volley of runs came off the last over when he and Colin Taylor ran a chancy two overthrows off the last ball to raise the nominal home team's flag to 130 - 2.

The usual storm of big sixes followed from Dario Cummings, who nearly demolished the Pavilion, and Holmes, the latter turning down half a dozen singles before launching his last effort. This ball was actually very well caught by Mike Service but he was unfortunately standing on the boundary line.

In the meantime, Alex Taylor had caught Lynch off the bowling of Bowie and Taylor C. bowled Kirkpatrick and Harshit Morisetty in successive deliveries before a nasty squall sent the players scuttling from the pitch with the innings interestingly poised at 70 - 3 after 9.1 overs. Once the rain eased at 8.40 p.m., the Captains agreed to abandon it as a draw.

In the Ship Inn afterwards, it was generally agreed that Shipwrecks would probably have won, as the Juniors only had Thapar of the big hitters still at the crease.

Donald McCuaig was nominated Man of the Match for surviving early pressure to record a solid retiral.

Scores: Shipwrecks 130 - 2 (Dean 27 n.o., McCuaig 25 n.o., Fallas 25 n.o., Hall 22 n.o.; Holmes 2-8) : J. Walker & Son 70 - 3 (Holmes 30 n.o., Cummings 26 n.o. ; C. Taylor 2-14)

Shipwrecks On Course

Shipwrecks latest fixture against the Healthpros was played in Caribbean conditions at Kingholm II on Thursday, when they navigated a precise course to victory to overcome a late fightback by the visitors.

Alasdair McEwan was surprised to be asked to bat first by an understrength opposition in thirsty conditions. After a solid start from Jim Worthington and Donald McCuaig, Alex Taylor went full steam ahead aiming

Donald McCuaig gets one away behind square off Doig early in the innings

some lusty blows before being joined by Davey Fallas for his habitual typhoon maximum, including three sixes despatched seaward.  Initially out of touch, Geoff Dean knuckled down in similar vein with an impressive six off Kirsty Strachan, leaving time once Taylor retired to run Sarosh out as well as himself for 24 before the 'Wrecks innings disembarked on 114 - 6.

Meanwhile Mike Service - fatally undecided between attack and defence - and Colin Taylor - sliced a wide onto his own stumps - had been left behind to mutter a few choice naval curses on the boundary and Danny McBryde recorded a proud 1 not out.

Still in bright sunshine, Healthpros' Learie and Morisetty made a breezy start against Taylor (Sr.) and McEwan, testing out the sea legs of the older sailors with some sharp singles from the off.  But a neat spell of spin from Fallas halted the doctors' progress and, once McEwan bowled Learie, the introduction of the very tall Sarosh again caused bamboozlement as he lobbed a series of grenades down onto the pitch from about mast high to dismiss both McKinnel and Williams.

Shipwrecks' fielding also tightened up and Donald McCuaig took two outstanding catches at point - all the more impressive as, although shunning the traditional black patch, he is still recovering from a recent eye operation.  Then McEwan hit the stumps with a brilliant throw from about 30 yards to finally run out Morisetty.

MoM Alex Taylor -
Nice T shirt!

Considerably ahead on run rate but short of a fifth bowler, McEwan reluctantly called on legspinner Dean, who bowled a series of wides down the channel of total incredulity before yorking David Strachan with a much faster surprise delivery. Kirsty Strachan was run out soon after but Mutthiah and the returning Learie hit out across the line against the returning opening bowlers, and only six was needed when McEwan produced a dot ball off the last delivery.

So it all went to plan - sort of. The Berghain Man of the Match Award went to Alex Taylor for his important innings, finishing with a straight six.

Scores:  Shipwrecks 114 - 6 (A. Taylor 28 n.o., Fallas 26 n.o., Dean 24, McBryde 1 n.o.) : Healthpros 108 - 7 (Learie 13 & 12 n.o., D. Strachan 20, Morisetty 18 ; Sarosh 2-10)

Cup Dreams For Walking Wounded

Shipwrecks' controversial last round cup success has justified Petty Officer Dean's speculations on the night as a recent telex confirms that we have unfortunately progressed into the Sulwath Brewers' Cup through the repechage system, rather than the Shield, in which we would have strongly fancied our chances.

Preparing for next Shipwrecks' game - the scene below deck at Sulwath Brewers

Ironically we have also been drawn against Lockerbie at Lockerbie, so a repeat of last week's canoe race (see post below) looms on 6th August. Meanwhile, Derek "Shabba" Rankine has reported unfit with a broken finger during net practice, making the ship's injury list even more formidable.

Ship's surgeon Donald McCuaig is working flat out in the hope that at least two of the current long-term casualties, which also include Sid Oates, Chris Lumb and Mike Lumb, are fit to sail to Lockerbie.

This has been an unprecedented outburst of major injuries and our best wishes go out to all those affected.

Meanwhile, the remaining crew managed to pull off a six run victory against the Healthpros on Thursday, which alarmingly hauls us up to equal first place in Division II (full match report to follow soon).

Skeleton Crew Buried

Depleted once more by long-term illnesses, Shipwrecks could only manage to send a coxless eight out for the away fixture at Lockerbie on Thursday.  The home team themselves mustered just nine hands but superior batting strength eventually gave them a comfortable victory by seven lengths.

Condemned to bat first on the bouncy new Lockerbie wicket and moderately fast outfield, Shipwrecks nevertheless performed creditably in the Caribbean evening sunshine.  Donald McCuaig, promoted up the order by necessity was the only crew member to lose his wicket as Shipwrecks notched a reasonable target of 98 - 1 after a steady-as-you-go first few overs.

Take That! - Fallas In Brutal Mood

Jim Worthington discovered some nice legside shots to retire on 26 (including four 4s!) and was replaced by Davey Fallas, who lashed the ball around in brutal fashion for another 26 retired in only nine deliveries. Mike Service meanwhile played an uncharacteristic anchor role while Colin Taylor eventually knotted together another slightly fortuitous 25 not out, leaving Skipper McEwan to face the last ball of the innings and bring the total to a respectable 98 - 1.

Unfortunately, the bowling was not as tight as usual. The six outfielders looked like small yachts in a large ocean as Lockerbie openers Ross Crawford and (Ship's?) Carpenter launched rockets towards the horizon. Eventually Carpenter shaved one from Fallas to 'keeper Service who duly clung on.

But unfortunately all gunners deployed by the Shipwrecks went for more than six an over except for Taylor,

Mike "hands of glue" Service

who captured left-hander Bray with one that nipped away and Service did the honours once more to clinch the Velcro Man Of the Match Award.

More sharp work from the wicket keeper accounted for Stevie Crawford, when Service threw down the bowler's end wicket at ten paces with the batsman still strolling on deck.  However, further flurries from Andy Veitch and Graine, although nearly bamboozled by Sarosh on a couple of occasions, meant that Lockerbie got home with more than five overs to spare.

Future navigators might like to note that it is important to take a full squad to Lockerbie, where most wickets are likely to fall to catches due to the nature of the wicket, which pretty much takes bowled and lbw out of the game. However the real losers were those who could not play in what was a very pleasant game on a lovely evening - just right for a sea cruise.

Scores: Shipwrecks 98 - 1 (Worthington 26 n.o., Fallas 26 n.o., Taylor 25 n.o., Service 13 n.o.) : Lockerbie 99 - 3 (R. Crawford 25 n.o., A. Veitch 24 n.o., Carpenter 17)

Shipwrecks Cruise Home

Shipwrecks cruised to victory against a Dumfries Juniors outfit strengthened by club pro Loz and an influx of returning public schoolboys.

It was another balmy evening on the Costa del Kingholm, on which the football pitch had been cut shorter than the rest of the ground, obviously reflecting the sporting priorities of our times. Alasdair McEwan lost the toss and led his troops into the field.

Derek "Shabba" Rankine opened with three tight overs, but no wickets fell until Alex Taylor took a fine catch, performing a superb backward hornpipe at long on to dismiss Thornely (Sr.) off McEwan in the fourth over. The innings was nearly half way through before Fallas took a towering catch off Cameron just in front of the boundary to remove Birkbeck.

MoM Davey Fallas

Only three more wickets were to fall but, crucially, none of the juniors made many runs while Lyburn and Loz steamed ahead to record their maximums in the away side's 91 - 5.

Jim Worthington and Geoff Dean opened in pokey fashion until the former was well taken low by Loz at mid on, at which point Dean unleashed a series of stylish off drives to starboard.  Joined by Davey Fallas after Alex Taylor slipped up, the duo found the boundary with great regularity until Dean prodded back to Loz, called for an impossible run and duly walked the plank.

Once Fallas retired after the usual couple of sixes, Rankine was in similar mood and the remaining batsmen were really only needed in a supporting role.  Mike Service and Colin Taylor nevertheless managed to get out before Rankine won the game with his third four in the eighteenth over.

The Ship Inn Man of the Match Award went to Davey Fallas for his match-winning 28 and excellent catch.

Scores: Dumfries Juniors 91 - 5 (Lyburn 30 n.o., Loz 29 n.o ; Cameron 2-31) : Shipwrecks 92 - 5 (Fallas 28 n.o., Dean 24, Rankine 15 n.o. ; Currie 2-21)

No Show Shipwrecks Forfeit Game

Shipwrecks conceded this week's fixture against Burgh Boys, therefore forfeiting a distinctly winnable fixture immediately before poorer weather moved in as often happens in early July.

According to dispatches, only five players were available to enlist on Thursday following an outburst of heatstroke and tropical diseases, although later research suggests that in fact seven could have turned out.

As no general order to 'stand down' was issued, three of the squad actually turned up for the game, only to find themselves crewing the S.S. Marie Celeste against no opposition.

Shipwrecks Sail To Cup Victory

Shipwrecks faced First Division Kirkmahoe Insurance in their midweek second round Americas Cup fixture at Nunholm last Wednesday.  Once again only eight crew members reported for duty but a search and rescue party managed to liberate Danny McBryde from a life of sin and misery in the Sports Club Bar to make up the numbers.

Alex and Davey discuss tactics

The Shipwrecks' High Command had actually formulated a cunning battle plan that it might be better to lose the game, as it was thought that this might place us favourably in the runners-up competition.  However, a combination of unclear communication by the Officers concerned and a degree of insubordination amongst the ranks meant that Shipwrecks eventually cruised to a three wicket victory.

Having lost the toss, the now nine Shipwrecks standing were duly condemned to run around the Nunholm outfield for twenty overs on the hottest day of the year so far.

The battle plan appeared initially to be succeeding as Shipwrecks started by dropping catches in all directions.  Andy Cameron's deliberate backward stumble on an uneven deck was particularly noteworthy but eventually outdone by Jim Worthington who allowed a steepler from Colin Taylor's slower one to hit him full on the (figure) head, while the opposition gratefully took another run without calling dead ball.

Three of the experienced Insurers quickly racked up 25s and Shipwrecks looked all at sea by the end of the innings as the home team ran for everything to finish up on 111 - 6, the wickets being the result of three accidental run outs and some careless straight bowling by Cameron and Davey Fallas.

After Worthington and McBryde had been dismissed cheaply, it was felt incumbent to 'get somewhere near' the opposition total for the sake of show and Alasdair McEwen, whose claims as a batter have advanced considerably under his own captaincy, went in early to join Mike Service as the two fired off a number of lusty broadsides towards the tennis courts until a signalling error lead to McEwen's run out.

Alasdair about to fire off a broadside

Davey Fallas (lobbed up an easy catch) and Alex Taylor and Geoff Dean (both bowled by slower balls) had clearly read the script but Kirkmahoe Insurance hadn't and appeared determined to force the win at all costs. It was at this point that certain crew members, noting the somewhat eager approach of some of the fielding team, hatched a rebellious plot to win the game anyway.

And so it was that with close but easy defeat looming, Andy Cameron cudgelled a lightning 12 and bullied the elder Taylor into taking a number of quick runs against his better judgement.  Shipwrecks eventually won with a wide early in the last over, leaving the Insurance, who had tried to claim the nineteenth over was the last, to quibble over an apparent two run deficit in the scorebook.

The format of the Midweek Cup being more complicated that Stephen Hawking's calculation on the current World Cup, Shipwrecks afterwards decided that they were happy enough to have won the game after all.

Approximate Scores: Kirkmahoe Annandale Insurance 111 - 6 (Campbell 25 n.o., Brotherston, 25 n.o., Potts 25 n.o., Elliot 12, R. Rankine 11 n.o ; Cameron 2-13) : Shipwrecks 112 - 8 (McEwen 19, Service 18, Fallas 15, Cameron 12, C. Taylor 11 n.o. [Surely that should have been 13 n.o. - Ed.], A. Taylor 10 ; Potts 2-21)

Shipwrecks Run Aground On Haymeadow

Shipwrecks lost their first round Midweek Cup encounter to the aptly named Kingholm Meadow by three wickets last Wednesday, but the real winner was the outfield, which clearly hadn't seen a cutlass for several weeks and severely frustrated the efforts of both sides to play reasonable cricket shots.

Cut down by a mixture of battle scars, leave commitments and an outbreak of scurvy, the 'Wrecks could only field nine players.  However, they did manage to muster debutant Derek "Shabba" Rankine against their First Division opponents, who themselves seemed short of a few old hands.

In the strange, lowscoring but not uninteresting game that resulted, Shipwrecks lost the toss and were invited to bat.

Alex Goes Aerial
(note ankle-high grass)

Torn between defence and attack, Mike Service gave an early caught and bowled to Harry Potter (aka Mark Wharton) and Jim "Lad" Worthington was quickly becalmed on 1 for six overs before he was bowled. Alex Taylor broke the deadlock with a couple of titanic sixes, but was then unluckily bowled off his pads by a delivery from Harriman that was passing well down leg side. Rankine soon steered one straight to point off Willie Woodhouse, at which juncture Shipwrecks were 21 - 4 off 9.1 overs and it looked like the opposition would be home and dry.

Colin Taylor and Skipper Alasdair McEwen determined to bat out the overs and made some slow headway until Taylor was lbw for 7 trying to part the waves in the 17th over.  McEwen had more success with some late support from Andy Cameron and Donald McCuaig, as Shipwrecks reached a hardearned 49 - 6.

Kingholm Meadow were even slower to get underway, as Rankine completely tied up one end whilst clean bowling openers Dougan and Muir.  Andy Cameron meanwhile took a spectacular one-handed catch to remove David C off McEwen and Tom Woodhouse was neatly taken by Alex Taylor off his father's first delivery.

Cameron followed up by bowling R. Raverty and Craig, at which point the favourites were still foundering in the twenties, and the feverish on-pitch excitement was even enough to catch the attention of the occasional dogwalker on the towpath.

Unfortunately, Peter Harriman, the only opposition batsman to reach double figures, stood firm after Taylor dismissed Irving and managed to secure victory off the last ball off the nineteenth over. Nevertheless, it was a creditable performance by a scratch Shipwrecks team in difficult conditions against nominally stronger opposition and could easily have produced a different result.

The Man of the Match Award will go to whoever cuts the grass before our next game.

Scores: Shipwrecks 49 - 6 (A.Taylor 16, A. McEwen 15 n.o. ; W. Woodhouse 2-4, Harriman 2-7, Wharton 2-10) : Kingholm Meadow 51 - 7 (Harriman 24 n.o. ; Rankine 2-2, Cameron 2-11, C. Taylor 2-13)

Piracy Pays

Shipwrecks sailed towards their third win of the season against hulk merchants J Walker & Sons (aka St Michael's Youth) on Thursday, but only after an inspired act of piracy on the high seas.

As four members of last week's team were on shore leave or nursing battle scars, only nine crew members reported for duty at Kingholm 1 at six bells. However the guardroom immediately dispatched a press gang, which duly returned with Connor "Starboard" Bowie who had been looking for a Thursday bounce game as permitted by the new Midweek League eligibility criteria.

Uh oh! Service skies to Cummings

Skipper McEwen won the toss and despatched Mike "Senior" Service and Jim Worthington to open against a youthful opening attack. Worthington soon edged "Mad Dog" Moore behind after hitting a nice boundary and Service eventually fell to the same bowler, lofting one to Saints pro Cummings for an aggressive 11.

Out of touch Alex Taylor had the bad luck to be caught by Muir for 8 but Davey Fallas was already going full steam ahead, and considerable forward progress was made when he was joined by Geoff Dean.  Fallas characteristically reached his maximum with a flourish, hitting a big six into the banking.

Despite some difficulties timing shots against the aerial attack of the younger bowlers, who were certainly taking the pace of the ball, Dean and Colin Taylor continued to score at over a run a ball until the latter was stumped trying to splice the mainbrace against Ryan Geddes.

After Dean retired with a boundary, it fell to Mike Lumb and McEwen to pick up bonus runs off the last two or three overs. Particularly impressive was the way all middle order batsmen managed to take runs off Cummings, who finished wicketless.

Knowing that Saints pros Rohin Thapar and Cummings would be batting early, the Shipwrecks High Command decided on the amusing strategy of placing all fielders on the boundary on the shorter Pavilion side while they were on strike, and throttling the runs from the youngsters with a tight umbrella field.

Davey Fallas duly caught Muir at deep gully off McEwen and reacted nicely to run Andrew Geddes out from the same position.  Thapar meanwhile extracted revenge, effecting his early retirement with a series of sixes off Fallas' bowling, one of which cleared the mainmast of the Pavilion to land with an ominous thud.

Cummings followed the same ploy and retired in even less deliveries, but this left the younger batsmen exposed and only Sandy McNay and Moore for company.

Assembled Shipwrecks toast MoM Geoff Dean

Replacing McEwen, new recruit Bowie duly removed the promising Smith before clean bowling both Moore and then McNay, the latter after only three lbw shouts.  It was then left to Dean and Taylor (C) to pick up the remaining two wickets, Lumb taking up a nice catch behind off Dean to dismiss Reece McNay. Geoff Dean thereby clinched the MS Porky Scratchings Man of the Match Award.

Celebrations in the Ship Inn continued long into peak viewing time, abetted by an excellent supply of sandwiches.

Scores: Shipwrecks 120 - 4 (Dean 27 n.o., Fallas 25 n.o., C. Taylor 18, Service 11 ; Moore 2-7) : J Walker & Sons 80 - 8 (Cummings 29 n.o., Thapar 26 n.o. ; Bowie 3-7)

Shipwrecks Steam Ahead

Shipwrecks outpaced a strong Healthpros crew in a highscoring game at Kingholm 2 on Thursday night, in defiance of continuing poor visibility and a damp outfield.

Short of Davey Fallas (missed boat at Stranraer) and Donald McCuaig (on boat to Isle of Man), Shipwrecks cleverly argued for the fixture to be relocated from bouncy Kingholm 1, only to find that the K2 boundary line is by now almost completely invisible. This led to a later debate as to the whereabouts of the team's boundary and semaphore flags, which are by various accounts a) lost forever in Davy Jones' locker b) safely dry docked in St Michael's shed or c) in someone's garage (to be continued).

Good fortune was with us as Shipwrecks won the toss and elected to bat.

Jim Worthington was first to go, edging Dave Strachan to gully in the third over, after which Mike Service ignored the 'steady as you go' call from Dean at the other end and slashed round a straight one.  But Chris Lumb, who had been allowed an extra tot to celebrate the end of his exams, then launched into the attack with great gusto, particularly favouring Fraser Strachan's short stuff.  By the time he retired for 27, the score had passed fifty in only seven overs.

Sid Oates swings again

The ball continued to sail off the bat when Alex Taylor took over the shift, but the the longest hit of the night came from Dean, who hit a one bounce six off the towpath into the river before he holed out for 24. Skipper Alastair McEwen was out first ball, but the later batsmen managed to continue progress, albeit at a reduced rate of knots even when Taylor was bowled for 23.  Sid Oates in particular produced a fine little cameo near the end as Shipwrecks reached 120 - 7.

What followed from Shipwrecks was a mixture of sublime and ridiculous.  Chis Lumb struggled to find the right line, but in between bowled Dave Hill and Ian McLelland.  Between more wides, Jim Worthington and Alex Taylor both took fine catches to help McEwen towards a four wicket haul.  But once an erratic Colin Taylor got the key wicket of Faisal to an excellent catch by Mike Lumb standing up, Shipwrecks appeared to slacken sail, as if expecting to coast home to an easy victory.

MoM Chris Lumb

Several takeable chances were dropped, particularly off Dave Strachan and it was only when the doctors looked like they might have some chance of staging a victory operation, helped by the change to a pink ball, that the tide turned. Fielding to his own bowling in the dying overs, Chris Lumb threw down the wicket from a sitting position and Sid Oates took an impressive and much-celebrated catch, diving forward full length to deprive Matt Williams of his maximum.

Mention should be made in despatches of Mike Lumb's excellent wicketkeeping, throwing himself around the quarterdeck to intercept the volley of wides, but the Scottish Qualifications Authority Man of the Match Award went to son Chris for his tonesetting innings, two wickets and excellent run out.

Scores: Shipwrecks 120 - 7 (C. Lumb 27 n.o., Dean 24, A. Taylor 23, Oates 11 ; Faisal 2-14, D. Strachan 2-20) : Healthpros 101 all out (D. Strachan 25 n.o., Williams 23 ; McEwen 4-22 C. Lumb 2-21)

Attention All Seafarers!

To improve team morale and diet, The Ship Inn will be laying on sandwiches and hard tack after all forthcoming fixtures at the Kingholm. N.b. Buy your own Porky Scratchings!

Overconfident Shipwrecks Miss The Boat

A full roll call of Shipwrecks managed to lose against eight man Lockerbie outfit at Kingholm 2 on Thursday, mistakenly thinking that fair winds would blow them to victory without undue effort on their part and going down by a paltry three runs.

Lockerbie won what proved to be a crucial toss and elected to bat, thereby avoiding the gloomy conditions that made the flagrant pink ball hard to spot on the radar later on.

Opening spells from nippy Chris Lumb and Skipper Alastair McEwan were reasonable enough but wickets were slow to fall. A long, wet outfield made the boundary hard to find, but Shipwrecks compensated by sitting deep, allowing easy singles and not covering obvious gaps, and the Lockerbie batsmen grew accustomed to the unvarying attack.

Although Mike Lumb delivered five accurate overs replacing McEwan at the Pavilion End, there was no-one to come back at the far end once Colin Taylor lost his length, and Davey Fallas was left to deliver two overs for 14 at the death as Andy Veitch worked the shorter legside boundary late on.

Perhaps underestimating the difficulty of reaching Lockerbie's 85 on a slow outfield, Shipwrecks relegated key batsmen down the order and struggled to make progress after the opening few overs. Sid Oates was again run out after a bright start - this time by a combination of ineffective calling and a sharp throw from young Daniel Veitch at point. A match changing moment then occurred as Geoff Dean was cut apart by a freakish delivery from Gracie that moved in unpredictably from well outside off stump to bowl him off his pads.

Chris Lumb made considerable amends, forcing the ball square and straight and twice finding the boundary before retiring on 25. But Mike Service was bowled early and, when Jim Worthington was caught for 10 of in the fifteenth over, Mike Lumb and Alex Taylor still needed 35 off the last five with pacy Liam Rogerson

The man most likely to...

yet to return to the attack.

What followed was a creditable effort, but Lockerbie skipper Veitch craftily thwarted Shipwrecks' need for big boundaries by double manning the wide long on area off his own bowling.  Shipwrecks fell short by just three runs. Meanwhile the man most likely to hoist a couple of big ones amidships (Davey Fallas) spectated from the boundary.

As with the Spanish Armada better commitment and guile had triumphed against superior force and numbers and the defeated could only drift back to the Ship Inn to discuss what might have been.

Scores: Lockerbie 85 - 3 : Shipwrecks 82 - 4 (C. Lumb 25 n.o., A Taylor 18 n.o., M. Lumb 13 n.o.)

Buoyant Shipwrecks Afloat Again

Shipwrecks pushed the boat out on Thursday night after a convincing 58 run victory against a youthful Dumfries Colts at Nunholm to achieve their first victory in the new Dumfries Midweek League (Division 2).

This year's crew has been fortified by the welcome return of Quartermaster Mike Lumb and the recruitment of salty old sea dog Davey Fallas plus talented Officer Cadet Chris Lumb.

Batting first on the artificial deck, Shipwrecks' innings did not set sail in the best fashion.  After completing a ten mile training run immediately before sailing, Sid Oates was unable to manage 20 yards when called for a sharp single by Mike Lumb and departed without facing in the first over. Sensible batting from Lumb against McCutcheon and Sam Thornton and controlled aggression from Dean got the innings underway, until Lumb misunderstood a clear call of wait and was himself run out for 14.

After a promising start, Chris Lumb played over a rare straight one for 11, but Davey Fallas got off to his usual swashbuckling fashion, flicking one of his pads to square leg for 4. It was full steam ahead until Dean reached his retirement.  Taylor and Fallas kept the momentum up until Fallas also retired on 27, narrowly missing a straight maximum with his last strike.

Chris Lumb plays a nice shot through the covers

The innings finished with an impressive cameo from Skipper Ali McEwan (7 not out), who needed no time to adjust to the pace of the returning McCutcheon and Shipwrecks closed on 134 - 3.

In reply the Colts found the pace and accuracy of Chris Lumb hard to deal with, as did Lumb Sr. who was scuppered by one canonball amidships behind the stumps. Meanwhile McEwan bowled Wishart and had Dunbar caught by Taylor at mid-off. But the key blow was then delivered by Sarosh, who distracted McCutcheon with a couple of deliberate wides before serving him up a straight one which he obligingly lobbed to Jim Worthington, who took a good catch in the deep to cast the Colts innings adrift after six overs.

After Sarosh also bowled Ben Thornton, there was a skirmish  resistance from Walker and Sam Thornton until Fallas struck three times in his last over in failing light to finish a good-spirited game with the Colts on 76 - 7.

In spite of Fallas' impressive statistics with bat and ball the Captain Morgan's Sailor of the Match Award went to Sarosh (see left) for vitally dismissing the home team's key player.

Scores: Shipwrecks 134 - 3 (Fallas 27 ret., Dean 25 ret., Taylor 15 n.o., M. Lumb 14, C.Lumb 11) : Dumfries Colts 76 - 7 (S. Thornton 23 n.o., Walker 18 ; Fallas 3 - 18, McEwan 2-12, Sarosh 2-20).

Remaining Fixtures

After last week's rainoff following a series of nasty squalls and poor visibility in the Irish Sea, you might like advance notice that our remaining fixtures are as follows:

Date	Opposition	Location
15th May	Dumfries Colts	Nunholm
22nd May	Lockerbie	K2
29th May	Healthpros (Away)	K2
5th June	J Walker & Son	K1
11th June	Kingholm Meadow (Cup)	K2
18th June	Kirkmahoe Annandale Insurance (Cup)	Nunholm
3rd July	Burgh Boys (Away)	K2
10th July	Dumfries Colts	K2
17th July	Lockerbie	Lockerbie
24th July	Healthpros (Home)	K2
31st July	J Walker & Son	K2
6th & 7th August	Cup and Plate Round 2
13th & 14th August	Cup and Plate Semi Finals

Weekly post-mortems will be held in The Ship Inn as usual.

First Fixture

Our first game is on Thursday 8th May against Burgh Boys at Kingholm 2.

It looks like I'm supposed to be sorting the team out, so please let me know your availability as I don't have numbers for most players.  Mike Service and Geoff are definitely NOT playing.

Practice Voyage

In direct contravention of the team's original constitution, which expressly forbids practice sessions, there will be a knockabout at Kingholm 2 tomorrow (27th April) from 10.00 am for a couple of hours.

A previous communication from Admiral Dean stating a cast-off at 14.00 hours was merely a cunning manouevre to outfox enemy craft.  Anyway, I can't make the afternoon and have the kitbags stowed away on the afterdeck of my C4.

Midweek AGM Highlights

Further to the recent call-to-arms for the new season issued by Rear Admiral Dean, you might be interested to know of the terms of combat recently endorsed by the Midweek League AGM High Command at Nunholm.

New Teams

A completely new team, The Panthers, will be playing out of Kingholm I with a mainly Asian crew and Castle Beattie will be returning after a year in dry dock to repair leaks. There are also two mergers as follows:

• Kingholm XI + Irving Meadow = Kingholm Meadow
• Kirkmahoe + Annandale Insurance = Kirkmahoe Annandale Insurance

This would seem to leave Shipwrecks as the sole founder member of the League continuing to sail.

League

With 12 teams available for action, the move to split the League went ahead so that there will be two sections of six teams playing each other twice.  We landed in Section II playing on Thursdays against Healthpros, Lockerbie, Dumfries Colts, St Michael's Youth (now John Walker & Son) and Burgh Boys.

N.b. however that it was agreed that hands can play for one team in either pool.  There was some opposition to this by those who felt it is open to abuse*.

Cup

The format of the cup competition remains the same, except that the first round will be played half way through the League season.  We ended up in the group with Kirkmahoe Annandale Insurance and Kingholm Meadow, which should guarantee us plain sailing into the Plate semi-final.

Rules and Restrictions

The bowling and batting restrictions brought in last season will remain in place.  It was suggested that home teams could mark the run-up restriction and that Captains could agree the judgement of wides before games commence.

*Note: The Laws of Cricket state that anyone joining the game after being absent for more than fifteen minutes after the start cannot bowl until the amount of time by which they were absent has elapsed.

There are also some recent changes (some of them obscure) to the Laws of Cricket which can be viewed at: http://www.lords.org/mcc/laws-of-cricket/law-changes-2013-explained/  No doubt these will the subject of lengthy discussions in The Ship Inn.