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In a lighter vein, it has been noted that Mr Porky's Pork Scratchings are no longer available in The Ship Inn, having been replaced by what at first apears to be a more up-market offering, M. S. Pork Scratchings.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