Full Steam Ahead for Shipwrecks

Following last week's unexpected scrapping of the SS Annandale Insurance by the Nunholm Line, the Shipwrecks returned from a fortnight's shore leave to engage a skiff manned by the Burgh Boys.  Or at least most of them did, as it was only thanks to the Robinson Bros., who press ganged their friends Stefan and Ms. Elgin to strengthen the legside field, that the 'Wrecks sailed with a full compliment.

Hoping for easy pickings and an early return to The Ship Inn, Taylor inserted the opposition to bat on winning the toss and the gamble paid off nicely.  After another first over breakthrough by fit again Andy Cameron, Cap'n Taylor greedily hogged most of the spoils for himself with a personal best of 5 - 4 to demolish the opposition middle and late order for only 49.  Sandy McNay (2) and Gregory Robinson (1) also chimed in with key wickets as the fielding side achieved an unprecedented 100% success in the catching department, repeatedly clinging on to the ball as if it was a lifeline.

A fine day at the Kingholm as Able Seaman Worthington strokes the ball through the covers

The Winning Partnership

In a minor batting reshuffle, swashbuckiling Sid Oates opened the innings with watchful Jim Worthington on guard at the other end.  Oates was soon in the metaphorical Pavilion but Mike "Senior" Service was yet again in form with a hard hitting maximum at number three.  Geoff Dean hit a couple of nice shots before edging to 'keeper Moorehead as he attempted the spectacular finish, leaving Mathew Robinson and Worthington to scamper the winning run off a bye.

This was another enthusiastic allround performance by all hands and suprisingly takes Shipwrecks to their best start to a season for many years in spite of the absence of several seasoned sailors.

"Can it possibly continue?" we ask ourselves.

Scores: Burgh Boys 49 all out (Taylor 5 - 4, McNay  2 -14) ; Shpwrx 50 -2 (Service 25 not out).

Shipwrecks won by eight wickets.

Shipwrecks on Crest of Wave

The Shipwrecks were riding high after they won their second Midweek League encounter with Lockerbie on a murky night last Wednesday, but not without some alarms on the way.  By the time the winning runs were scored it was almsot nightfall, so dark in fact that the Shipwrecks' bowling figures were completely illegible after the match finished.

The late arrival of the ferry from Lockerbie containing skipper Andy Veitch and the away team's kitbag always made it likely that the team batting second would have the worst of it and, inevitably, it was Shipwrecks who lost the toss and were asked to bowl.

Andy Cameron again struck early but asked to be taken off with a knee strain. Shipwrecks then struggled in the field, leaking extras and missing catches as Captain Taylor sought for the right bowling combination to restrict Stevie Crawford and evergreen John Smith.  Eventually he tried himself, picking up a couple of wickets after nearly dismissing Veitch early on.

An exciting moment from Wednesday's game

Faced with a total of 103 and no navigation lights as the gloom descended, Shipwrecks sent out their big guns to try and resolve the battle early and it sort of worked.  Although Davey Dillon, Gregory and Matthew Robinson and Ian Whitby all fell early, Mike Service weighed in with some powerful shots in his 23 and Geoff Dean cruised to another maximum.  By the time Taylor and Sandy McNay were together at nightfall less than 20 were needed with plenty of overs remaining and the field still set deep. So the old codgers realised all they had to do was stay in and not collide with each other between the wickets.

A couple more boundaries helped and the task was duly achieved when they scampered home for two runs off a bye.  So it is an untypically successful start to the season for the boys from The Ship, but they cannot expect an easy passage against Annandale Insurance at Nunholm next Thursday unless they liven up in the field.

Incidentally, fixtures like the above surely restate the case for orange or pink balls in evening fixtures as previously argued in an earlier post

Latest:

Annandale Insurance game is now off as Nunholm have withdrawn one of their teams from the League.

Shipwrecks Win Seesaw Encounter

In a colder than average spring, Shipwrecks' first midweek encounter with the Police took place surprisingly balmy conditions on Thursday with ne'er a squall in sight. However anticipated problems of overmanning proved to be entirely misplaced since only nine players reported for roll call - various members of last season's crew providing a variety of excuses (unfit for duty, confined to barracks, stranded overseas, etc.)

Fearing a difficult passage, Skipper Colin Taylor chose to bat on winning the toss and openers Sandy McNay and Mike Service found themselves batting warily against a much improved Police bowling attack.  At 27 for 0 after ten overs, the innings was almost becalmed but an acceleration of pace took Service to an excellent 28 retired while McNay struck a rare six over mid off. Thanks to a lightning near maximum from Geoff Dean and some late hitting by Taylor and Gregory Robinson, the 'Wrecks eventually posted a reasonably competitive 106-1.  The IX thus survived twenty overs for the loss of only one wicket. Is this a club record?

The Police innings nearly hit the rocks early on as Andy Cameron and Matthew Robinson ripped through the early batting order but the coppers eventually restored order through a great partnership between G. Brown and N. Hewitson.  Both found Taylor's reduced pace particularly to their liking, and at 79 - 4 after 15 overs, it looked like the Shipwrecks' cause was going to founder.

Fortunately old sea dog McNay had spotted that all hits were going to the leg side and quickly reinforced the starboard watch for his own bowling.  The result was a stingy 16th and 18th over, in between which Robinson (G.) had picked up the vital partnership-breaking wicket.  He captured a second to a spectacular try-like diving catch by his brother, and when Bob Davidson hoisted Taylor to the same player in the last over, the Police were still short of the target by ten runs.

Overall this was a very good sea battle that could have gone either way, but Shipwrecks had the advantage through good catching and the fact that they were better at steering the ball into the puddle at long on. Picking a man of the match on return to The Ship Inn would have been a very difficult task as Service, McNay, Dean, Cameron and both Robinsons all made important contributions.

Scores: Shipwrecks 106 for 1 (M.Service 28 n.o.,G.Dean 24, S.McNay 25 n.o, C. Taylor 13 n.o.) :

Police 96 all out (G. Brown 28 n.o., N.Hewitson 24 ; A.Cameron 2-5, M. Robinson 2-6, G.Robinson 2-16)

First Fixture Ahoy!

Our first 'serious' game in the John Henderson Midweek League will be against the Police on Thursday 3rd May - 6.15 pm at Kingholm 2.

Please let Geoff Dean know if you are available or not on 07712666794.

Perhaps this is a good time to remind all those who wish to sail with us that there is a match fee of £2 a game, payable to the Ship's Purser who is - er - also Geoff Dean.

Beating the Police is always a pleasant experience - look forward to seeing you there.

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.