Shipwrecks in Stormy Seas...

Completion of the Shipwrecks' log has been severely delayed over the past week because Ship's Writer CPO Taylor has been away on a mission in France. Apparently he was trying to recruit petanque players to join the team in the hope of reducing the number of wides conceded in future games, having overlooked the fact that underarm bowling is no longer permissible under the Laws of Cricket*.  Apologies anyway to both of you who read this regularly for depriving you of your weekly fix.

What follows is a summary of the two skirmishes that have taken place in the meantime:

Ooh, Aye and Up She Rises...

Last week our noble crew counter attacked fiercely at Lockerbie to record our second victory and first total of over 100 this season, winning by a stupendous nine wickets.

Lockerbie 105 all out (A Veitch 25 n.o., Bray 26 n.o. ; Barbour 2-17, R Dean  2-22) : Shipwrecks 106 for 1 (McCuaig 28 n.o., Service 26 n.o., G Dean  24 n.o., R Dean 11 n.o.)

Davy Potter's Locker...

Harry Potter

This trend was however not continued against Irving Meadow at Kingholm 2 on Tuesday. The mythical Harry Potter inflicted a major broadside on our batting flagship, which was almost completely scuppered at 5 - 4. In spite of a brave rearguard action from McEwen, Dean and extras, Shipwrecks could not make up the leeway and went down by 19 runs.

Captain's commendations however went to Worthington (2), R. Dean and Sarosh, who all took excellent catches.

Irving Meadow 89 for 9 (Harriman 18 ; Sarosh 4-18,  McEwen 2-17, Service 2-16) : Shipwrecks 70 all out (McEwen 27 n.o., R Dean 13)

With two games to go, will the Shipwrecks now steam ahead as in previous seasons to achieve mid-table mediocrity?

*except by prior agreement of both teams.

More Midges Than Shipwrecks

The Shipwrecks - or some of them - ventured inland to meet Annan CC at picturesque Kinmount estate last Thursday.  Unfortunately the roll call was sadly depleted by the death of Sid Oates' dog, who could not therefore play and the less comprehensible non-appearance of deckhands G. and M. Robinson (thanks for letting us know, lads) with the inclusion of whom this could have been a very interesting encounter indeed.

What a posh pavilion!

Kinmount is really starting to look like a cricket venue again.  The surrounds of the pitch and outfield have been overhauled and the pitch cleared of moss - with the result that it does play incredibly slowly, but that in itself makes for an intriguing contest as the bowlers get no pace off it and batsmen have to find some innovative shots to knock the ball away.

Annan won the toss and decided to bat, perhaps knowing that they would thus evade the swarm of small but high-class midges that gathered around the boundary in the course of their innings.  They were also kind enough to lend a couple of hands to replace absent friends.

Colin Taylor got the ball to move around a bit to dismiss both openers and took a diving caught and bowled to remove McCann.  Unfortunately, only Rory Dean and one run out were able to contribute further wickets. Sometimes making heavy weather of it, the Annan batsmen overall cruised to 125 - 5 against the other bowlers who were pressed into service, assisted by a shoal of wides and no-balls.  Mike Service did however fire some useful salvoes.

In reply Shipwrecks made chase, accelerating from the steady start made by Donald McCuaig when both generations of Dean hit their way to good maximums.  Unfortunately there was not much left in the ship's stores as Taylor poked around looking for a hitter to support but the others all hit out and got out until he and Worthington were left to prod out the last few balls as if looking for the non-existent draw.

Once again Shipwrecks were by no means disgraced, but this time a possibility of victory was scuppered as a team in cricket consists of eleven men, not eight as in rowing.

Scores:  Annan 125-5 (Pagan 27 n.o., Bellis 27 n.o., McCann 20 ; Taylor 3-16) : Shipwrecks: 97-9 (G. Dean 27 n.o., R. Dean 25 n.o. ; Patterson 3-15)

Creditable Performance by Weakened Shipwrecks

Shipwrecks paddled upriver last Thursday to take on Annandale Insurance.  A selection already depleted by the absences of Rear Admiral Geoff Dean (sailing in the Mediterranean) and Peter Harrison (unfit for duty) was further weakened when two hands unaccountably failed to appear on deck at six bells.  The opposition meanwhile consisted of the usual assortment of cabin boys and old sea-dogs, with a couple of professional sailors on hand just in case things got rocky.

The nine men were invited to field on losing the toss and Gregory Robinson opened the bowling to an umbrella field, substitute Skipper Taylor reasoning that there was no point in protecting the boundary as the sole possibility of victory lay in attack.

As no-one copied the opposition ship's log, only a sketchy account of what happened next is possible, but Alastair MacEwan pilfered three wickets, the Robinsons each took a nice catch and Taylor got McBride  in his last over but finished poorly to McCutcheon as A. I. (no, not Amnesty International) eased to 144 - 4.

Instructed at least to last the full twenty overs, the Shipwrecks stuck to their duty well.  Although early wickets fell when Mike Service was bowled for a duck and Kelvin Maxwell got run out by a good throw, Sid Oates took a fancy to young Levi and clouted him for several alarmingly straight boundaries before holing out.

Kelvin Maxwell prepares to lauch one towards the tennis courts

McCuaig and Taylor scratched around for a bit but the best innings came from Man of the Match MacEwan who, promoted up the order, took on some of the better bowling on the day to hoist a maximum.  Gregory Robinson hit three fours in his 15 and Sarosh batted steadily at the end to ensure Shipwrecks were not disgraced as they survived for 91 - 7.

Scores: Annandale Insurance 144-4 (MacEwan 3 - ??) : Shipwrecks 91-7 (MacEwan 25 not out, Oates 23, G. Robinson 15)