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In a lighter vein, it has been noted that Mr Porky's Pork Scratchings are no longer available in The Ship Inn, having been replaced by what at first apears to be a more up-market offering, M. S. Pork Scratchings.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