Scorecard

Kinross v Forfarshire Cricket Club 3rd XI on Sat 25 Aug 2012 at 1pm
Match was Abandoned

Match report Forfarshire 3rd XI’s season ended in a damp squib; when in spite of the best efforts of both teams involved, our final league game of the season succumbed to the latest in a long line of 2012 monsoons.... The trip to Kinross started well enough; with bright sunshine greeting the players as they gathered at Forthill ahead of the journey along the M90. A young side assembled and climbed into the assorted vehicles and made their way to Kinross House to take on Kinross CC. We were told in advance of building works at the ground and were advised to take an alternative entrance into the arena.

This lead to all three appointed taxis doing three laps of Loch Leven whilst searching for the way in – and it was like being in a real life computer game as we explored various options including a graveyard as a possible entry point. We finally settled on a set of large black gates as the only possible way in - and amazingly all it needed was to get out of the car and push them.............and they miraculously opened to pave the way into the cricket ground. We quickly saw that all around the ground there were assorted lorries and portacabins - and extensive building work appeared to be taking place in the mansion that is Kinross House, which overlooks the cricket pitch. We were advised by the home players that the building work was leading to a change of use for the house and as a result - today would be the last ever game of cricket to be played at Kinross House.

The wicket was very green and soft; and with more rain forecast for the afternoon it was in hope rather than expectation that we prepared for the game by changing in the rather dark dressing room which was missing a light bulb. Sim senior sported a natty green and navy hooped polo shirt as he wandered out to the middle with the home skipper - and kept up his 100% record for the season - and lost the toss and we were inserted. Cameron and Callum formed a very young opening partnership and Callum unfortunately lost his off stump in the second over. Clark joined Cameron and they took the score to 43 before the first of the afternoon’s rain showers appeared. To cut a long story short – after various bouts of precipitation and various pitch inspections and various discussions....it was eventually agreed that no further play could take place on the appointed wicket and the match was finally abandoned as a contest.

However, such was the keenness of the numerous youngsters on both sides to play some cricket; the adjacent artificial wicket was swept clear of water and other items - and it was agreed that an ad hoc 20/20 friendly fixture would be played on the plastic. The surface was rather tricky to bat on with the ball generally skidding along the ground and run scoring was not easy but at least it was something approaching cricket.

Forthill 2nd XI again found themselves batting on the water slide; however after manfully attempting to get the game played to a finish........one final torrent of the wet stuff finally lead us to giving up for the day and the only winner was the rain. Not a great way to finish the season – but perhaps it was an apt end given this is the wettest cricket season in living memory.

There was still interest in the shape of the tea offering and a chance for Kinross to mount a late challenge for the Golden Urn 2012.However, the fare was average at best - with limited sandwiches and only a small amount of savouries to compliment the rather larger amount of biscuits. There were a couple of doughnuts and some home-made pancakes which helped to boost the score to a fairly average 5 out of 10. It was not the worst tea of the year; but it was well short of being the best.....
The Broughty Ferry youngsters did make a good attempt at imitating human food hoovers as they attempted to clear the table of all food within around ten seconds. The piles of nosh they managed to get on the small plates were incredible and how they balanced a doughnut on the top of a sausage roll on top of a custard cream on top of a kit kat standing on its head on top of crisps had to be seen to be believed. One youngster who shall remain nameless was reprimanded by the local tea lady for overfilling his plate even more than the others. To be fair; his food pile did touch the clubhouse roof. This lead to him having his tower topping doughnut confiscated by one of the senior players; and the round shaped cake was then passed on to the visiting skipper for very grateful disposal............This was all much to the disappointment of the youngster who phoned his Dad to tell him what had happened. However, his Father was at that moment on his way home from Liquid wearing a pair of very tight fitting red slacks and seemed uninterested in his son’s plight. No doubt he will be more interested in his doughnut antics in future years.

I am pleased to announce that the winners of the Golden Urn 2012 are Coupar Angus CC for the magnificent spread (and especially memorable sponge cake) which was offered up a couple of weeks ago. Thanks and congratulations to Coupar Angus who secure the trophy for the first time in their history. We were pleased to see that the Larghan Park men retained their division one status and this means another trip to Cafe Coupar next year and some more of that yummy cake.

The visit to Coupar Angus was a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable year of teas across the SPCU division one and it is hoped that tea standards will be lifted in 2013. The league has been approached by Channel 4 to make a documentary about cricket teas and the committee have agreed to participate next summer. This will see Jamie Oliver visiting each of the division one clubs over the season and helping to prepare teas, analysing the fare on offer, monitoring the nutritional value and generally trying to up the standards. All Forthill players are given early warning that they should not bring turkey twizzlers next season.
Jamie Oliver has taken on numerous impossible tasks over the years; such as overhauling the school meal set up in the UK and the USA- and helping homeless people back on the streets and giving them jobs by opening kitchens for them. However this project was in some doubt as even he refused to take on the one insurmountable challenge within the SPCU which put the whole process under threat.

Thankfully however, Rossie Priory have been promoted and this means we can take the Inchture Hell Kitchen out of the frame and the series can now get the green light.
Jamie said”I am looking forward to getting stuck in to the programme and meeting the people who put these teas together.” When asked to comment on the Rossie Priory situation he said,” From what I have heard even I would not be able to perform that miracle - and whilst I can handle Gordon Ramsay, I hear he is a pussy cat compared to this McFarlane character that runs the show out there.”

So another season of SPCU Division One cricket draws to a close. Due to the vagaries of possible National League promotion, the uncertainty of promotion and relegation matters etc – it is hard to give a full analysis of how the season has finished overall from a league perspective. What we do know is that Rossie Priory clinched promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt and our congratulations go to them. We also know that Bread Al Bayne finished bottom of the pile and will be relegated - so no more trips to the snow covered peaks of Aberfeldy for a while.. The final make up of the division for 2013 will be decided at a later date.

For Forthill 2nd XI it was a good season of consolidation back in the first division. We had some notable victories and with a little luck might have finished higher than the 5th place we managed. Numerous youngsters made their 3rd team debuts and all performed admirably. Congratulations go to all of the young lads. There progress can be marked by the fact that the club’s Under 18 and Under 15 teams have made it through to National Finals Day and we wish them both well. Hopefully the senior experience they have gained this year has helped them all improve their game.

Throughout the whole season youth once again had its fling and the younger members of the club did almost all of the bowling and a large chunk of the batting across the year which is what this team is all about.
Very special thanks goes to skipper Sim who once again has run the team magnificently and provided a great environment for all players young and old to enjoy their cricket.

To all of our cricketing friends across the globe we thank you once again for tuning in and keeping up to date with all things to do with Forthill 2nd XI in 2012.

We wish you a happy and healthy winter and look forward to seeing you all in 2013.......when we hope for better teas...... and especially better weather!!!!!

Forfarshire Cricket Club 3rd XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 6w  
for 1 wickets
8
46		        
Cameron Walker Not Out  11 1
Callum Garden b Peterson 4 1
Clark McConnachie Not Out  23 4
Craig McConnachie  
Bryce Robertson  
David Sim  
Steven Sim  
Connor Wilson  
Morgan Sargeant  
Fraser Ross  
Blair Walker  

Kinross Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
F Culley5.002300.004.60
L Peterson4.0023123.005.75

Kinross Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 0 wickets
0
0 (0.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Forfarshire Cricket Club 3rd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.