The Courier’s Tribute
The Courier has paid tribute on their website to the 25th anniversary of Freuchie’s cricket victory at Lord’s.
The report from Thursday’s newspaper can be found here:
They’ve also reproduced the full report from The Village Cup victory of 1985 here:
Finally, they’ve put together a wee gallery of pics from 1985 here:
A job well done by our friends at The Courier. Thank you.
Technorati Tags: cricket, Freuchie, Freuchie Cricket Club, Lord’s, The Courier, The Village Cup
Limited Edition Book
Orders are now being taken for the new Freuchie Cricket Club 1908 – 2008 Limited Edition book.
More information about the book, including a downloadable excerpt, is available here.
Technorati Tags: book, Freuchie , Freuchie Cricket Club, limited edition
Freuchie’s Glorious Weekends
This has to have been one of the most neglected blogs of all time in the last few months. However, we are about to remedy that. And the heading is correct – ‘weekends’ – plural!
Posters are already on display for what is being billed as Freuchie’s Glorious Weekend, but there’s an important date before that. This Sunday (22nd August) sees us hosting a Kwik Cricket festival – no less than twelve junior teams in competition, groundsmen Dave Christie and Dave McIntosh tearing their hair out to find six wickets dotted about the park.
Then the Glorious Weekend as billed: We are going to have a celebration of our 1985 Lord’s victory, spread across 4th and 5th September, with a family Fun Day on the Saturday and a 20:20 match on the Sunday. Some details have still to be worked out, but here’s the general set up:
The Fun Day will have craft stalls, bouncy castle, face-painting, and most importantly, ‘taster sessions’ of sports in the new games area in the school playground – short tennis, cricket, netball, dodge ball and so on. There will be a free family disco in the clubhouse, starting at eight o‘clock. Tea and coffee will be available at the clubhouse throughout the day, and we are keen to get as many people as possible coming to the club to see what a fine place it is.
Through the efforts of Scott McCrone, there will be an exhibition of some of our historic photographs, backed up by video footage of the great Lord’s adventure, courtesy of BBC and STV and our own Jock Wallace and his employer and major club sponsor, Black Light. That’ll be running all through the weekend (except during the Saturday evening disco, when it will be taken down to protect it from any over-energetic dancers. Swing yer Maw, swing yer Paw, swing yer Grannie through the wa’ …..)
On the Sunday, we will be gathering around one o’clock, with an opening speech from Sir Menzies Campbell at half past one. Cricket Scotland president Bob McFarlane will take over, with our 20:20 against Falkland kicking off at two o’clock. We’re hoping that between innings, there will be time for a very short junior game to let people see a few of our stars of the future.
And THE BOOK – THE BOOK! “Freuchie Cricket Club, 1908 to 2008” – a really beautiful hard-bound book of over 230 pages. Compiled by Scott McCrone (busy man, our Scott) and with an introduction by Sir Menzies Campbell, it has copies of old minutes, photographs, fixture cards, score sheets and a special section on the Lord’s victory. We will be giving it its official launch on 5th September with a limited First Edition of fifty copies. It may sound dear at £40 a copy, but many people, on seeing a draft copy, have said things like “you’re crazy – you’re way under-priced at £40!” and “this is family heirloom stuff!” Come and judge for yourselves – there will be at least one copy to see even if the first fifty have been snapped up.
Also on the Sunday, time yet to be decided, it is planned to have a tree-planting ceremony in the newly-landscaped school playground, commemorating the Lord’s squad and the official opening of the new multi-use games area.
And there’s more, even if not exactly on the weekend – The Daily Record plans to run a feature on the Lord’s team on the actual anniversary of the victory, while STV cameras aim to be at our ground on 1st September to prepare for a horror show of all these aging faces ….
Technorati Tags: Freuchie, Freuchie Cricket Club, Black Light, Falkland Cricket Club, Lord’s, Cricket Scotland, the Daily Record, STV, the National Village Championship
Will June be as good as May?
The First team was at Edinburgh on Saturday, facing Imans Edinburgh. Winning the toss, Freuchie put Edinburgh in to bat, which looked like a really good idea when the home side was 3 wickets down with only 12 on the board, but their mid-order batsmen pulled away strongly to finish with 210 all out. For Freuchie’s innings, 61 for 2 didn’t seem too bad, but things looked grim at 106 for 6. However, Steve Rowley batting at number 6 had 61 not out, supported by Dale Cowan at number 10 with 29 not out. We had been needing 67 off the last 10.4 overs and got them with 7 balls to spare. A five-for for Scott Gourlay, 3 for 49 for Dale’s ten overs and Steveo’s excellent 61 – 10 points for Freuchie (and maybe a few sighs of relief).
Meanwhile, the Seconds were at home to Heriots. Captain Kenny reports:
Saturday saw Heriots 2s come to Muir Road. Kenny won the toss and put the visitors into bat. Freuchie bowled tightly with the score at only 49 for 2 after 20 overs but then Heriots started to swing the bat a bit, their opener H Wright hitting a few sixes which saw him reach 88 before Allan Wallace bowled him. R Ruru scored 43, Freuchie bowling Heriots all out for 233 in the final over.
After tea, Freuchie’s innings started poorly, with Blair Forrester out from the 1st ball of the innings and Lee Duncan, who came in at 3, out shortly after for only 6 to leave the score at 7 for 2 off the first over. In came Allan Wallace to start a 71 run partnership with the other opener, Robbie Wright. Allan Wallace was eventually caught by Wallace on 40. Shortly after, the fall of two more wickets saw the score at 116 for 5 off 27 overs. That brought captain Kenny to the crease to start another good partnership and good batting performances from both Kenny and Robbie with a 90+ partnership coming to an end with Kenny on 40 before being run out and Robbie going on to 78 before being caught. That saw Freuchie at 208 for 7 of 40 overs but unfortunately, with some tight bowling from Heriots Freuchie finished 2 runs short of victory.
It was a great game of cricket and although Freuchie didn’t win, they still picked up the maximum points of 12 which Kenny was pleased with.
Special mention for Peter McNicol for stepping in at the last minute to help out after not playing for 4 years.
Secretary’s note: I watched some of the game, in which I thought Heriots had a very strong-looking side. I had seen some of Robbie’s batting when he scored a century against Kinross the previous week but this was different stuff against a very different standard of bowling. Very, very well played, Mr Wright.
We have very little news about Sunday’s Murgitroyd T20 against Stirling County. “Gubbed” was one report, “hammered” another.
However, we end May with the Firsts second from top in SNCl Division II, the Seconds fourth in Division II of the East League. Can we continue this for the rest of the season?
Teams for Saturday 5th June:
First XI at home to Weirs: Scot Galloway, Dave Cowan, Scott Birrell, Robbie Birrell, Steve Rowley, Jock Wallace, Mike Jackson, Dale Cowan, Graeme Christie, Fergus Black, Stuart Gibson.
Second XI away to top of the table Murrayfield DAFS: Kenny Crichton, Blair Forrester, Lee Duncan, Robbie Wright, Shane Munro, Liam Kelly, Ross McMurdo, Grant Horsburgh, Ian Paterson, Rory Brown, Greg Birrell
Technorati Tags: Freuchie, Freuchie Cricket Club, SNCL, ESCA, Edinburgh, Heriots, Stirling County, Murgitroyds
29th and 30th May
Lots happening. On Saturday, the Firsts are off to Edinburgh, the Twos at home to Heriots. On Sunday, the Firsts are off bright and early to Stirling County for a Murgitroyd T20 tie, while at home, we are hosting a Scottish U15 trial game.
Saturday First XI: Scott Galloway, Dave Cowan, Scott Gourlay, Scott Birrell, Robbie Birrell, Dale Cowan, Steve Rowley, Mike Jackson, Jock Wallace, Stewart Gibson.
Second XI: Kenny Crichton, Blair Forrester, Graeme Christie, Liam Kelly, Robbie Wright, Shane Munro, Lee Duncan, Alan Wallace, Ian Paterson, Ross McMurdo, Chris Hunt. Reserves Grant Horsburgh and Greg Birrell.
Sunday – meet at eight am for 9.30 start at Stirling: Scott Galloway, Scott Gourlay, Mike Jackson, Steve Rowley, Dale Cowan, Robbie Birrell, Scott Birrell, Jock Wallace, Stewart Gibson, Graeme Christie
Come and support Kenny and his men on Saturday, and don’t miss the U15 trials on Sunday.
Technorati Tags: Freuchie, Freuchie Cricket Club, Heriots, Stirling County, Murgitroyd, SNCL
22 / 23 May
Another good one for the Firsts on Saturday – beat RH Corstorphine by seven wickets – scorecard here. Quoting from SNCL’s Division II Roundup: “Freuchie moved into second place with a comfortable win against RH Corstorphine at Public Park. The visitors made 159 all out in 44.3 overs. When Overseas Amateur Jason Biddulph was at the crease a large total looked on the cards but with his departure for 67 the batting collapsed with Scott Galloway capturing 4 wickets for 17. The two Scotts Birrell (66*) and Gourlay (39*) put on 98 to see their side home with 3 overs to spare.” What more could a body ask for?
Photo: Matching winning Freuchie 1st XI
Meanwhile, our Second XI’s 100% record came to an abrupt end. A number of regulars were unavailable for selection, the situation made worse by injuries and call-offs. That said, it was a respectable looking batting XI that took the field against Marchmont. Stand-in skipper Alan Wallace praised Shane Munro for his mature innings of 30 not out and Grant Horsburgh for his contribution, but 139 all out off 47 overs wasn’t likely to be enough. Sadly, so it proved. Robbie Wright bowled economically, but the Marchmont batsmen cruised past our total without difficulty – and without loss. Alan reported that young Ross McMurdo bowled excellently and he had particular praise for the fielding of Cameron Millar and Blair Lawrie. We also have a special thanks to Charles Balfour, who drove up from Newcastle in response to Alan’s appeal for players.
Sunday saw our Thirds at home to Kinross. Both clubs had sides of genuinely mixed ability, but it has to be confessed that our mix was a good deal stronger than theirs. Freuchie batted first, with James Fretwell retiring hurt, but Dale Cowan and Robbie Wright rather took charge at that point, Dale skelping some huge sixes into the football park and retiring when he made his hundred. Robbie was close behind him at that point. He too got to his hundred a few balls later, and likewise retired. That left the way clear for the younger lads, who must have enjoyed batting without any pressure whatsoever.
Technorati Tags: Freuchie, Freuchie Cricket Club, Corstorphine, Kinross, SNCL
Teams for 22/23 May
Saturday 22nd, First XI at home Corstorphine – meet at 11.15
Scott Galloway, Dave Cowan, Scott Birrell, Robbie Birrell, Scott Gourlay, Dale Cowan, Steve Rowley, Jock Wallace, Mike Jackson, Liam Kelly, Stewart Gibson
Saturday 22nd, Seconds away to Marchmont, meet at 10.30
Blair Forrester, Alan Wallace, Robbie Wright, Shane Munro, Lee Duncan, Grant Horsburgh, Ross McMurdo, Rory Brown, Chris Hunt, Blair Lawrie, AN Other
Sunday 23rd, Third XI at home to Kinross, meet at 11.30
Dave Cowan, Scott Galloway, Greg Birrell, James Fretwell, Shane Munro, Robbie Wright, Rory Brown, Grant Horsburgh, Max Brown, Liam Kelly, Ross McMurdo
Technorati Tags: cricket, Freuchie, Freuchie Cricket Club, Corstorphine, Marchmont, Kinross
May 16 and 17
The Firsts were off to Dumfries on Saturday, destined to go down for the first time this season. Hard work in the field and good bowling from Gour didn’t compensate for a shortage of runs – another 20 for Freuchie in the first innings might have made all the difference, not to mention a couple of dropped catches. Complete scorecard is here. A transcript of Allan Baxter’s report follows; our thanks to "The Fife Herald" for allowing us to post it here.
At Nunholm on Saturday we saw another excellent game of cricket, which ended in victory for the Doonhamers by 4 wickets
Dumfries won the toss and Freuchie batted, the Birrell twins getting the visitors off to a solid start with 62 for the first wicket in 23.2 overs, when Scott Birrell was caught behind off Josh Geary for 24. Skipper Scott Galloway made a brief appearance but was caught on the square leg boundary for a single. Another indifferent shot was that by Scott Gourlay, who played a deplorable reverse sweep to be caught at slip for 14. Then Robbie Birrell was lbw to Geary for a patient 35 off 83 balls with 5 4s. Another wicket fell at 98 but Steve Rowley and Jock Wallace added 50 for the next wicket. Dale Cowan helped Rowley to add 40 for the 7th wicket. There was just time for fair-haired youngster Liam Kelly to make his first SNCL run before the innings closed at 214 for9. The score was boosted by a tally of 37 extras, the highest score on the card. For the homesters, J Goodin took 3 for 38 in six overs, J Geary 3 for 49 from 10 overs. Steadiest bowling of all was by Jim Patterson who bowled his off-breaks for 1 for 20 from his ten overs.
Russell Johnston was caught behind off Scott Birrell, who opened with his slow left arm opposite Dale Cowan, who saw his father spill Tom McBride at slip. Thereafter it was McBride who scored steadily while the other Dumfries batsmen helped him along. Skipper Scott Beveridge was lbw to Rowley for 6 but Geary went on to make 56 in a stand of 126 with McBride in 27.5 overs. By this time, McBride had moved on to 80 off 132 balls and the score was 175 for 3, but Dumfries lost a further 3 wickets, all to Gourlay, before they crossed the finish line in the second last over. Just before the end, McBride completed a determined and well-played hundred, scored off 151 balls with only 6 4s. Gourlay took 4 for 26 off his 10 overs but Freuchie are needing more runs from him and the other recognised batsmen.
Meanwhile, the Seconds were at home. Captain Kenny reports:
This Saturday saw the 2nds play Leith FAB at Muir Road. After Kenny WINNING his first toss of the season he decided to put the visitors into bat. Freuchie’s bowling started strongly with a couple of early wickets but Lovatte of Leith decided he wasn’t going to hang about, hitting a quick 50, and with help of his fellow players he had Freuchie thinking they were going to be chasing a high score. However, after drinks Freuchie didn’t give up and after a continuous fall of wickets, ended up bowling Leith all out for 198 with Lovatte unbeaten on 83. The pick of our bowlers was Blair Forrester with a 4-for and Ian Patterson (president) taking 2 for just 9 runs, while young Ross Mcmurdo was the pick of the fielders.
After tea, Freuchie’s innings saw an early wicket with Allan Wallace out for just 4. but Blair Forrester and Robbie Wright batted on, with Blair getting his 50 and Robbie Wright scoring 26. Stuart Gibson and Kenny Crichton carried the team win what was in the end a fairly easy win. Blair scored 87 to go with his 4 wickets. Freuchie have now made it 3 out of 3 for the 2s. Once again Kenny was very pleased with the great team effort.
(Secretary’s note: I was watching the late stages of the innings and it didn’t look all that comfortable to me!).
Injuries and call-offs meant that we didn’t settle on the Third’s team to go to Meigle until late on Sunday morning, but the unexpected availability of Stuart Gibson (early finished work) Chris Hunt (home from holiday), Gordon Mutch (dragged out by his cousin Robbie Wright) and the addition of Robbie Birrell saw us with a very respectable side. For Meigle, it turned out to be a bit of a one-man show, our former player, Arun Trivedi, getting the home side to 212 for 2. “Ouch,” you would have thought. Not so. Liam Kelly batted well for 39, while skipper Dale Cowan hit 115 off 75 balls – six sixes and six fours among them – until caught on the boundary. He had been well supported by Grant Horsburgh, now joined by Robbie Birrell, who hit the winning run.
After the disappointment of having to cancel the Third XI game last weekend (two XIs on a Sunday is nigh-impossible for us) it was great to see our participation in the Strathmore Union doing just what we hoped it would – opportunities for our young lads to get competitive games, supported by a few of the senior players – and especially good to see Mutchy back in the side.
Technorati Tags: Freuchie, Freuchie Cricket Club, The Fife Herald, Dumfries Cricket Club, SNCL, The Strathmore Union, Meigle
Another Good Weekend
Not three out of three this weekend, but two out of three, and these two pretty good ones.
The Firsts were at home to West Lothian on Saturday in what turned out to be an absorbing match. Batting first, things were looking pretty rocky for us at 41 for 4, decidedly rocky at 96 for 5 then desperate, you might have said, at 96 for 6. However, these last two wickets had seen a ship-steadying stand between Steve Rowley and Jock Wallace. Kash Khalil added another 12, but it was the Cowans who did the biz – Dale with 62 not out and father Dave with 32. Freuchie fielded well, Dave Cowan getting pro van Wyk out for 29 while overseas amateur Cookson was run out for 38. Crucially, we had Scott Gourlay bowling the last over, showing his experience and holding his nerve to restrict the visitors to three runs when they needed six for victory. As skipper Scott Galloway pointed out, this is just the sort of narrow margin that we were on the wrong side of several times last year. Let’s hope we stay on that side a few more times this season. For the full scorecard, go to http://www.cricketscotland.com/node/15407.
Meanwhile, the Twos were in the Falkirk area to face Westquarter and Redding. The word is that the wicket had been recently cut and had no markings, the outfield “not likely to offer many fours along the ground.” However, the wicket was marked, Freuchie lost the toss and were put in to bat. Scoring was difficult, but Blair Forrester and Robbie Wright did well, equal top scorers with 44 apiece. Our total was 132 for 7 after 50 overs. Tight bowling and good fielding saw Westquarter all out for 95, with Blair notching 4 wickets for just 21 runs in his ten over spell. Captain Kenny Crichton was delighted with this great team effort.
Sunday. Scottish Cup first round, at home to Soneywood Dyce. Lacking Scott Gourlay and Dave Cowan, our attack was maybe a bit down on what it might have been, but it gave a chance to let a couple of our younger bowlers feel the fire. It really has to be admitted that all of our bowlers got a bit of heat – eight of the eleven had a go, Dale Cowan the least expensive with 1 wicket at 5 an over, Graeme Christie just behind with 1 wicket for 5.3 an over, others nearer 7 an over. The result was a rather daunting 339 for 6 off 50 overs for the visitors. Graeme was an early casualty when we had only 9 on the board, but Robbie Birrell and skipper Scott Galloway were looking good until Galzo went to a good catch at deep square leg. Things were never quite the same after that, although we reached a very creditable 215 all out, which included a sterling 40 from Jock Wallace.
Technorati Tags: Freuchie, Freuchie Cricket Club, cricket, Cricket Scotland, West Lothian, Westquarter, Stoneywood Dyce
Three Out Of Three
I like to think that my personal outlook is ‘generally optimistic.’ However, when it comes to matches – of any kind – where I have any sort of interest in the outcome, my hopes for success for a given side or player seem often to be the kiss of death.
But this weekend? Wow! On Saturday, Galzo and his men beat SMRH by three wickets. Kenny and his crew beat Corstorphine and Galzo and his lads beat Breadalbane on Sunday. It would be hard to say which of these results gives most satisfaction, but I’ll have a go at that in a minute.
A ‘five for’ for Steve Rowley – 5 for 20, no less, plus 3 for 16 for Scottie Birrell led to SMRH all out for 114. Stevo was also top scorer with 33 not out, Galzo close behind him with 32. It would have been good to have lost fewer than 7 wickets, but there was a lot of criticism of the pitch. Max points for the lads, though, and Stevo has to be man of he match.
Meantime, at home, Corstorphine had compiled 233 for 6 off 50 overs, a pretty daunting target. However, Jock Wallace got 52, Lee Duncan a magnificent 108 not out (his first century) while Robbie Wright weighed in with 26. We finished with 234 for 6 of 40.2 overs. The only downside was that Alan Duncan – Lee’s dad – retired hurt. Speedy recovery, Duffer.
On Sunday a mixed team visited Breadalbane. We would have had more young lads in the side had there not been a U15 match scheduled for the day (which in the end did not take place). Our aim in seeking entry to the Strathmore Union is to get more competitive cricket for our younger players, and on this showing, it’s going to work out really well. Everyone had a good time (well, almost everyone) while the like of Liam Kelly and Chris Hunt got a chance to show what they are made of. “I didn’t realise how good these guys are!” said Galzo. May be too soon to say that this is a plan that will deliver what we are after, but so far, so good.
Tough to pick what has pleased me most, but my pick is the Third XI outcome – not just the result, but the involvement for our promising juniors.
RESOURCE
Cricket Scotland result service for the SMRH v Freuchie match.
Technorati Tags: Cricket Scotland, Freuchie, Freuchie Cricket Club, cricket, SMRH, Corstorphine, Breadalbane
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