Fixture Congestion Eased

At the behest of Lord Admin, we have been busily engaging in a purge of fixture commitments by exiting tournaments in some haste.

Apologies for lack of details, I don't have any scorecards to hand.

On Sunday we travelled to Glasgow Accies (Gaccies v Haccies?) and were beaten with a couple of overs to spare. We made 144 all out which just wasn't enough in the end, top scorer most likely Gary T. Highlights included a comedy leave to a steepler by McGill on the boundary (as he didn't touch it, it doesn't count as a drop) and the best over of Dougie's career as he unleashed some unfeasible turn. Super Ted let us down badly after recent cup heroics collecting a Golden amidst a hat-trick and trashing his 1st XI average. Later Broonster incurred some jewel damage in a plucky last wicket stand and has been sitting down very carefully ever since.

Quote of the day by Broonster; "Stood on the scales this morning and I've lost 14lbs in two months. Nearly lost 2 stones in a day in Glasgow".

Man of the match - Their 5-for debutant.

Just found this - Glasgow Accies v Holy Cross
Note - This scorecard says Ted & Ziggy both made 1, from 1 ball, and were bowled. I'll need that explained to me.

Note the car headlights in the car park

On Tuesday we had the pleasure of playing on the Arty at Roseburn against Mufs in another semi final. It was damp, grey and gloomy at the start and got damper, greyer and gloomier. Ach I'll just come out and say it, Bimbo dropped the cup!!! Asif Mohammed who went on to blast 64 in no time was on about 2 when he toed one high towards long on, but Bimbo's bouncy mitts gave the Mufs man a second chance.

Gary T chips one into the gap

The next over Trewartha was blasted for two 6's and a 4 and wasn't the only one to suffer. So Dougie chucked the ball to Bimbo and asked him to make amends, but said ball was then brutally despatched straight back over his head and probably over the Water of Leith as well. It was never found. A local battleaxe walking her great great great grandchild took that opportunity to scold our humble skipper along the lines of Health & Safety (even although the ball cleared the path, the curmudgeon and her little miracle by about 3,000 feet).

Once Mohammed departed, the Cross bowlers regained control and were able to restrict the hosts to only 139. Owais (7), Me (7) & McO (2) got us off to a rubbish start. Gary T salvaged a decent 30 in the middle somewhere, but the rest of us were unable to deal with the scoreboard pressure, the invisible ball and the dancing feet of their opening bowler (you had to be there). The innings finished with Sandy & Andy R needing just eight 6's from the last 8 balls and they let us down very badly as the innings concluded at 93-10 from 19 overs.

Man of the Match - Bobby Bainbridge.

Russell Regime Diktat # 0001

After years of lackadaisical 1st XI captaincy, Crossers have become used to a relaxed and enjoyable environment in which to enjoy their cricket. However, the team are now 'Under New Management'!!!

This is the first of a new series of commandments coming from the new, stricter, more driven captaincy team. Of course, I was an architect of the Old Way, but after being pinned against the wall at nets today by Mr Russell, I'm now a fully loyal member of the New Way.

With spittle firing angrily from his snarling gob I was told in no uncertain terms to send one of my "ranty things on the website" to inform the membership of the importance of attending nets. While all teams could be better represented, the 1st XI especially were under-represented.

Stealing a trick from top level sport, any player now claiming to be injured, shall now have to attend nets where a specialist physiotherapy unit shall examine the 'alleged' injury/ies. This will consist of being stood betwixt Coco & Mr Russell and only those demonstrably less fit than Them shall be given leave, albeit with a detailed exercise programme (20 tabs and a knee support).

Also, henceforth, all Crossers shall have to submit a Request Form to Mr Russell before booking any holidays. This should alleviate the constant 'off the island' excuses we seem to suffer despite nets and match dates being available weeks or months in advance.

Is this angry enough Dougie???

PS: I'm very, very aware of the hypocritical strain infecting this piece!!!!!

Quiz Goes OLD SKOOL

A Catholic Education

Yo Homies!!!

Accusations of dumbing down accepted!!!

This years HX Quiz goes straight back to the Old Skool!!!

After last years HNC level onslaught from a Quizmasta wot overjudged his Peeps, this year subjects will dip down into the High School syllabus including:

(translations in brackets for U30's)

Quizmasta K

Maths (counting)

English (txts & twitter)

Geography (places)

Science (totally crazy s***)

Music (choons)

Spelling (spelling)

Be there or don't be square!!! Friday 9th December for a 7pm start. Canny wait.

Come back CA ... All is forgiven...

Parks Trophy QF.

Holy Cross 134-4
S. Pickering 45 (44), C. Ellis 38* (30).

Edinburgh South 123-9
S. Yamjaman 53 (42), A. Pirani 25 (18)
Worsnop 4/0/20/1
Bonfield 4/0/24/1
D. Russell 4/0/20/3
R. Bainbridge 4/0/34/0
P. Lynch 4/0/21/1

"I can see why we've not won this for years"
(R. Bainbridge, 8.37pm, Wednesday June 29th 2011, home changing room (South West corner), Arboretum Sports Ground, Edinburgh).

Here Bimbo succinctly sums up a thoroughly mediocre performance by a (on paper) strong HX 1st team. Probably 20 runs light with the bat, even on a slightly dead track - not enough boundaries smacked. Then a mixture of good batting by the classy Pirani and the hard hitting Yamjaman (with a super-charged piece of willow) and some truly dire f***ing awful HX fielding meant that at 76-3 off 12, ESouth looked like favourites. Dougie bowled the key spell and we took enough wickets (Nozzer taking an important boundary catch to dismiss Pirani) to slow their momentum....just enough. Anyway we won and are through to the semi. But let's not let our STANDARDS slip so far again ... even if CA is absent.

Stats Package

The League averages for the 2010 season have been manipulated so that he appears at the top completed by Colin McGill.

If you haven't received a copy but wish to, either email me or leave a comment here.