Remember to bring your Trophies (GT, no need to bring the contents of your trophy cabinet this year...). Fortunately this famous trophy will be there...but who will be the lucky person who has to lug it home...
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Friday, 30 August 2013
Holy Cross Awards Night - Bring Your Trophies
Tomorrow sees the 2013 HX Awards Night -at Arbo.
Remember to bring your Trophies (GT, no need to bring the contents of your trophy cabinet this year...). Fortunately this famous trophy will be there...but who will be the lucky person who has to lug it home...
Remember to bring your Trophies (GT, no need to bring the contents of your trophy cabinet this year...). Fortunately this famous trophy will be there...but who will be the lucky person who has to lug it home...
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Saucy Stuff
Crosser gets caught up in utterly stupid #Edinburgh 'racist' salt & sauce chip shop debate. http://t.co/zXJlIlh643 pic.twitter.com/EqFkLfSwHY
— Holy Cross Cricket (@HXCricket) August 26, 2013
Sunday, 25 August 2013
St Boswells 1's v Holy Cross 1's
A very amiable game played largely in drizzle which had more than a hint of 'end of season' about it, resulting in a win for HX, thereby cementing our third position in Division 1.
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| Are you watching this Gary T? |
Back in the clubhouse, the post match activities of wif-waf provided further entertainment as Bonnie Prince Charlie, not content with the earlier smoting of a member of the fairer sex for 6 to bring up his Fifty, decided to teach a one-legged gentleman a lesson or two about ping pong on a converted pool table.
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| The Young Pretender is a blur as he unleashes yet another Ace |
Finally, the remaining seven Crossers took to the The Green at St Boswells once more to partake in a round of Boundary Golf, Bimbo declaring it to be "the best course in the league" as we set off, somewhat to the bemusement of the opposition skipper, Mr 'Boom Boom' Broom.
The Championship Winning 3rd XI: ESCA Div 9 Champions 2013
The Championship winning 3rd XI post-match at #FortressArbo. #proudveryproud pic.twitter.com/PUVMj7Niu9
— Holy Cross Cricket (@HXCricket) August 24, 2013
Saturday, 24 August 2013
Holy Cross Festival - 7th September
Crossers,
Preparations for the post-season Holy Cross festival are well advanced. This is intended as a family-friendly sports day with plenty of fun events, but also as a more archetypal Holy Cross social gathering as the sun approaches the horizon. The centrepiece is a double-wicket competition but we also have numerous other sports and games for everyone (see here ) plus kids' events, fabulous scenery with real sheep and trees, a barbeque and campfire, even plenty of indoor games just in case (now including ping pong, as I know Charlie and Gary like playing with each other).
It's totally free to Crossers and their nippers. All you have to do is haul your idle bodies and a bagful of tinnies half an hour out of town. Have a look at what you'll be getting.
As you can see this is an event you can't afford to miss. So get yourselves organised, pair up for the double-wicket competition, hire a bus and let me know you're all coming. If we have a big turn-out this will be truly spectacular, so come on down from 12.30 on September 7th and get all your fellow Crossers up for it too.
Shifty
Preparations for the post-season Holy Cross festival are well advanced. This is intended as a family-friendly sports day with plenty of fun events, but also as a more archetypal Holy Cross social gathering as the sun approaches the horizon. The centrepiece is a double-wicket competition but we also have numerous other sports and games for everyone (see here ) plus kids' events, fabulous scenery with real sheep and trees, a barbeque and campfire, even plenty of indoor games just in case (now including ping pong, as I know Charlie and Gary like playing with each other).
It's totally free to Crossers and their nippers. All you have to do is haul your idle bodies and a bagful of tinnies half an hour out of town. Have a look at what you'll be getting.
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| The ground staff getting to work - eye candy for the Club Captain |
 | ||||
| The wicket has landed - MUFS would kill for a track like this
|
As you can see this is an event you can't afford to miss. So get yourselves organised, pair up for the double-wicket competition, hire a bus and let me know you're all coming. If we have a big turn-out this will be truly spectacular, so come on down from 12.30 on September 7th and get all your fellow Crossers up for it too.
Shifty
Friday, 23 August 2013
Venue Switch
BREAKING: Venue change sees HX 3s now entertain @WatsonianCC 4s at #FortressArbo tomorrow. #onceinalifetime
— Holy Cross Cricket (@HXCricket) August 23, 2013
After their previous performance at Arbo, one hopes that they can score more than 70 this time...
Thursday, 22 August 2013
League Weekend 18 and Awards Night
Saturday's fixtures -
Awards Night will be held in the Green Room at Arbo on Saturday 31st from 7.30. If you haven't received a ballot paper, please contact Jon.
- 1sts vs St Boswells, away.
- 2nds vs Musselburgh 2nds, at Arbo - OFF, Musselburgh concede.
- 3rds vs Watsonians 4ths, home at Campbell Park - NOW SWITCHED TO ARBO.
Awards Night will be held in the Green Room at Arbo on Saturday 31st from 7.30. If you haven't received a ballot paper, please contact Jon.
2nds Round Up - Our Cup Run is Over. Concentrating on the League.
On Sunday, a good mix of 2s and 3s travelled down to the Borders to take on Hawick & Wilton in the semi-final of the Presidents Plate. Unfortunately, the side wasn't a particularly good mix of bowlers and batsmen and our shortage in the bowling department showed as H&W racked up 171 all out in their 30 overs with suicidal run outs (including, if I remember right, one between twins - aren't they supposed to be telepathic?) accounting for almost half the wickets.
We started slowly against a good attack (how many giant left-armers can one club have?) and were fortunate that Hawick's catching was malfunctioning almost as badly as their calling. It was only really when BAF (45) started to go after the change bowling that we felt we had any kind of a sniff and we still arrived at the final over needing around 30. Even with an occasional bowler on for a lone over, a miracle to eclipse even Doogs' efforts of the day before was required. Helped out by a couple of head high no balls, Cruiky (28 no) spanked plenty, but not quite enough, and we fell 9 short.
Hawick are a good bunch and the game was played in a fine spirit, occasionally enlivened by some very vocal sledging from the kids mucking around in the nets. If all games in this competition were like this the Presidents Plate would be good fun, but the sad truth is that there are far too many walkovers (this was only the second game we'd actually played this year). Rethink needed.
Meanwhile two further Saturday wins have left the 2nds guaranteed third place in Division 5 and still with an outside chance of coming second - either would be easily our best finish for several years. We started with an 87 run win at Livingston, set up by a ton from JB and finished off by 4 wickets from Abdul. Then came a five wicket win against Edinburgh South on a tricky strip at Inch Park. South were all out for 86 with Amjid taking three scalps and we ground out the win in the 36th over (with Gus McLean bowling his usual excellent spell: 9-5-6-3) largely thanks to a gritty stand between JB and Dan. In both games Dom and Irfan combined to remove the opposition's most important batsman.
One point worth noting (again) is the huge improvement in our fielding this year. We haven't dropped many (although JB will definitely be practising this winter), Dom seems to have the makings of a second Ziggy and some of the catches have bordered on the spectacular, most recently Abdul (running round the fine leg boundary) and Gerry (slip) at Livingston, and Quinny (diving forward in the covers) against South.
We started slowly against a good attack (how many giant left-armers can one club have?) and were fortunate that Hawick's catching was malfunctioning almost as badly as their calling. It was only really when BAF (45) started to go after the change bowling that we felt we had any kind of a sniff and we still arrived at the final over needing around 30. Even with an occasional bowler on for a lone over, a miracle to eclipse even Doogs' efforts of the day before was required. Helped out by a couple of head high no balls, Cruiky (28 no) spanked plenty, but not quite enough, and we fell 9 short.
Hawick are a good bunch and the game was played in a fine spirit, occasionally enlivened by some very vocal sledging from the kids mucking around in the nets. If all games in this competition were like this the Presidents Plate would be good fun, but the sad truth is that there are far too many walkovers (this was only the second game we'd actually played this year). Rethink needed.
Meanwhile two further Saturday wins have left the 2nds guaranteed third place in Division 5 and still with an outside chance of coming second - either would be easily our best finish for several years. We started with an 87 run win at Livingston, set up by a ton from JB and finished off by 4 wickets from Abdul. Then came a five wicket win against Edinburgh South on a tricky strip at Inch Park. South were all out for 86 with Amjid taking three scalps and we ground out the win in the 36th over (with Gus McLean bowling his usual excellent spell: 9-5-6-3) largely thanks to a gritty stand between JB and Dan. In both games Dom and Irfan combined to remove the opposition's most important batsman.
One point worth noting (again) is the huge improvement in our fielding this year. We haven't dropped many (although JB will definitely be practising this winter), Dom seems to have the makings of a second Ziggy and some of the catches have bordered on the spectacular, most recently Abdul (running round the fine leg boundary) and Gerry (slip) at Livingston, and Quinny (diving forward in the covers) against South.
Matthew Engel on Club Cricket
Ziggy came across this article on club cricket in England and thought it might find an appreciative audience among Crossers. Good stuff.
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Wins for 2s & 3s...
@Mufs on top here now- hX need 15 off the last over. #miraclerequired
— Holy Cross Cricket (@HXCricket) August 17, 2013
7 needed off 2 after a big 6 from @DoogsR
— Holy Cross Cricket (@HXCricket) August 17, 2013
Another 6 scores tied- I left
— Holy Cross Cricket (@HXCricket) August 17, 2013
Run out!! Match tied!!! #drama @MDAFS
— Holy Cross Cricket (@HXCricket) August 17, 2013
Great stuff from Dougie
Scorecard HERE
Friday, 16 August 2013
New Thirds Recruit
Continuing my recruitment drive for @HXCricket, he is available for the fuds this weekend pic.twitter.com/z3ulM31amp
— Alex Candlish (@alcando87) August 14, 2013
Thursday, 15 August 2013
League Weekend 17
Saturday's fixtures -
- 1sts vs Murrayfield-DAFS at Arbo.
- 2nds vs Edinburgh South 2nds, away at Inch Park.
- 3rds vs Glenrothes 4ths, home at Campbell Park.
- Activcity Presidents Plate semi-final vs Hawick & Wilton, away, 2pm start.
Wednesday, 14 August 2013
Social Whirl
Short notice news of two Cross social events this week -
- Tonight, Blowers and Baxter at the Pleasance - meet in the courtyard from 4pm, tickets on the door. Show starts at 5.30.
- Thursday, Nipun's drinks at the Bailie, St Stephens Street from 6pm.
Monday, 12 August 2013
Quote of the Week
@HXCricket had a great season at the cross-some great characters!If Co-Cos fag hasn't gone out, then it's not raining hard enough to go off!
— Lloyd Burgess (@lloydburgess82) August 11, 2013
Sunday, 11 August 2013
BAF to the Future
BAF has started to post excerpts from his cricket scrapbook @beefrazor.
This one features a few future Crossers:
This one features a few future Crossers:
3 wins..
Good Saturday for HX, with a tight win for the 1sts versus high-flying Carlton 2's.
Scorecard here: http://www.cricketstats.org.uk/esca/2013/1/0701.html
A few batsmen (Owais, cje, Julius and Dougie) played pretty well but no one played the substantial innings we needed...and have lacked most of this season.
200 was under-par with the bat (given a decent pitch and a rapid outfield) but a good steady bowling performance (Julius 10 overs for 26 the pick) kept Carlton behind the rate.
The fortunate dismissal of Shah (horrid full bunger) was vital after Carlton were starting to go well at 68-2. A good fifty by their skipper and some good batting by their youngsters gave them a chance but Si Mc bowled a good spell at the end-taking wickets just as they gained momentum.
2nds beat Livi 2's by about 100 runs - JB scoring a ton.
3's had a walkover versus Largo 4's, so the younger element went for a 15 hour festival session...
More details to follow....
Scorecard here: http://www.cricketstats.org.uk/esca/2013/1/0701.html
A few batsmen (Owais, cje, Julius and Dougie) played pretty well but no one played the substantial innings we needed...and have lacked most of this season.
200 was under-par with the bat (given a decent pitch and a rapid outfield) but a good steady bowling performance (Julius 10 overs for 26 the pick) kept Carlton behind the rate.
The fortunate dismissal of Shah (horrid full bunger) was vital after Carlton were starting to go well at 68-2. A good fifty by their skipper and some good batting by their youngsters gave them a chance but Si Mc bowled a good spell at the end-taking wickets just as they gained momentum.
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| Shannon takes the final wicket |
2nds beat Livi 2's by about 100 runs - JB scoring a ton.
@HXCricket 2s win by appx 100 runs. Abdul Ghafoor 4 wickets, @AirFixTheMovie with 2 fine slip catches.
— Brian Adam Fraser (@beefrazor) August 10, 2013
3's had a walkover versus Largo 4's, so the younger element went for a 15 hour festival session...
More details to follow....
Friday, 9 August 2013
Muir like it
After the horrors of last week's crushing defeat at Selkirk, the 2nds got back on track with a comfortable win over a depleted Boroughmuir at Arbo.
Smudge won the toss and put Muir in on an initially chilly, windy afternoon. Just over 30 overs later they were all out for 59 with the wickets shared by Smudger, Amjid, Gerry and Abdul. Dom deserved to join them but had to be content with a good catch to add to his midweek fielding hat-trick. In all we held four out of five chances and engineered a run-out - a good performance in the field.
With some dark clouds hovering, we went straight back out, too soon for one of our usual opening pair who was mid-prayer at the time. Faisal bowled an excellent opening spell, removing Brian with a beauty with the score on nought. Irfan also fell along the way, but JB, who was opening for the first time in years, and Praveen saw us home off the first ball of the thirteenth over, helped along by five leg-byes off an unused helmet.
Another early finish, this time an eight wicket victory rather than a nine wicket defeat. I know which result I preferred, but I also know which one I'll remember longer.
Smudge won the toss and put Muir in on an initially chilly, windy afternoon. Just over 30 overs later they were all out for 59 with the wickets shared by Smudger, Amjid, Gerry and Abdul. Dom deserved to join them but had to be content with a good catch to add to his midweek fielding hat-trick. In all we held four out of five chances and engineered a run-out - a good performance in the field.
With some dark clouds hovering, we went straight back out, too soon for one of our usual opening pair who was mid-prayer at the time. Faisal bowled an excellent opening spell, removing Brian with a beauty with the score on nought. Irfan also fell along the way, but JB, who was opening for the first time in years, and Praveen saw us home off the first ball of the thirteenth over, helped along by five leg-byes off an unused helmet.
Another early finish, this time an eight wicket victory rather than a nine wicket defeat. I know which result I preferred, but I also know which one I'll remember longer.
Thursday, 8 August 2013
League Weekend 16
Saturday's fixtures -
- 1st vs Carlton 2nds at Arbo.
- 2nds vs Livingston 2nds, away.
- 3rds vs Largo 4ths, at St Andrews - conceded by Largo.
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
Presidents Plate Semi
Our Activcity Presidents Plate semi- final against Hawick & Wilton will be played at Hawick on Sunday 18th August, starting at 2pm.
Tuesday, 6 August 2013
Fact of the Week
HX fact of the week: @alcando87 has now played league matches in 2013 against all FOUR @edinsouthcc sides! #clubman
— Holy Cross Cricket (@HXCricket) August 4, 2013
Sunday, 4 August 2013
Ten Years On - The Small Clubs Cup
Yesterday was the tenth anniversary of one of the highlights of the club's history: winning the Small Clubs Cup.
Our involvement with this national knockout competition, played on Sundays with 40 overs a side, was happy but brief, starting in 2002 when the rules were changed to allow clubs with more than two Saturday teams to enter and ending in 2004 as the 1sts were promoted as Champions to ESCA Division 1.
In 2003 we were helped greatly by being drawn at home throughout the early stages of the cup and recorded wins against Montrose by 198 runs (Keith Fraser 106*, Ian Astley 3 for 1, Colin McGill 3 for 14); Strathclyde by 108 runs (Dougie Russell 46, Rod Mair 45, Ian Astley 3 for 24); Glasgow Victoria by 49 runs (Dougie Russell 84, Shannon Bonfield 3 for 17, Ian Astley 3 for 32); and Inverurie by 8 wickets (Joe Palmer 4 for 41, Shannon Bonfield 58*).
David Potter has kindly given us permission to reproduce his report of the final which was played at Uddingston's ground at Bothwell Castle Policies -
On an overcast day Dollar and Holy Cross Academicals met in the nineteenth final of the Small Clubs Cup which is sponsored by Readers Cricket Balls. This was the first final for either side and they had made it through to the last day from an original entry of 32 teams.
Keith Fraser won the toss for Holy Cross and decided to ask Dollar to bat first on a beautiful batting strip. His decision was fully justified as the opening attack of Bonfield and Palmer made life difficult for the batsmen and it was no surprise when Robertson edged a catch off Bonfield who looked the livelier of the two bowlers to keeper Dannreuther with the score on 6. Buick and Buchanan-Smith steadied things for Dollar and took the score on to 36 before Bonfield struck again to clean bowl Buick for 26 and he followed up quickly to have Arnold adjudged lbw without scoring.
Bonfield continued to create havoc and his next victim was Anderson for a duck and Dollar found themselves in deep trouble at 42 for 4. Buchanan-Smith continued to hold firm, however he was lucky to survive on 21 when Fraser dropped him running backwards at extra cover. He did not make the most of his good fortune as Ian Astley who had now replaced Bonfield at the pavilion end bowled him a few overs later much to the relief of his skipper.
Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as Fraser switched his bowlers around and only Jack Allen showed any resistance as he hit a patient 31 to be the last wicket out on 100. Bonfield finished with 4 for 16 and Astley had 4 for 26.
After the interval it was imperative that Dollar got early wickets otherwise they were staring defeat in the face. They did get a wicket with the score on 19 when Russell was given out lbw, but this only brought man of the match Bonfield to the crease. Together with the captain they put on an unbeaten partnership of 93 to see the Edinburgh side home to victory by 9 wickets with 24 overs to spare. Both batsmen played some delightful strokes to all parts of the ground and in the end Holy Cross to the great delight of their supporters ran out deserved winners on the day.
Some other random memories of the great day - a tea of such variety and magnificence that some of us still talk about it; Morrish, Buchanan and Blacklock's victory parade down Princes Street with the cup held out of their car's sun roof; champagne in the Green Room on our return.
Our involvement with this national knockout competition, played on Sundays with 40 overs a side, was happy but brief, starting in 2002 when the rules were changed to allow clubs with more than two Saturday teams to enter and ending in 2004 as the 1sts were promoted as Champions to ESCA Division 1.
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| Captain Keith kisses the cup. |
In 2003 we were helped greatly by being drawn at home throughout the early stages of the cup and recorded wins against Montrose by 198 runs (Keith Fraser 106*, Ian Astley 3 for 1, Colin McGill 3 for 14); Strathclyde by 108 runs (Dougie Russell 46, Rod Mair 45, Ian Astley 3 for 24); Glasgow Victoria by 49 runs (Dougie Russell 84, Shannon Bonfield 3 for 17, Ian Astley 3 for 32); and Inverurie by 8 wickets (Joe Palmer 4 for 41, Shannon Bonfield 58*).
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| Dougie Russell, Rod Mair, Shannon Bonfield, Joe Palmer, Colin McGill, Shammo Biswas. Euan Smith, Anzelm Cydzik, Keith Fraser, Ian Astley, Jonathan Bates, Roland Dannreuther. |
David Potter has kindly given us permission to reproduce his report of the final which was played at Uddingston's ground at Bothwell Castle Policies -
On an overcast day Dollar and Holy Cross Academicals met in the nineteenth final of the Small Clubs Cup which is sponsored by Readers Cricket Balls. This was the first final for either side and they had made it through to the last day from an original entry of 32 teams.
Keith Fraser won the toss for Holy Cross and decided to ask Dollar to bat first on a beautiful batting strip. His decision was fully justified as the opening attack of Bonfield and Palmer made life difficult for the batsmen and it was no surprise when Robertson edged a catch off Bonfield who looked the livelier of the two bowlers to keeper Dannreuther with the score on 6. Buick and Buchanan-Smith steadied things for Dollar and took the score on to 36 before Bonfield struck again to clean bowl Buick for 26 and he followed up quickly to have Arnold adjudged lbw without scoring.
Bonfield continued to create havoc and his next victim was Anderson for a duck and Dollar found themselves in deep trouble at 42 for 4. Buchanan-Smith continued to hold firm, however he was lucky to survive on 21 when Fraser dropped him running backwards at extra cover. He did not make the most of his good fortune as Ian Astley who had now replaced Bonfield at the pavilion end bowled him a few overs later much to the relief of his skipper.
 |
| Ian Astley bowls Buchanan-Smith |
Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as Fraser switched his bowlers around and only Jack Allen showed any resistance as he hit a patient 31 to be the last wicket out on 100. Bonfield finished with 4 for 16 and Astley had 4 for 26.
After the interval it was imperative that Dollar got early wickets otherwise they were staring defeat in the face. They did get a wicket with the score on 19 when Russell was given out lbw, but this only brought man of the match Bonfield to the crease. Together with the captain they put on an unbeaten partnership of 93 to see the Edinburgh side home to victory by 9 wickets with 24 overs to spare. Both batsmen played some delightful strokes to all parts of the ground and in the end Holy Cross to the great delight of their supporters ran out deserved winners on the day.
Some other random memories of the great day - a tea of such variety and magnificence that some of us still talk about it; Morrish, Buchanan and Blacklock's victory parade down Princes Street with the cup held out of their car's sun roof; champagne in the Green Room on our return.
 |
| Man of the Match and victorious Captain |
Friday, 2 August 2013
League Weekend 15
Saturday's fixtures -
- 1sts vs Edinburgh South, away.
- 2nds vs Boroughmuir 2nds at Arbo.
- 3rds vs Morton 3rds at the Meadows.
Souters Boot Us - Second Philiphaugh Massacre as Cross Crash in HX-Rated Performance
Lovely, lovely day. Lovely, lovely drive down into the Borders, past the turn to Shiftyshire. Lovely, lovely Johnners on the tape deck (Sample joke: "Have you heard about the flasher who reconsidered his retirement? He decided to stick it out another year."). Lovely, lovely ground. Horrible, horrible performance.
We lost the toss and batted. All out in 23 overs for 47 of which JB scored 31. Greg Fenton, the division's leading wicket-taker, was the chief destroyer bowling with some pace and plenty of intelligent variation to record the splendid figures of 9-3-22-7. The Souters then knocked off the runs in under 11 overs for the loss of Skeldon, strangled down the legside, with Fenton again leading the way with 28 not out. The first Philiphaugh massacre was in 1645. By 16.45 we were finished, showered, we'd had our tea and a pint and were getting in our cars. Horrible.
Admittedly, Selkirk are a fine side who will surely and deservedly record a second consecutive divisional championship this season. Admittedly, only one visiting team has passed 70 at Philiphaugh this season. But ours was the lowest score of the year and recorded against a team weakened by stag weekends and festivals. Horrible.
We lost the toss and batted. All out in 23 overs for 47 of which JB scored 31. Greg Fenton, the division's leading wicket-taker, was the chief destroyer bowling with some pace and plenty of intelligent variation to record the splendid figures of 9-3-22-7. The Souters then knocked off the runs in under 11 overs for the loss of Skeldon, strangled down the legside, with Fenton again leading the way with 28 not out. The first Philiphaugh massacre was in 1645. By 16.45 we were finished, showered, we'd had our tea and a pint and were getting in our cars. Horrible.
Admittedly, Selkirk are a fine side who will surely and deservedly record a second consecutive divisional championship this season. Admittedly, only one visiting team has passed 70 at Philiphaugh this season. But ours was the lowest score of the year and recorded against a team weakened by stag weekends and festivals. Horrible.
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