Souters Boot Us (but a little more gently this time)

Apparently, in the '80s there were annual Selkirk-HX Sunday friendlies, one year at Arbo, the next at lovely Philiphaugh. But for most current Crossers first contact with Selkirk came only last year as the Border League merged into the East League and the Souters joined our 2nds in Division 5. Even before we played them it was pretty apparent that the inevitable randomness of League reconstruction had left them, along with most of the other Borders sides, at least a couple of divisions too low. We were duly bowled out for 47 and could take just one wicket as they knocked them off in under 11 overs, one of several massacres as Selkirk stormed to the divisional title and promotion.

Ken and Gerry's vain quest for the third batting point. Photo: BAF.

And so we thought (wistfully) that we'd seen the last of Philiphaugh for a while, and (gratefully) that we'd seen the last of the Souters for a while. But then in the depths of last winter the ESCA Championship was born and further League reconstruction conspired to send us up to Division 4 alongside our conquerors. Would we fare any better this time?

We certainly started better, winning the toss and putting them in. There was even an early wicket as Gerry (8-0-33-1) got an out of sorts Greg Fenton caught, chipping a full toss to Alex. 2013's points total already matched! But then skipper John Everitt, absent last year, started to settle in and things began to look ominous - 52 for 1 from just 12. Smudger (9-3-20-0) bowled tightly but it was Dan (9-2-28-2), getting good swing in the heavy atmosphere, who brought us into the game with two wickets, first inducing Everitt (36) to loft to Elmondt and then bowling Darren Fenton. With Skeldon run out by Elmondt and Selkirk reduced to 58 for 4 we began to believe.

But Rory Banks (65, mostly to leg) and Kenny Paterson (28, mostly to the off) turned the game, adding 80-odd for the 5th wicket with a combination of boundaries and strong running that exposed some rather lethargic fielding. JB (7-2-30-3), bowling quite well after a loose start, accounted for both but the lower order chipped in well enough to take Selkirk to a very competitive total of 194 all out.

What followed sadly suggested that our batting hasn't improved much. At one stage we were 20-odd for 4. Paterson (9-3-19-2) in particular bowled well, but he was ably supported by Reid (8-2-23-3) and Greg Fenton (9-1-15-1). JB, at 3, scratched around at first but eventually found some fluency until he was 9th out for 74 and with stalwart help from a typically dogged, sensible and loud-calling Coastal saw us to 2 batting points. We couldn't quite make the third. 129 all out.

Thanks to Selkirk for their hospitality and the pleasure of playing at one of the nicest grounds in the east against sporting opposition with a good sense of humour (although someone needs to teach Darren a few new lines). Under the ESCA points system we were seven times better than last year - very flattering, I'd say.