Mixed fortunes for the Cross.

Given that it was a sunny afternoon I decided to wander down and see how the Cross were getting on. I was impressed by the young athletes flinging themselves around the park...but I soon moved on from The Grange and arrived at Arbo.

There, a familiar looking 2nd XI were in confident mood having bowled out Glenrothes 3rds for 103. Despite arriving late (forcing Michael to sub field) Smudger picked up 5 wickets.

I nipped over to Inverleith to catch the final 7 balls of the match.. The firsts had recovered from 35/6 thanks to a decent partnership between Owais and Robin but 84 was never likely to test SMRH 2's (especially on a true artificial pitch..)-they surpassed HX's total in just under 20 overs. Disappointing after last week's good start to the season.

Back to Arbo. Coastal Ken had been dismissed (a lengthy duck) but Ziggy (47no) and JB (35no) knocked off the runs with relative ease (even if Jon did receive a couple of let-offs). Confidence building win for the twos.

Post match drinks in the Arbo sun made me think I'd stepped through a wormhole...same people*, same view... same chat..
*in fairness there were a few new faces, which is encouraging to see.

But where is McGILL?????

Week 1 Round-up and the Week Ahead

Well, 2016 was tough, but we're back. Admittedly with two Saturday sides rather than three, and in lower divisions than last year, but also with plenty of new players and some reason to hope that better times are ahead.

Raja's 1sts started their League season last Saturday with a commanding win over Drummond-Trinity at Arbo in Division 2. The skipper rather stole the show with a ton and three wickets, but he only just edged Ben Reiss, who took six wickets, for Man of the Match.

Nipun's 2nds were in the game for a long time at Livingston in Division 6 until a big sixth wicket stand for our hosts closed the game out.

On Tuesday night in the Parks Trophy first round Raja and Bilal set up a big total which proved a few too many for Isobar. We face Currie & Balerno in the next round, again at Arbo.

In other news, otherwise known as a potential availability crisis, Candlo got engaged and Broon finally got elected.

And so on to this week's fixtures -

• Saturday: 1sts vs SMRH 2nds, (not very far) Away.
• Saturday: 2nds vs Glenrothes 3rds at Arbo.
• Tuesday evening - friendly vs Tom Young's XI/XIV at Arbo. Spots still available, Contact JB.

A New Dinasty...

Mahmood Din has taken over the role of club President.
Recruitment will be the club's overriding priority as HX aim to 
recover from a disastrous 2016. 

League Weekend 8 and the Week Ahead

Paul has written up the 3rds' game (see below), but the highlight of the weekend, results-wise, was

the 2nds' 7 wicket win at Penicuik. Gerry was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 11 off his 8 overs, before an undefeated 98-run 4th wicket partnership between skipper Nipun (30 no) and Steve Ferreira (75 no - 4 6s and 9 4s) saw us home.

Here are Saturday's fixtures, all still on as things stand -

• 1sts vs Edinburgh 1sts at Campbell Park.
• 2nds vs Edinburgh South 2nds at Arbo.
• 3rds vs Marchmont 3rds, home on the Inverleith Park artificial.

Midweek -

• Tuesday, friendly vs Leith at Arbo.
• Wednesday, Active Edinburgh Trophy vs Murrayfield DAFS at Roseburn Park.

PVB on the Threes

Paul writes -

When your side is all out for 34, you might not expect a report. Well, there is much to be happy with, not least the wonderful camaraderie and sportsmanship from both HX 3rds' nine and Edinburgh 3rds' eleven, both of whom appreciated the skills of the opposition. Well done Dave and Aasim for your excellent leadership in setting the right tone - and well done every player for playing the game in the right spirit.

Meadows 3 reminded me of Lords with the odd low bounce which Keith (2-28) found to great effect. Matt (3-30) at the other end was excellent too, diving for a c&b. The first change was a revelation - Matt Bywater (3-14) took the catch of the season, c&b off a full-blooded drive and bowled really impressively. Or was it the catch of the season? Keith, in preventing a third 6 off Paul's lobs, stuck out his right hand at long on and took another brilliant catch.

Meanwhile if there were fines for poor play my wallet would be rather bare, having dropped one on the boundary and been carted by the left-hander who ruined my theory of having the short boundary on the off (for the right-hander). My only consolation was that Joe Root had a (marginally) higher economy rate in the second innings at Lords (18 per over) than I did. Andy came on and grabbed a wicket first ball.

Edinburgh bowled really well. Several of us came and went but the ball was cutting about a lot off Irshad (4-2) who bowled all four victims, including a shooter that got Matt. Andy hit two powerful pulls for four (top score 9!), then Keith played a cover drive for four which brought a smile to his face, reminding us how he scored a bucketload of runs in the 1980s.

Would Michael retain his "not out" record? No - first ball. All out within 11 overs.

League Weekend 7 and the Week Ahead

Saturday saw the 2nds record their first win of the season in a feast of jug avoidance as Steve Ferreira and Jon Bates took 4-fors before Robin Worsnop fell one short of his first ever fifty. The 3rds lost very narrowly with Keith Geddes joining the 4-for club.

Sadly, tonight's friendly has been cancelled, but the last nets of the season are on Wednesday. Here are Saturday's League fixtures -

• 1sts vs Penicuik at Arbo.
• 2nds vs Penicuik 2nds, away.
• 3rds vs Edinburgh 3rds, away on Meadows 3.

Midweek -

• Wednesday 15th, Active Edinburgh Trophy vs Murrayfield DAFS, away.
• Thursday 16th, friendly vs Woodcutters at Arbo.

Good luck, everyone.

League Weekend 6 and the Week Ahead

Last weekend was another disappointing one for the club, but there are encouraging signs in

continuing strong recruitment. Here are Saturday's fixtures -

• 1sts vs Carlton 2nds at Arbo.
• 2nds vs Freuchie 2nds, away.
• 3rds vs Gala-Hawick 2nds, at home on the Inverleith Park artificial.

Next week see the first of our midweek friendlies. Please contact Alex Candlish if you'd like to play.

• Tuesday evening - Murrayfield-DAFS at Arbo.

Good luck, everyone.