RHC LIONS

NEWS

1st XI Flatter to Deceive at Scroggie Park

A strange one gents, and ones we need to think about long and hard before our next game. Won the toss and had a field, a decent shout no one doubted, particularly given our usual attack. We took to the field missing Coach and skip Kev, Craigie Adams, and baby dropping Big Tim. Up stepped Disco Dave Lawrie, Giggsy (again – some boy!) and Sully was back in.

Gordie and Paddy opened up bowling some good areas, and particularly a good length getting both the Falkland openers looking to drive. However, early wides were conceded aplenty and the odd snick here and four ball there and Falkland were going along at some lick, despite the first wicket falling to a beaut from Gordie when on 9.

Trewatha however was looking solid and Falkland kept putting away the bad ball and indeed, pinching the odd single. Paddy’s first spell went for 21 off 6 – the wickets column will kick in soon for the Blazin’ who saw one catch go through a vacant third slip – where moments ago there was a man in place. At one stage we had four slips and a gully so we were bound to concede as the bowlers tired.

Rob More, standing in as captain had his work cut out however as a few fielders, inexplicably started wandering about and not staying in place, or looking sluggish to left right combos.

Mommsen and Abid came on first and second and Az instantly brought pressure. Mommsen’s first included a six but a wicket off the final ball, where Gordie pouched Trewartha for 24 ish. In came big Stooky – Graham Watson who as ever looked solid with some repairs to be done. Pressure was exerted at last however as Beedz conceded nothing off his first three and P tightened things up at his, top end. Fleming, making his debut for RHC took a blinder behind the sticks to reward Az for his superb opening spell.

With only 5 bowlers to turn to Az was taken off and held back for a return spell and Matty came on to turn the screw with Falkland 90 odd for 3. He bowled all ten off the reel, and the overs started rattling on… really slowly down Falkland who had looked likely for 230-240 at one point despite the cloud cover and some decent areas. Matt ended up with no reward off 10 tight ones, conceding 21. Be good to see some air perhaps on the odd ball, and perhaps the same could be said of Pro Mommsen, who seemed to prefer his vicious arm ball as the regular tool of his trade, as opposed to some variations in flight. Still, who says I’m the one to point out these things.

This is where it all went wrong for RHC. We started giving away sloppy runs, the writer counting 8 twos which could have been ones and a couple of slack bits in the outfield where ones turned into fours (one of which looked regulation off the pro). Rob also fought a losing battle with fielders who decided to play victim, instead of ante up and get in the game. Watson and Gray were looking pretty good and added over 50 before Mommsen got his second, bowling Gray going for one big shot too many.

P’s spell went at fours and he ended up with a 2fer but we still had 15 odd overs to come from Az and Goagsie and Patrice. And they were on 150 odd off 35 – our sloppy fielding and extras gifting Falkland some 40 plus runs. Something we have to work on.

It all got a bit crazy gang thereafter. Paddy picked up two fer in a second spell which cost 24 runs, Dave Lawrie doing his juggling best to drop one at long on and picking up another bowled… hitting all three. Azhar came back on and got some tap also – looking a bit poor as well from the top end. 27 runs coming from his remaining six although he did take another wicket…

The final nail in the coffin just didn’t transpire. Realistically we could have rolled them for 170 odd but they ended up getting to the last over 7 down on 198. Paddy stepped up and bowled a beaut which nicked under Ally for four and that kinda set the tone. It then got a bit keystone with 3 run outs in the final over, the last off the last ball with Falkland ending on 208 all out off their fifty.

Yet another awesome tea… although somewhat muted on our part as players felt they’d let each other and themselves down. Reasons to be cheerful boys. We know what we did wrong, executing the basics poorly, not backing the bowlers, not fielding as well as we can, not wanting the ball and not clapping every dot and backing decent bowling… It’s these basics that a fighting club like Falkland know make the difference, and they seemed to want it more, or at least so it seemed by actions.

In strode Mommsen and Tyson, and our Pro looked set on a big knock. Tyson was also looking solid; if a little slow in terms of rotating the strike… Mommsen hit one beauty of a straight drive and was looking very settled through cover. All this despite a 32 minute rain break which saw 8 overs lost and a revised D/L target of 190 off 42. After the resumption (we were 30 for no loss off 2.3!!! Hamilton’s first over cost 15 in wides alone) we seemed to lose our way somewhat… Tyson could not get the ball off the square and went into his shell a wee bit. He was unable to steal the odd single to keep the pressure off. He went to 6 off 45 balls, and as an exercise in not giving his wicket away he was showing us all the way to go – by all means we could have done with that attitude earlier.

Preston has raced to 24 before spooning one to midwicket looking to force the bowlers out of their rhythm when he had the chance. In came Sully at 64-1 and never looked settled. He was out for 2 to Apu Singh – Falkland’s competitive chirpy left arm spinner from New Delhi who is studying in St Andrews. A great find for Falkland and clearly a good player and a charming lad to boot…. With plenty of ticker too. Henderson was bowling well ish also for Falkland not going for many, which seemed to ramp up the pressure on our bats. Sully was harshly out to a low bouncing LBW and Tyson was joined by Matt who quickly showed his partner how to pinch runs. The rate started to creep up before Tys was out in mid 20s again. He had done a superb job of seeing off the new ball but he had again put pressure on himself by perhaps being too orthodox and not being smart in terms of singles. Plenty to work on Tyson… perhaps the old trick from Clive Lloyd might help, wearing lychees under the heels of his feet to stop him rocking back too much and helping the great man stay on his toes?!

Skipper for the day More wandered out and perhaps to let us know it was not too be our day was still on nought when he took a third off a cut shot to the point boundary. Although it was not a direct hit, he was still inches short, back in the hutch for a donut. Big shame as we all like watching Eddie having a dip at the oppo bowlers.
Ally Lee Evans Fleming came out with a point to prove and his old man teaching the youngsters a lesson ‘tude as we edged from 64 for no loss to 90 for 4.

Ally and Matt put 30 odd on, Ally going at a run a ball, including a very smart six hitting the clubhouse. Proof it was not to be our day when Bavin Thakkar, FCC’s pro managed to get a finger on a poetical straight drive and leave Matt stranded some 2 feet out of his crease – sent packing for 12 off not many more. Shame, because the writer thought with Fleming and Matty looking well set – things were swinging back our way.

Dave Lawrie played straight and looked good in the V as ever but managed less than an even half a dozen off a potentially poor LBW. Giggsy trotted out and although he took a while to get off the mark he looked good for a good 20 odd if only he could keep Ally “this batting malarkey is easy” Fleming company, we were still in with a shout.

Falkland were still nervous even though they were way in front on the D/L knowing that one or two stonking overs from us we were well back in… Craig Hepburn had other ideas however and threw up an absolute moon ball which took an age to bounce, kept low and Giggsy as he was early so early on the shot he was nearly back in Bo’ness by the time the ball hit the stumps. Shame, as he’d fielded like the lion he is and brings plenty of fight (and hair) to the battle. Thanks again Tips…. PG Tips that is…

Az walked in, looking annoyed with the world again, some 75 odd still required. Ally was on 28 off 29 when he tried one shot to many trying to keep strike as partner after partner perished around him. Real shame, a good aggressive knock full of quality and ticker. Paddy joined Beedz and the writing was on the wall with their pro bowling some decent medos off a very short run and Apu Singh twirling away merrily for no runs at the other end. Paddy fended one to the keeper trying to snick one for a couple to third man to hutch it for 2 or 3 and Gordie came out,…. Who again looked solid.

These seems to be the case though. In the face of one genuinely good bowler we should have done better… by the time Azhar slapped one at mid wicket to a good catch to finish off a man of the match performance for Singh who took three for 16 off 7 we were all done for 147 off 37. Leaving 48 balls unbowled, some 43 short. That says it all.

Some bad luck with Matt and Rob dismissals… some poor shot selection and some poor strategy early up in not taking singles, leaving too much to the likes of Ally and Matt.

Still – one day someone is going to show up and play the knock that makes this a genuine match winning side… a local player, Corrie to the core… taking the boys home by force of will alone. We need to stop waiting for a Kev, or a Rob or a P taking us home on their coat tails. We’ve let Tim and Cragie and Kev down by this performance because they could not be there to add their value. And I am not blaming those who have stepped up. We saw what happened at Freuchie… simple effective running between the sticks took ALL the heat off the oppo and although we were only a 7 out of 10 that day, we were half that today.

Plenty to think about.

Want the ball in the field.
Anticipate.
Get to any fielding returns quickly to put heat on the oppo.
Back the bowlers
Take singles, regularly…
Want the win

SMRH – big game next week. Point to prove, points to gain and team mates to play for.