RHC LIONS

NEWS

MURGITROYD MASTERTON FINAL – vs Carlton, Grange Loan
(Sunday2nd August) – Unfancied, weakened side take on star-studded Calrton, in their ain midden!

After all the histrionics, the postponements and the weather, a sunny Sunday dawned on us all… Grange Loan looked a picture as RHC arrived for a tilt at their first major title in a good long while. Some of the greats were watching – Tom Greig resplendent in shirt, blazer and Corrie tie, Jim swaggered in, every inch the retired billionaire lothario, as smooth as they come… even the President put some cords on for the occasion. Toss duly won (AGAIN!) we thought we’d have a bat. Jay Arun calmly wandered in, as only he does (rumour has it his resting heart rate is less than Lance Armstrong’s or Miguel Indurain’s at 22 bpm) with the P-Bomb, an air of unfinished business settling on the ground. Ceddy angrily bustled in as only Ceddy does, keeping it tight with Gordon Drummond at tuther end. Jay hit some tasty shots straight in the v… ensuring the Calton faithful (looking for their fourth straight win) that we might have a game. No complacency in the middle for sure… Jay was out in the fourth going for one straight shot too many. Not on the deck, not a boomer either, caught well by a teen Hunt at mid off. Out strode Kev, who’s been in great form for 6 weeks or so. Adding 83 with Preston, Kev just put away the bad ball, playing all around the wicket; sliding the odd one to third man, brutal through cover point, and the odd pull – one of which went for six up Gilmour’s mountain…. Ally Evans and Ross Lyons all came and went after Ceddy (none for 19 in his 4) not troubling the wickets column… Lyons went at 8.5s too… The quietly rated Charles Legget came in with sun out to bowl the decisive 16th as we were on 88 for 1, looking at 140+ with Big Tim, Rob and co to come… It didn’t start well for the home side… 5 wides, a four, a single, another wide… and then bam, P dismissed for a caught behind to an ever-vigilant Jamie Kerr.

Very next ball Big Tim was surprised to be lbw as many in and around the score hut were heard to say things like “the big lad’s melted that…,” mixed with “Gee, he looks like Inspector Gadget”… Out came Rob More whose poor form continues… this time though hurling himself on his sword in a quest for quick runs, getting run out by Fraser Watts at midwicket. RHC now 102 for 4 after 17, having been 99 for 1 only 9 balls before. Craigie and Matthew then showed the importance of not being fat and slow as they ran 22 of 26 runs in only 9 minutes as posted 129 for 5 in our 20.

Carlton confident, but perhaps they weren’t aware that this lot are made of sterner stuff. Perhaps mindful we were missing the much heralded Paddy and Gordie Ceddy and Fraser set about adding 47 in 7 overs early on. Nothing spectacular, working big Tim and Azhar for ones and twos, Skinny letting a couple of leg byes and wides go past him for more than one. They were ahead of the run rate until Matt and Kev came on and proved yet again how important tweaking is in this form of the game.

Matt proved the President to be a witchdoctor, your local favourite Tamil heard to confirm Lamb’s talk of a maiden, plumping for 2 for 12 from. In reality Matthew, who bowled superbly could have nailed 3 or 4…, ending up with 4-1-2-13 bowling from the Arthur’s Seat end with a vicious mix of spin and bite and quicker balls. Ceddy looked to have been plumb in front to his 8th ball. Appeal rejected. Next one, same ball, bit sharper, hitting the bottom of middle and off. Jubilation as RHC’s fielder’s charged in to congratulate Matty. Rob More and McLaren particularly vocal, perhaps from their time in the Prem? Drummo wandered in, calmly surveying the scene – checking the scoreboard three times an over, planning his run chase – the key man who has been scoring plenty of Carlton’s runs of late. Solid, swatting away poor balls and looking every inch the big unit Scotland lad that he is. But Matty hadn’t read the script, bowling another vicious set off six at Fraser Watts who could not keep out the first ball of his 4th over, departing for 32 in 33. 62 for 2 in 12 – rate over 6 again, close to 7.

McLaren went for sixes, and out came Mommsen who Sharapova’d his way through four very good overs as RHC continued to pile on the pressure, all players snarling around in the outfield – special mention to Matt and Ally who fielded superbly out in the deep, and Tyson who pulled off an outrageous stop in the 18th (more of that later)…

60 needed off 7. Only 7 wickets in hand as Mommsen, courtesy of Hancock managed to induce a run out, Jamie Kerr being sent back by Drummo looking for a cheeky single too many – not troubling the scorers.

RHC’s mate Rob Thornton strode out, collected a single before hitting one to Ally Fleming who managed to skate over the lumps and bumps of characterful Grange Loan to hang onto one running back at mid-on. 77 for 4 in the 14th. Gordon Drummond losing chums at the other end. Out came a further Scotland player, young Ross Lyons… how would Craigie and P cope with a left / right combo? As it turned out, pretty well, Kev kept moving the field well, decent backing up and lots of banter from a well-meaning Corrie Support ensured it remained tight out on the cut strip.

Craigie got Lyons for another duck, pinning him lbw in the 16th. 82 for 5 after 16… 48 in four – could Drummo pull this off, with Omar Ahmad striding in next. Mommsen’s last went for 9 (inc two leg byes) leaving the oppo with 13 required per over (Az and Tim looking a bit nervous….) Craigie came on the bowl his third with Big Toby himself pawing at the earth 22 yards adrift.

One top edge fell short of Az at fine leg, a further two short of Tyson at mid on… A 2 and a 4 and then a big six into one of Morningside’s better gardens shaved the deficit to 21 in 2 – gettable with Drummo at the crease, but could he get enough strike.

Mommsen up to bowl 19… by now the scorer smoking outside the hut scribbling on his hand… Omar hit one for two, nabbed a single… 18 needed, 10 balls left, Drummo on strike. P, all credit to him, only conceded another three but Drummo kept strike… 13 needed in the last.

Bit of a team talk, who is it gonna be? Craigie, Azhar, Big Tim… who? Tim got the vote. 13 needed. Scotland Vice Captain on 48 off 36, accelerating nicely… Our first cup final in 20 plus years… expectant home fans… proper cricket.

First ball, length, outside off. Drummo gave it both barrels… Swing and a miss. Next up… same delivery – perhaps a bit slower? Swing, connection, but straight up in the air… Kev McLaren circling at extra cover / mid-on. Pouches it. Jubilation. Drummo batted exceptionally well, going fro 18 off 21 to 48 off 36… great effort and from his own point of view, the likes of Lyons, Kerr, Thornton and Omar sucking up 2 overs of dot balls from the 12th over onwards. Credit to RHC’s bowlers again.

13 off 4 – still doable. Omar goes for a big slap next ball and Tyson, waiting an age at long on pockets the ball at the second attempt. Ball was up there for a while, good lad. 117 for 7 – 3 to come and Ally Evans and Charles Legget at the crease – plenty of power to slap some sixes. Two singles were all they got, immaterial that Evans hit hero Tim for six off the last as 11 were needed.

RHC win by 5 runs… denying Carlton a record successive win in the Masterton. Paul Bailey and the umpires rightly thanked Carlton for their efforts in having such a good wicket prepared, gave Matthew Holstein a well deserved MoM award before presenting Kevin McLaren and the boys with the trophy. Cue some merry drinking in the bar, followed by the Wally, Hanover 99 and Lulu’s.

Long live RHC chaps. Great effort. Real silverware and a meaningful win against a much fancied Carlton side. We were missing Paddy and Gordie, they were missing Bryn, Stevie and Deakin… a great day out and £500 from Murgitroyd, vital cash for work on the roller – our security gear and so on…

Finals day is at Poloc on 16th August as the likes of Dunfermline, or Greenock perhaps, look to take us on. We’ll be there, and we’ll quietly fancy our chances…

Well done to Preston, Jay, Kev, Craigie, Rob, Matt, Ally, Skinny, Big Tim, Azhar, Tyson and all those who came to watch. You’ve made your President, your club (we’ve already had congrats in from SA, Aus, Durham, Sussex, even Huddersfield (!?!?!) from our various fans)… very very happy. Roll on 16th Aug… And let’s take the momentum through to the final games of the season.

The 1st XI can still take 2nd from Dumfries and should be close to full strength for the remainder of the season. The 2’s got some good news from Grange Edinburgh who drew and the 3’s need to go to The Arns next week and slap Clack for six and walk off with all the points.

All three sides can still gain promotion. Let’s put aside the negativity and work together to make this our best season ever!