Recreational & Development League Starts With A Bang!!

Sunday May 7th saw Aberdeen teams take a step into the unknown with the formation of the R & D (Recreational & Development) League North.

Seven teams entered this League from the Aberdeen area. They were: AGSFP’s, Banchory, Cults, Gordonians, Mannofield, Stoneywood Dyce as well as Portcullis themselves.

The purpose of this league is to bring more fresh players into the sport as well as bringing back ex-players whom, for whatever reason had drifted away. The emphasis being on enjoyment and participation. Fun really is the operative word. The more people who participate and enjoy playing cricket, the larger the profile the sport will have.

This league would be ideal for Portcullis. Over the years, the club has taken on many a new player. Although, at present they do not have a youth policy they do have an inexperienced policy. Many lapsed players have joined the club as others whom have taken up the sport later in life. The policy always has been everyone is welcome and the common bond being the love of cricket and to enjoy oneself.

The club does not take itself too seriously – it’s motto on the website appropriately saying, “Unaccustomed to Exercise”. A motto that is both cheeky and, for some of us - true!

Portcullis decided that the R &D League would be taken for just that. So, as well as developing their players, this would help develop their Captaincy skills as well. With that in mind the role of Captain would be given to different players on a weekly basis.

Skipper for the day, Owen Thorpe, managed to guess correctly and won the toss inviting the Gordonians team to bat first.

It was the most refreshing team talk when he got everyone in a huddle and said” Right – hands up who wants a bowl today?” Six players put their hands up. They all got a bowl.

Gordonians opened with Praful and Addi. The spirit of cricket was not just with Portcullis but with Gordonians as well. When Gordo’s skipper saw that Praful was tonking the Portcullis openers, he immediately got him to retire on 29.

In their innings Gordonians made 230 all out – the two players retired not being allowed to bat again by their own Captain although Portcullis were quite happy to let them back on. The top scorer was Porter with a fine innings of 49 – although gutted when he found out how close he was to his fifty! Chamila made a quick fire 46. The other scores of note were Mishra (32) and Praful (29).

It was a bit of a success for Portcullis as five of their six bowlers used left the field with wickets to their names. Leading the way was Owen Thorpe with fine figures of 3-14. Ross McKenzie came on late to record figures of 2-13. The other wicket takers being Toby “Big Bird (5ft 8inches) Williams 1-38, Chris Owens 1-60 and Bob” Whispering Death” Adie with 1-61 Only Andy Philip remained wicketless – ironic as he has been performing well with bat and ball so far this season!

After a splendid tea in plush surroundings it was the turn of Portcullis to post their reply. Again, Owen went in the spirit of this match, opening the batting with Andrew Blackwell and Dave Elrick. The reason? They opened the batting because they did not get a bowl. John White came in at three for the exact same reason. Of the other non-bowlers, Jake Dawson batted at six whilst Dave Forbes happily went down the order. These two had opened the batting in Portcullis’s other three matches to date and it was about giving others a chance.

Having posted such a fine score in their innings the skipper Jamie took full advantage of that by giving NINE of his players a bowl. The younger players given a large bulk of the workload.

Portcullis were never going to get close to the total and were not that bothered about it. It was about everyone enjoying the day and playing well. Portcullis batted through their 40 overs and made 146-7 in reply.

It was heartening to see Andrew Blackwell top score for the City Centre Green Caps with a personal best of 34. His trademark thunderous drives through mid-on there for all to see as he made four boundaries. Ross McKenzie also showed that he could star with the bat as well as the ball as he too made a career best 32. He also made his first six of his career with a cracking drive over deep mid-on. His six was joined by four other boundaries and he had to retire as he had to leave before 6pm.

Other scores of interest came from Chris Owens, who made 21, Owen Thorpe finished on 18 not out, Andy Philip on 13 not out and Jake Dawson with a fine 10.

For Gordonians Pranav returned the best bowling figures of 2-32. The other wicket takers were Porter (1-7), Mishra (1-13) and Samuel (1-17).

The only fault of the day was that it was a wee bit chilly but we could do nothing about that! Both teams played to the Spirit of Cricket and to the spirit of the league. It was the most enjoyable of days where, even though we were part of the losing team, we did not feel that we lost.

In truth, there were many in the Portcullis side who gained from the day. Big thanks go out to Jamie and his Gordonians side. It takes two to tango so they say and they played their part in making the R&D League Debut a wonderful success. If all the other clubs adopt the same attitude this will be a wonderful, exciting league to play in!

PORTCULLIS MAN OF THE MATCH

ANDREW BLACKWELL takes the plaudits for putting in a performance like that. He only took up the sport two years ago so to make a knock like that not long after his 50th birthday is an achievement indeed.

GORDONIANS MAN OF THE MATCH.

PORTER wins it for his fine knock of 49 which included 4 sixes and 4 fours. A top knock and the highest score I have ever seen being made by a man wearing a snood!

If you are reading this and are thinking of taking up this wonderful sport then this really is the League for you! There are seven clubs in this league who will be glad you came along. At Portcullis, we will be glad to see you especially as some of us (myself especially) can’t handle two games a weekend! We are - as our motto says - “Unaccustomed to Exercise”

Friday, 12 May, 2017