HCC vs Loretto School 13th September 2020
Haddington Cricket Club finished their 2020 fixtures against Loretto School 1st XI, and The Goats came up just short of both the glorious draw & a win in an old-fashioned timed game at Neilson Park.
The fixture was originally scheduled as a curtain raiser in April, so rather fittingly signalled the close of this most unusual of summers, with a fine game against a new batch of Lorettonians - with a return fixture hopefully in the Spring, as they end their school year. Your writer here surely not the only one wishing to fast-forward to March 2021 (just time for a couple of net sessions you see…)
Certainly, aside from some thrilling contests, two real positives can come out of this year for Haddington & East Lothian cricket; 1) a regular fixture with Loretto, and engaging more with young cricketers in the area, and 2) that the game is very much viable well into September. Our squares need not be abandoned at the end of August for football and cricket, and a sharing of space to elongate the fixture list (with friendlies & tour matches) should be implemented to mirror the English season. Hopefully the sporting authorities take note.
Anyway, to the game itself. Loretto batted first, and the two openers set off briskly despite some threatening areas from bustling quick Timmy Hancox, who has the exact facial hair of Dale Steyn, but with more passionate send-offs. The introduction of Rob Hiley was required, who channelled his father’s favourite pastime of summers gone by: ten overs on the bounce from the Skate Park Memorial End, into a swirling breeze, befuddling young opponents with flashy white gear; and the ball muttering at the outside edge of the bat as it passes time and again. 2-28 in an unbroken spell a fine afternoon’s work. The great subtext of the day however was Hamish White, gap student working at Loretto for 2020, stranded far from his Queensland home, charging in for Haddington against his young charges. All elbows, like a placid Tom Curran, he extracted bounce & pace to dismiss the visitors’ No.3 & 4. 2-14 from 6 his final analysis. One hopes he’ll be able to play here again.
The latter half of the innings was a case of opener Huddleston scoring as many as he could whilst his schoolmates hung around. T Proctor & CJ Perriam, both in the wickets for Haddington this season, were punished for some wayward deliveries. The latter picked up the prize wicket, but huge plaudits must go to the young lad for 83 from just 88 balls, out of a total of 160 - the next top score was 9. Proctor finished with 2fer.
In reply, Cardwell-Moore was demised before he could really get going, but Cruickshank dug in and proceeded to a classically doughty 22. There were plenty of overs left in the day - potentially more than 45 to chase the score, or 6pm for the draw - but the pressure of endless ranks of enthusiastic and accurate medium pacers began to frustrate Haddington’s usually free scoring middle order. Cruickshank chipped to mid-off, and from there things began to unravel. The opposition captain Jarvis, sharp, with a quick bouncer, got through Borrowman and Hiley (perhaps starved of the strike) The latter had been motoring and threatening to win the game quickly on 42 off 39 balls. Skipper Logan fell just as he got set, usually accustomed to much less time. Huddleston, that lad again, terrorised an ill-disciplined lower order with some classical off-breaks, and it was left to Hancox to mount a rear-guard. With just 20 to win, and about 15 minutes to survive for the draw, last man Fergus Syme was plucked out LBW (debates regarding the trajectory are ongoing at the Tyneside Tavern) to seal a win for those in scarlet caps. A collapse of 5 wickets for 9 runs a familiar and damaging passage of play.
In all, a terrific day’s play, and one asking for a rematch. Indeed all at the club have through enjoyed the matches and are very keen to have more exhibition / friendly games against local opposition, and those further afield. Hosting or going on a tour, in particular, is top of the list. So, if you’re reading and fancy a trip to Neilson Park, or hosting our brand of competitive entertaining cricket at your idyllic ground, then do get in touch. Huge thanks go in this case to Loretto School and Mr Hinchcliffe for managing the Covid restrictions with us and being wonderful opponents. Their spirit in pressure & adversity was admirable, and we hope they learned a little of what the gritty, no sightscreens Scottish club cricket has to teach.
Bigger thanks still to everyone at the club, as well as ESCA, Musselburgh CC, Dunbar CC, Tranent & Preston Village CC, and Bass Rock CC for getting the play we have had. Especially to Peter Borrowman, Scott Logan, and Alan & Colin Cruickshank as ever.
Much encouragement to be taken into a full season next year, and with availability less hampered by travel & Covid there should be more consistent runs from 6 - 8 to back up a very solid looking top order. Bowling options are overflowing, especially if Macdonald & Kumar can team up regularly to back up the seamers. Fielding - well, the ridiculous to the sublime has always been the state of play. We’ll always, at least, be good off our own…