vs Faulhouse Victoria 25th August 2018

Haddington CC vs Fauldhouse Victoria CC 25th August 2018

Haddington completed their escape mission in the second half of the ESCA Division 3 season as victory at home to Fauldhouse secured their avoidance of relegation. At the halfway point 9 weeks ago, fellow strugglers Fauldhouse had defeated Haddington in the reverse fixture to leave The Goats with 1 win from 8 and a long way adrift. Now, with 6 wins in the last 8 fixtures, a remarkable turnaround - that owes much to strong contributions from younger players - means that East Lothian can look forward to 3 teams competing in the same league following Tranent & Preston Village’s relegation, and Dunbar’s promotion. 

The result was in some doubt however, as news was breaking of Murrayfield DAFs sending a surprisingly understrength Grange 3rd XI to defeat and Marchmont 2s pushing Accies 2s all the way, and at the same time Haddington struggled on a wet Neilson Park wicket. Cardwell-Moore & Cruickshank applied grit in a second wicket stand of 33, but once they fell there was a familiar middle order slide to 82-6. Peter Talbot joined captain Scott Logan & in making 20 & 25 respectively took the home side to 120 from their 40 overs - probably just par for the conditions. 

In response, nine man Fauldhouse lost two early wickets to the fraternal threat of Tom & Hewie Dalrymple, until Taylor rallied with 31. At 40-2, and then 60-3, the visitors would have felt they had more than a sniff. Ash Kumar was keeping the scoring very quiet, but Logan brought back James Shaw - one of the heroes of the Leith win a fortnight ago - who scythed through the Fauldhouse batting and looked far too quick for players ten, twenty years his senior. His 4 for 14 ensuring victory by 56 runs.