Dumfries Sports Club

APD Dumfries lost their Scottish Cup match against Watsonians at Benfield Park Nunholm on Saturday by 56 runs. Batting first the Edinburgh side scored 217 for 9 with a 125 run fourth wicket partnership restoring their fortunes from 39 for 3 and ultimately settling the course of the match.

Craig Wright, ex Scotland captain, hit 40 v Dumfries ©Roger Lever Photography

At three wickets down, and with Pat Druce having bowled South African professional Symes for just 5, Dumfries had their opportunity. However Scotland present and past, Ewan Chalmers with 90, and Craig Wright with 40 shared a century partnership and the home side missed crucial chances to break the partnership early. It took a good catch by Alan Davidson to deprive Chalmers of a deserved century and Watsonians lost further wickets in reaching 217. Dickie’s Bar Man of the Match Druce took five wickets, and Alan Davidson and Joe Clarke two each.

Dumfries had a similar difficult start at 55 for 4 but a partnership between Joe Clarke and Drew Dawson edged the side back into contention. However both were out with the score at 134 and any opportunity was lost as the side ended on 161 all out chasing runs in the remaining overs. Clarke top scored for Dumfries with 51. Peter Legget did the early damage for Watsonians with three wickets. On Saturday, APD Dumfries play at Penicuik also in the Scottish Cup.

On Sunday a young Brammer Dumfries team lost at Kelburne in the Sunday League. Openers Niall Alexander and Chris Bellwood scored 27 and 54 respectively but accurate bowling saw wickets tumble for a total of 128. Willie Allan hit 78 not out for Kelburne and Solarae Man of the Match Alexander took the only two wickets to fall to delay the outcome. On Saturday the seconds, CWE Nunholm, play Galloway at home in the Western Cup.

The Nunholm club’s junior coaching sessions are running on Monday evenings 6:15 to 8. These are also open to non-members, boys and girls. For more details on these and Senior, Midweek and Women’s cricket contact Trefor Williams (01387 256455), or email dumfriescricketclub@gmail.com, call in at training on Tuesdays and Fridays or see www.dumfriescricketclub.co.uk .

APD Dumfries started their season on Saturday with a convincing win over Ferguslie at Benfield Park Nunholm in their traditional first friendly match.

APD Dumfries side win season opener

Beveridge hit 80

On a remarkably good wicket and fast outfield for the time of year, Dumfries hit the ground running with opener Scott Beveridge dominating the opening exchanges and launching the first two sixes of the season. He and Chris Bellwood had put on an opening partnership of over 140 when Beveridge was unlucky to be run out for 80 by a deflection off the bowler when backing up.

Bellwood top scored with 87

Bellwood then took on the scoring mantle to earn the Anderson Kilts Man of the Match award for what was a well paced top score of 87. He and returning Aussie Josh Geary both looked in fluent form in reaching the 250. Geary was retired for a first knock fifty and Drew Dawson pushed on in the final overs with 36 not out for a big innings total off the 50 overs of 327 for 6 which was nearing a club record total.

Skipper Byers batting

Ferguslie, who were not at full strength on the day, struggled to make an impression on that total as the Dumfries bowlers stuck to good line and length and wickets were shared between the bowlers used. Alan Davidson and Niall Alexander claimed both openers and it was ex-Nunholm player David Sturgeon who top scored in the reply. Leg-spinners Jerry Goodin and Tom McBride and then the Aussie newcomer, Joe Clarke, each took two wickets. A final sharp run out by Tom McBride kept Ferguslie below the hundred and they were all out for 95 in the 36th over.

This weekend at Nunholm, Dumfries play Weirs in the Scottish Cup on Saturday starting at midday and then Hillhead in a friendly on Sunday. New players for the season are very welcome and can contact Trefor Williams (01387 256455), or email dumfriescricketclub@gmail.com, or introduce yourself at training on a Tuesday or Friday.

Junior Coaching: the club’s Monday junior summer sessions for those aged 8 to 14 start at Nunholm this Monday the 23rd April, 6:15-8pm. These are open to non-members and new, and beginner, boys and girls, are very welcome to come along or can use the above contacts for more information.

Scorecard: Match sponsored by Anderson Kilts. Sat 14 Apr.
APD Dumfries beat Ferguslie by 232 runs. Friendly at Benfield Park Nunholm
APD Dumfries 327 for 6 (50 overs) S Beveridge 80, C Bellwood 88, J Geary 56 rtd, A Dawson 36 no.
Ferguslie 95 all out (35.5 overs) D Sturgeon 22, J Goodin 6 overs 2 for 20,
J Clarke 5 overs 2 for 7, T McBride 5 overs 2 for 9
Anderson Kilts Dumfries Man of the Match: C Bellwood.

Dumfries Cricket Club have resumed their evening training sessions with senior training taking place at Dumfries Sports Club, Nunholm from 6 to 8 on Tuesdays and on Fridays. New players are very welcome for the season ahead and can contact Trefor Williams on 01387 256455, or email dumfriescricketclub@gmail.com, or introduce yourself at a club training session.

That season is fast approaching with the first match a week on Saturday, the 14th April, with a friendly at Nunholm against Ferguslie. The following Saturday sees the first competitive fixture, on the 21st, with a Scottish Cup group match at home when the firsts, APD Dumfries, play Weirs. The seconds, CWE Nunholm, then start their Western Cup competition with a match at Hillhead the following Saturday. See www.dumfriescricketclub.co.uk for more details.

Meanwhile Dumfries’s Tom McBride has been playing and training in South Africa on a pre-season tour with Scotland U19s. After a shoulder injury sustained in the first game he returned for the penultimate two games and was able to contribute with a run a ball 34 and then 44 for the side to remain unbeaten with one match to play.

Senior Training is now taking place midweek in the evenings.

Main training night is on Tuesdays 6pm to 8 and a second on Fridays 6pm to 8

New players are very welcome and can come down to Nunholm and make themselves known or can contact Trefor Williams on 01387 256455 or email the club at dumfriescricketclub@gmail.com . See www.dumfriescricketclub.co.uk .

All-round performance from Davidson

Site Electrical Nunholm registered a 58 run win in their home match against Bothwell in the West SNCL Reserve League on Saturday.

The key partnership of the Nunholm innings was when Davie Davidson came to join Farries with two down for forty. The experienced pair looked set to go past the hundred partnership when Dunne got through the Davidson defences three short of his fifty.

The side continued to lose wickets, with Farries out for 69, and it required an enterprising 28 from Telfer to push the side to 219 when he was the last man out in the final over.

The tale of the Bothwell innings was that of their opener Kamran who proved to be the best batsman on show. However two good catches swung the match. Jack Barnes took the third wicket when Howard took a sharp slip chance with ease and then Douglas Brotherston casually caught a screamer at mid-off to dismiss Kamran for 78 out of a then total of 99.

Thereafter the bowlers worked their way through the Bothwell line-up with Barnes taking four wickets, and Niall Alexander, two. Bothwell ended on 161 with the BB Body Repairs Man of the Match going to Farries for his top score.

APD Dumfries will be hoping to get on the park after last weekend after they made the trip to Renfrew for their Premiership match only to find the ground declared unplayable. Likewise, but without the journey, their Murgitroyd Twenty/20 match away at Selkirk on Sunday was cancelled.

This Saturday the side are at home against Edinburgh Accies whilst Site Electrical Nunholm travel to play Partick at Hamilton Crescent. Brammer Dumfries play at Ayr in the West Sunday League.

The club welcomes new players; senior, junior, women and girls. Senior training takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays and junior and women/girls coaching is on Monday evenings. For details contact Trefor Williams on 01387 256455 or see www.dumfriescricketclub.co.uk .