Dumfries Sports Club

APD Dumfries took the Scottish Championship title away from leaders West Lothian on Sunday in a top of the table decider at Benfield Park Nunholm with a convincing seven wicket win. That earned the side promotion, for the first time, to the Premiership and the top league in Scotland.

Dumfries put West Lothian in to bat and Allan Maskrey produced the desired start with an lbw decision second ball. Five overs later he added another wicket, bowled.

Smith and overseas player Cookson set about consolidation. However the match swung when Beveridge had Cookson caught by keeper Corbett-Byers for the top score of 39. Next over Jim Patterson got Smith caught, and Black bowled, leaving his first ball. Then Dixon debated a second, was run out and West Lothian were in strife at 71 for 6.

That Dumfries momentum continued when McCutcheon followed up with two more wickets.

However West Lothian were resisting well. Thomson (23) and Raven (20no) pushed the score towards a competitive total but the former was superbly bowled by McCutcheon. However a couple of sixes landed on the pavilion before Beveridge trapped Bennie lbw in the last over for a final total of 148.

Dumfries looked to have negotiated the opening overs until Dawson was given lbw to Thomson and then Tom McBride was caught behind to make it 28 for 2. It required a crucial partnership between Benfield Man of the Match Scott Beveridge and Chad Breetzke to ease concerns. They played steadily until a loose over from Smith was smashed for eighteen by Beveridge and 81 for 2 was immediately healthier.

Although Beveridge survived a couple of chances he went on to an excellent fifty only to be bowled behind his legs after a ninety run partnership. Skipper Corbett-Byers contributed boundaries and then Breetzke hit straight for the winning four to successfully finish the innings for Dumfries with a 38no punctuated with punishing attacking shots.

That sparked Dumfries celebrations and more after the Championship trophy was presented to Stuart Corbett-Byers for the biggest achievement in the club’s hundred and fifty years. It also marked two league trophies in two years for the side and a 2011 league and cup double with the SCU Trophy win the previous weekend.

One more competition remains to be decided but Dumfries have an uphill task when they play Premiership winners Carlton in the Murgitroyd Scottish Twenty20 semi-final this Sunday at Shawholm.

Scottish Championship, match sponsored by Benfield Ltd
APD Dumfries beat West Lothian by 7 wickets at Nunholm
West Lothian 148 all out (49.3 overs) J Cookson 39,
C McCutcheon 3 for 29, J Patterson 2 for 20,
S Beveridge 2 for 26, A Maskrey 2 for 28
APD Dumfries 150-3 (29 overs) S Beveridge 53, C Breetzke 38no
Benfield Man of the Match: S Beveridge

[Scorecard] [Photos] [Scotsman report]

Dumfries firsts play their final league game in the Scottish Championship on Sunday at Benfield Park Nunholm starting at noon. With Dumfries presently in second place and involved in two matches this weekend the match against current leaders West Lothian on Sunday may well decide the title winners and promotion to the Scottish Premiership.

Supporters and sports club members are invited to drop in on the final league game and back your club’s cricket side.

APD Dumfries won the SCU Trophy for the first time at Stirling on Sunday when they had a convincing 74 run victory in the cup final against Fauldhouse.

Dumfries were put in and were in the strong position of 105 for 1 at the half way stage thanks to stands between Tom McBride and Drew Dawson (29) and Scott Beveridge (22). Dumfries then accelerated aided by a rapid 27 from skipper Stuart Corbett-Byers and an assured 50 not out by Chad Breetzke. The Nunholm side finished on a challenging 243 for 7 with opener Tom McBride the side’s top scorer with 78.

In response Fauldhouse were in difficulties at 77 for 5 as first Breetzke then McCutcheon, Paterson and Robert McBride each took key wickets. They mounted a recovery with an onslaught of seven sixes but McBride had Sandu caught by Davidson for 39 to stem the tide and they were all out after 40 overs for a total of 169. Robert McBride finished with three wickets and Scott Beveridge and Breetzke each took two.

APD Dumfries also won their play-off Championship match at third placed Poloc on Saturday by six wickets to maintain their challenge for the league title. Batting first Poloc were reduced to 29 for 4 with Chad Breetzke taking all four wickets. However the innings recovered into the 130s and it was Alan Davidson with 4 wickets and Breetzke with his fifth that kept the final total to 188.

In reply a century stand for the fourth wicket between the Molpant Man of the Match, Breetzke, who scored 57 not out, and skipper Stuart Corbett-Byers with 54 took the Dumfries side to victory and stay in second place with two matches left. The side are away to fourth placed Renfrew on Saturday and at home against leaders West Lothian on Sunday in a possible title decider.

Also on Sunday Brammer Dumfries came out on top against Clydesdale by 81 runs at home in West Sunday League Division 2. The youthful Dumfries numbers 3 to 5 of Todd Rafferty (44), Owen Thomson (46) and Adam Elliott (50) set up a total of 207 for 6 in the 40 overs. It took second change Mat Williams, who took three of the top four wickets, to settle the course of the reply which finally ended well short on 126 for 8.

SCU Trophy Final: APD Dumfries beat Fauldhouse by 74 runs at Stirling
APD Dumfries 243 for 7 (50 overs)
T McBride 78, C Breetzke 50no
Fauldhouse 169 all out (40 overs)
R Sandhu 39, R McBride 3-42, C Breetkze 2-16, S Beveridge 2-30

[Final Photos] [Final Scorecard]

After a free league Saturday APD Dumfries have two big games this weekend.

On Sunday they play the final of the SCU Trophy at Stirling against East League Division 1 winners, Fauldhouse.

On Saturday they play the first of three Championship play-off matches against the other sides in the top four when they take on Poloc in Glasgow.

The final two games, against Renfrew and then West Lothian, take place next Saturday and Sunday and will decide the title winners and promotion to the Premiership.

Meanwhile Brammer Dumfries lost their West Sunday League match at Benfield Park Nunholm against Hillhead. A young Dumfries side batted first and despite an early wicket the pairing of Robert McBride and Chris Bellwood put together a fifty partnership.

They were batting productively and the score had reached 74 for 1 when the spin of Hillhead pro Sachin Chaudhary was introduced. He induced a false shot from Bellwood in his first over, out caught for 38, and a couple of overs later further dented the Dumfries innings having McBride caught behind for 35.

Thereafter it took the experienced Davie Davidson to marshal the lower order. He hit 38 before he was left stranded in a run out in the final over and Dumfries finished on 155 for 8.

Cameron Telfer claimed a wicket early on thanks to the first of two good catches standing up by keeper Lee Dunlop. However Hart was hitting the loose delivery and went on to be out just short of his fifty.

Niall Alexander bowled well as did the series of bowlers who were tried but Chaudhary was well settled and he in partnership with Bond took the Hillhead run chase past the Dumfries total in the 35th over for the loss of four wickets. Robert McBride took the home side award for Monaghan’s Jewellers Man of the Match.

West Sunday League Division 2: Sponsored by Carlisle Refrigeration Ltd
Brammer Dumfries 155 for 8 (40 overs) Hillhead 156 for 4 (35 overs)

APD Dumfries were unable to complete their important league game at Freuchie in the Scottish Championship on Saturday. Freuchie scored 229 for 7 after a batting onslaught in the last ten overs rallied their total. Chris McCutcheon and Chad Breetzke each took two wickets. However the match was abandoned due to rain at that point without the Dumfries innings starting. Nevertheless second placed Dumfries have still secured their place in the top four play-offs to determine the title winners.

It was a similar story for Site Electrical Nunholm at Langloan in the West SNCL Reserve League. Langloan scored 169 all out with JB Houston Man of the Match Cameron Telfer taking a remarkable 7 wickets in 7 overs for Nunholm when introduced into the attack late on in the innings. Nunholm were 54 for 2 when rain also put paid to the game in the second innings.

On Sunday Dumfries’s appearance in the Scottish Murgitroyd Twenty20 finals day in Glasgow suffered the same fate, cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch, with the finals now rescheduled for Sunday, 4 September. This Saturday APD Dumfries have no match in the Championship and Site Electrical Nunholm play away at Whitehaugh.

It was more positive weekend for injured Tom McBride after Scotland Under 19s qualified for the U19 World Cup next year in Queensland, Australia. He will be hoping for a return to that squad after missing the tournament due to a broken finger.

Meanwhile Niall Alexander helped Scotland U15s beat Ireland by six wickets in the European Championships at Stirling on Monday by taking 3 for 16 in the first innings.

The club at Nunholm 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 .