Dumfries Sports Club

The new cricket season started for Dumfries Cricket Club on Saturday, at home at Nunholm Road, with the first friendly fixture of 2016 for both Stafforce Dumfries and visitors Penrith.

Chris top scored with 72 not out for Stafforce Dumfries

Penrith batted first and found the Dumfries bowlers immediately on target with bowlers claiming wickets in their opening overs. Josh Geary took an early wicket in the very first over and then another in his second.

The first change bowlers also did the same with first over wickets for Pat Druce and Alan Davidson. Scott Beveridge and Connor Jones also claimed a wicket each to leave Penrith with wickets down.

However McLean and Hall responded by boosting the score and some late innings hitting by Hay took the final total up to 150 in the 40 overs. Wickets were shared amongst the bowlers with Alan Davidson and Josh Geary inflicting the most damage.

Davidsons, Alan and Davie, got into double figures early in the Dumfries innings but from 87 for 5 it required the Barbours Man of the Match Chris Bellwood to marshall the response with a fine innings of 72 not out. He and Niall Alexander shared a 65 run sixth wicket partnership to see the Nunholm side home. Hindmarsh claimed two of the wickets for Penrith in what was a good pre-league warm-up match for both sides.

The game’s RF Angus champagne moment was a nonchalant caught and bowled by Niall Alexander off a fiercely struck drive. This Saturday Dumfries play Ferguslie, home at Nunholm Road, in another pre-league friendly.

Start of Junior Cricket: With the Club’s summer coaching programme in schools having started this week, the weekly outdoor junior coaching sessions start on Monday (18th Apr, 6:15-8pm) at Dumfries Sports Club, Nunholm Road. These are suitable for beginners, boys and girls, ages P4-S1. The Club very much welcomes newcomers and there is a free first taster session. All equipment is provided.

The Club can be contacted about these sessions and about Senior, Women’s, and Junior cricket over the summer by email on dumfriescricketclub@gmail.com, or 07799 856094. See www.dumfriescricketclub.co.uk, or find the Club on social media, Facebook(/dumfriescricketclub), or Twitter(@dumfriescricket).

With the first friendly of the season now a mere two weeks away, Dumfries Cricket Club firsts, Stafforce Recruitment Dumfries, will have a home fixture as a result of the 2016 Citylets Scottish Cup draw.

Their opponents are East League side Glenrothes with the first round match being played on Saturday the 15th May at Nunholm. Their first match of the league campaign in the top Western Union Division, the Premier, is on Saturday the 30th April away at Uddingston.

Nunholm, Dumfries 2nds, play the first home league match that day against Bothwell in the Premier Reserve League and that first game of the season is a friendly at home against Penrith on Saturday the 9th April.

Pre-season net practice last Saturday

After several weeks of training indoors the Club’s outdoor senior sessions commence at Dumfries Sports Club, Nunholm, next Tuesday, the 29th March, from 6pm.

The Club welcomes new players of all ages and abilities and those interested can call in at the Tuesday, and the Friday evening sessions, or contact the Club by using the details below.

Easter Holiday Junior Cricket: Also that Tuesday, Kwik Cricket Junior sessions take place at the David Keswick Centre Sports Hall. These are suitable for those who want to try a new sport, boys and girls, ages P4-S1. (Tue 29th March and Tue 5th April: 10-12, 1-3pm, £3 per session).

The Club can be contacted about these sessions and about Senior, Womens, and Junior cricket for the summer by email on dumfriescricketclub@gmail.com, or 07799 856094. See www.dumfriescricketclub.co.uk, or find the Club on Facebook(/dumfriescricketclub), or Twitter(@dumfriescricket).