Dumfries Sports Club

In weather that was more like the middle of summer than the first match of the season, youth triumphed over experience in Saturday’s Homecoming Match at Nunholm. It was a blast from the past as former players took the field again or watched from the boundary.

A young Dumfries XI batted first and thanks to a fifty from Chris Bellwood and runs from Russell Johnston (44), Alan Davidson (34) and a late order flourish from Tommy McBride (34no) they posted a challenging 219 for 4 from 40 overs.

Despite a remarkably hard wicket for April the Homecoming XI never got up with the required run rate. From 68 for 4, Davie Davidson with 66 and Campbell Potts with a hard hitting 61 not out took them closer with a century partnership but they finally fell short by 37 runs. Robert McBride was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 23.

The day, and the subsequent evening barbecue and band in the clubhouse, proved a great start to the 2009 season with plenty of cricket supporters and faces from the past welcomed to the club. That was thanks to Stuart Corbett-Byers’ hard work and organisation but also to Davie Davidson (and Raymond) for producing a hard track and a quick outfield in April and drawing compliments from all quarters on the state of the ground.

On Sunday Dumfries played Hillhead as a warm-up to their National League season. Another young Dumfries side came out on top with a 24 run win over the Western Union Division 1 side. Campbell Potts powered to his second fifty of the weekend and runs again came from Russell Johnston (38) and Davie Davidson (27) whilst wickets were shared between Jerry Goodin with three and two each to Drew Dawson and Alan Davidson.

Dumfries batted first and totalled a creditable 190 for 8 in the 40 overs. In reply Hillhead reached a threatening 98 for 1 after 22 overs. However three wickets fell rapidly and the innings then subsided to 166 all out with one over left.

Weekend Fixtures

This Sunday APD Dumfries play SNCL First Division side Ferguslie in a friendly at Nunholm. Ferguslie are expected to travel with a strong side to prepare for next week’s league fixtures. JMS Nunholm play a friendly away at Hawick in an echo of the club’s former time in the Border League.

With the season fast approaching and a Homecoming Match on Saturday the 18th April, Dumfries Cricket Club interrupted the pre-season training with the Annual Club Dinner and Awards last weekend.

The awards were for the 2008 season and it was wicketkeeper Stuart Corbett-Byers that picked up the 1st XI Player of the Year award. His 14 catches behind the stumps and an impressive 7 stumpings for APD Dumfries in Scottish League Divison 2 were backed up with the second top runs total for the club. 

This was greeted with much delight by his sponsors the Nunholm Card School! Read the rest of this entry »

Dumfries Cricket Club’s Alan Davidson made his debut recently for New South Wales in Australia’s Sheffield Shield, albeit in a surprise fleeting appearance. A former member of the Scotland Under-19 squad, Alan is playing first grade cricket in Newcastle, Australia for the Wallsend club and had a weekend off when the local grade cricket was cancelled due to a first class match between NSW and Tasmania which was being played at the Newcastle Sports Ground.

At one point when NSW were fielding they found themselves with their 12th man already on the ground and another fielder coming off. Word went round that they needed another substitute fielder. Despite the presence of the local players, Alan leapt at the opportunity, apparently literally, and was running to the changing rooms to seize the day. Read the rest of this entry »

Dumfries 1st XI player Alan Davidson notched up his first Australian fifty for 2009 at the weekend by scoring 68 for Wallsend in their Newcastle District second grade match on Saturday.

Meanwhile Dumfries Cricket Club have drawn another away tie in the 2009 Scottish Cup. However with the first round split into West and East regions to reduce travelling they will play fellow National League Second Division side Prestwick.

The match is on Sunday June 21st but APD Dumfries will get a chance to size up their opposition since they also play Prestwick at home in the league the day before.

However Dumfries have been given a home National 20/20 cup tie with a game against St Boswells at a date yet to be arranged. As semi-finalists last year they will be aiming to repeat a trip to the Final’s day in Glasgow.

Their 2009 National League campaign starts on Saturday May 2nd with a home game at Nunholm against Weirs.

The Dumfries second eleven, JMS Nunholm, have also discovered their league opponents (shown below) after the make-up for Western Union Division 2 was resolved this week. Further information about the club can be found at www.dumfriescricketclub.co.uk . Read the rest of this entry »

On Sunday afternoon a very large branch from one of the trees on the far side of the road north of the ground sheared off and landed on the cricket nets. It also landed on the electrical lines running alongside the road.

The damage to the recently built cricket nets is significant, as can be seen from the photographs. The tree landed on the end section nearest to the clubhouse and fractured and bent the supporting poles. Each of the three lanes has been damaged and that damage runs down the length of the nets with the structure bent and poles knocked out of place or their base in the concrete twisted.

The nets were only completed in the middle of last year thanks to grant support from Awards For All and the local council and were a significant project for the cricket section. It remains to be seen what steps will be needed to restore them to full operation.