August Edition

The heat of the summer sun,  the heavy thud, thud, thud of the bowlers boots on run up, (unless it’s Malky - he only has 2 feet), the sweet sound of leather on willow, (nothing to do with cricket, it just keeps Billy and Higgy interested), the umpire signals 4,perhaps 6.…pints of real ale…… now that’s what I call a drinks break!!

The season is, given a  game off or 6, well on.  Victories against Cairndow, our hosts today, Oban, Mid Argyll and Inverclyde, have been tempered by losses to RBG and Holy Cross. It seems that like a good wine, we don’t travel well.

The Captain has marshalled his troops well, so far in the campaign. So why he would let Higgy loose today is puzzling, imagine the treasurer as captain as well….Nightmare!!!

The Wayne Pursley Memorial Trophy was keenly contested with,  Castle Toward in her Sunday best and in single wicket fashion, on Sunday  10^th July. Nirmal Singh bowled and batted his way to victory defeating Kissy in the final of an excellent afternoons play. This has turned into a great days cricket, we look forward to next years competition!

Half the season has gone and yet we feel as if we’ve hardly started, the Scots have qualified for the World Cup 2007 in the Caribbean, no doubt Higgy will be setting up a slush fund for that tour.

The Ashes series started this week, thankfully the Aussies got their act together in the warm ups, well they are basically wintering over here….Day three of the first test has just  closed due to rain. The first days shenanigans suggest a substandard pitch backed up by substandard batsmanship, days 2 and 3 produced better fayre and bowling and batting of some quality.

Warnie and Pidgeon are really struggling in their dotage, perhaps Messrs Hoggard and Co should have a look at the books before writing off such craftsmen. The weather may be all that stands between the Saxon Media and a well deserved thrashing .

The Ashes series is all about a sustained consistency of performance, session by session, day by day, match by match. A flash in the pan session victory may sell newspapers, but simply isn’t good enough to win a series. The winners will be those who maintain the highest standard throughout.

That is where I think England are frail. 

Taff, Michael Hackett, and a tour party to rival Clive Woodward’s, took in the Lion’s tour in NZ. Guess who’s tour was better organised???

John and Julie Ann are on the move to Furnace at the end of this month, we said our goodbyes before, but it won’t be any easier to say them again, a second going away night and a couple of kegs of Bluebird might help though!!

Our thanks go to  Andy Gilles for his tireless pitch preparation this summer. Unfortunately the way the fixtures have fallen and  the weather, means we have not had the best use of the facility, pray for and Indian summer.

Is St Kitts one of the islands served by Cal - Mac???

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April Edition

The sun has shone, the grass is ris, I wonder where the cricket is???

Castle Toward as it happens. This weekend we begin the 2005 campaign with a home fixture against the rain dancers from Cairndow.

Innellan Captain Billy Marshall said  ‘no matter what Heather the Weather says happens, ‘north of the border’ , our visitors will bring along their favorite cloud to rain on the parade!’ Both clubs have wintered well, but our thoughts are with Douglas Dando at this time, he will be greatly missed by both sides as we begin the season. 

Many things have come to pass since the last ball was bowled last season….. an Argyll League, a new Duchess of Rothesay, (a real babe who will rival the member for Bute North in the upcoming Isle of Butey contest), and a Pope who is a ‘hun’.  The email explaining Malky Dunn’s lack of availability on Sunday as he has chapel has been poorly downloaded, he has in fact the genuine injury of chapped lips. 

Pitch preparation has been going on at the Castle, weather dependant for the last few weeks, the last on Friday night. Given the drying wind and a swift roll before play, it looks like it might be one of the better pitches we’ve produced first up. Higgy was unable to make it on Friday night as he was seen dashing to Glasgow to pick up a new chest infection for the start of the season. 

Rumours that in-coming President Paul Dupre-Smith has bought the Royal Bar are untrue. The Royal is a bar with a house on it, Paul has bought a house with a bar in it! Michael Clark has been busy all winter compiling this years fixture list and we think ,finally, has produced the end result, although it seems to have had more versions than Microsoft Works.

The club hosted its annual race night in Ingram’s Bar during the close season. A successful and enjoyable night took place. Our thanks to Mr George Jarvie, staff and patrons for their support.
 

This is a busy season For Scotland and the Saltires. The final campaign in the  Totesport league, the World Cup qualifiers in Ireland, the European contests and the small matter of the Australians at home in August means this hack may be on manoeuvres during the summer.

 A club history is in the process of being compiled. Any items of historical interest - particularly the early 80‘s,(hysterical may be considered), worthy of  inclusion in this should be given to Kissy. All items will be returned to those who submitted them.

Enjoy the season.

Play!!

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January Edition

At this time of year most  folk have put away the black bun, shortie and the old dod of fossil fuel held over from the days of yesteryear when hooses had coal fires, even the traditionalists like Kissy who celebrate Auld Scots New Year on12^th January (the fact its also his birthday is purely coincidental but also cause for double celebration) have turned attention to celebrating the Bard - but not in Innellan! Friday 21^st January is first footing night!!!!

It may then be a question worth asking…When does Innellan’s Panto season finish? The answer may be that it, in fact, does not.

It could be argued that some of the farces played out by this club each summer could not be scripted by Francie and Josie, Jimmy Logan, Lex McLean, either of the Krankies nor anyone else of the ‘oh yes it is - oh no it isn’t’ brigade. Though, to be fair, we have no evidence of cross dressing and thigh slapping within the company these days. There was a worry about Jonah Wheatley in the ‘New Romantic’ era 20 years ago - but he was a son of the rectory.

Winter practice began a fortnight ago with an enthusiastic attendance which continued into week 2. Only two participants from Cairndow have appeared, but given that Innellan is still first footing, they may well still be doing Hallowe’en!

Whilst on the subject of Cairndow, Douglas Dando has made a little progress since his stroke. He is able to say ‘Hello and Goodbye’ and has some feeling in his left leg, but it may be a long road to recovery. All our good wishes go to Douglas, Mitzi and the family.

Mike Clark has been busy compiling the fixture card and although we have decided not to enter the Argyll League this year, he has almost completed the list already!! 

Well, we’ve seen off two Scotland coaches and two publicans and now we have frightened off a third!! John and Jules Mather and family have sold The Royal and are moving to Furnace. They will be sorely missed by us all…hands up for a  tour to Furnace !!!

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