President’s Blog

SEASON 2024 ROUND-UP

A new season and a new look!  We kitted all three senior men’s and women’s teams out in coloured playing kit (Oxford and Cambridge blue) and re-branded the Stag badge.  Our website was refurbished, and we welcomed on board four new sponsors: Cold Town Beer (Men), Murray Capital (Men/Women), appointedd (Women) and Rathbones (Junior Stags).  With some new team management in place, we were ready to go.
 
The 1st XI started the season as East Premier League and National Club Champions ultimately losing both titles to Heriot’s.  Heriot’s also knocked us out of the Scottish Cup at the semi-final stage, going on to win the final.  But, not all the silverware went to Heriot’s.  By winning the Masterton Trophy for the first time since 2016, we qualified for the T20 Scottish Cup finals day, beating Forfarshire (semi-final) and Falkland (final).
 
As Cricket Scotland T20 Scottish Cup Champions we qualified to take part in the European Cricket League; this is a T10 tournament taking place in March in Malaga, Spain – with all expenses paid!
 
Every season has its highlights.  For me it was securing a tie against Watsonian in a Masterton Trophy group match – Watsonian 175 for 6, Grange 175 for 7.  Chasing, we found ourselves 112 for 6 with overs running out.  Needing 64 to win off 33 balls, Campbell Swanson (45) and William Hodgson (15 not out) levelled the scores on the last ball.  We went through on a higher average run rate!
 
Our Seconds finished up mid-table (6th) in the ESCA Championship and our Thirds a very respectable 4th in East Division 4.  We retained the Watts Frazer Trophy (3-2), first played for in 2012, where all senior games between Grange and Carlton count.
 
Watching our women’s team enjoying themselves and continuing to develop was a pleasure.  They are still a very young side who come up against some strong opposition in the Leagues and Cup, which means a number of games can be rather one-sided.  But watch this space! 
 
The Grange Masters certainly know how to enjoy themselves, both on and off the field of play.  Unlike the women, I don’t think their skills can be honed any further, as they are now relying on memory to get them through a game.  It is great to have them playing and socialising at Portgower Place.
 
Our Junior Stags frequently make the season a fond memory for me.  They also turned out in new kit this season; it’s rewarding when you see them enjoying wearing it.  Our U16’s won their Scottish Cup and our U14’s were knocked out at the semi-final stage, losing in a tied match to Aberdeenshire.  The U15’s and U13’s were not able to progress in their ECB Vitality Cup matches this year.
 
We sent an U11 side to the Shrewsbury School Cricket Festival in July.  Those lucky enough to go find it a great experience for many reasons – for some children it is the first time they have been away from home alone.  They never let us down, both on and off the field.  Sadly, in December we received a letter advising that the festival has been cancelled for the foreseeable future.  This is a great loss as these residential festivals have a positive impact on the game of cricket in general and their absence will be felt.
 
In September we welcomed the Australians to play three T20 matches against Scotland.  We were well entertained with some fast scoring and great catches.  All three games were completed (with the Australians winning all three!).
 
My thanks to everyone who contribute their time and energy to the running of the Club: scorers, umpires, coaches, team captains, parents, ground-staff (Tom & Kevin), the committees (Junior, Senior and General), Chris Murphy (Junior Convenor, now retired), Abhijit Chakraborty (Junior Secretary), Jonathan Brock (Club Captain), John Blain (Director of Cricket), Alex Lusty (Women’s Manager) and of course our bar staff (who always welcome me into the bar).
 
Finally, I must thank our invaluable sponsors, mentioned at the start, for their support. It is much appreciated.
 
Rawdon Hesketh
(President)