Ellon Vs St Ronald
Saturday 7th July

Report by Ian Duncan

Ellon 2nd XI cricketer’s recorded a 60 run victory over St Ronald seconds last Saturday at the Gordon park in the semi final of the Johnston cup and now play mannofield seconds on Saturday 18th august at the Duthie park Aberdeen in the final. Last Saturday’s game was completed before more consistent rain started falling over Ellon, which is not helping the wicket dry out from one week to an other.

On losing the toss, Ellon captain Ian Duncan decided to open with two players making their debut for the club this season, Kenny Montgomery, who has been out injured and Steve Reid, who is back in Ellon on holiday from Australia with his family. Both players enjoyed St Ronald’s lapse in fielding concentration early on as both batsman were dropped and on one of these, a.newton in trying to catch the ball above his head didn’t quite do so, the ball hitting him on the eyebrow before hitting the ground. Nevertheless, after a small delay he was soon back in action bowling as the second opening bowler before Steve got after him on his 4th over and he conceded 16 runs, was then removed from the attack for the rest of the game! Runs were coming along at a steady rate with the score soon passing 50 before on51 Steve was bowled for 28,{ four 4’s and a six}.whilst at he crease, one could see that he had lost none of the aggression normally associated with his game while he has been away!

Batting at number three was Ian Duncan and he was also soon in his stride but his short innings of 18,{ two sixes and one four }came to end when he was caught at the second attempt at short cover, proving that certain players could actually catch a cricket ball! St Ronald were changing their attack quite regularly and it was their sixth bowler, surage, who actually collected the most wickets for his team with a mixture of wides and decent length balls that first of all removed Steve Dalton, (13), Huw Owen (13) both these players caught and bowled, Steve Herridge (8) bowled and then his last wicket that of Kenny Montgomery, who scored a well deserved 43. He made the most of the chances he offered, with the slowness of the wicket being the main reason.

Once he was out, Ian Campbell kept the score ticking over in a similar fashion to his last week’s innings, with 3 fours out of his score of 19 before he was out caught. Young Matthew Dalton was also showing his potential with one cracking four through the covers before he ran himself out when he was trying to keep the score ticking along. On this occasion he forgot he was batting with elderly Ean Mackie and it was Ean’s shout to run or not. This is all a learning curve at this early stage of his career, with Matthew, not quite 14, he has a long career ahead of him to pick the quick singles!

Ean himself was unlucky out when he played onto a ball he perhaps could have kicked away before it dislodged a bail in slow motion. By this time, Ellon’s remaining batsman were at the crease, Alan Scott and Fiona Campbell and at the start of the 40th and last over, Fiona was bowled for two and leaving Alan not out 1.

A healthy total of 192 was the set total for St Ronald to get if they were to deny Ellon a cup final appearance, but skipper Duncan was fairly optimistic that 192 would be enough to get through.

After tea, kindly donated by the station hotel, Ellon took to the field in quite darking skies, with a little drizzle now falling ever so gently. Huw Owen bowled the first over and St Ronald’s captain, s hird made his intentions quite clear by scoring 7 off it, before he was out lbw in Steve Reids' first over for 9 and with it any possibility of victory for his team. Huw's second over produced two wickets, first clean bowling opening bat Sunil for zero and then having d Forbes caught by wicketkeeper s Dalton for 2. The pace of Steve was making him difficult to get away and his opening 7 overs were very economical for Ellon’s point of view conceding only 13 runs. Huw’s last of his allowed 10 overs produced two wickets on consecutive overs but didn't get the hatrick, but finished up with 5 wickets for 34. Alan Scott also picked up a wicket, likewise Steve Herridge, also playing his first game of the season and last wicket to fall, bowled by Ian Duncan , with his first ball removing promising junior r McLaughlin, who had scored 18. In between these wickets, Matthew Dalton and Fiona Campbell also turned their arm over and in reality; Fiona should have had a wicket, but somehow dropped a "dolly” off her own bowling. The game would have been completed sooner if Ellon had taken the many chances which came their way. Nevertheless, a comprehensive victory over a weakened St Ronald team who could only raise 10 players.

This Saturday Ellon play grammar fp's in Ellon and are looking for revenge as they won the earlier home fixture in Aberdeen.