Third Time Lucky And....

We lose our third final.

Irvine found yet another means of losing a Scottish Trophy final and continued a run which would make even Dundee United seem like clinical match winners.

Although seeming to be in command at the halfway stage with a formidable total of 269, a lack of experienced front line bowlers was the Marress sides ultimate undoing against their northern opponents.

After winning the toss and deciding to bowl, Huntly were more intent on exercising their vocal chords than their catching hands and openers Bobby McPhee and Robbie Stewart took advantage of some slack fielding to get off to a great start, with Stewart in particular profiting from two drops to dominate an opening stand of 64 before running out his partner in a mid pitch mix up.

Stewart was joined by Drew Parsons and completed his century while the ex Scotland man chipped in with a fluent innings of 57. Irvine may have been set for an even higher score but when Parsons was out with Stewart soon following for a total of 132, some momentum was lost from the innings.

A few runs were also lost in the cause of battling global warming as both Stewart (who scored 98 in boundaries) and Parsons, lost some sixes to Freuchie's pitcuresque tree lined road side, having to settle for four instead as poor placement saw the ball make contact with branches and leaves on the way out of the ground on more than one occasion.

(This was the first time this season that we passed 200 though so on balance I think the excellent pitch and brilliant outfield probably just benefitted us more.)

Good lower order contributions from Jon Cowlan, and Graham Owens made sure that the eventual total of 269 was reached and Irvine were certainly confident of their chances of victory.

Confidence was built even higher when Parsons made inroads with two early wickets, but Huntly regrouped round their professional, who was to play a match winning innings of 121, and made steady progress towards their target. Accelerating with a final push of 170 runs from the last 20 overs and thoroughly deserved their victory.

Irvine didn't even get the consolation of bagging the man of the match award as Ali took the honours for a very good day at the office and guiding his team through.

"I can't fault anyone's effort and in the end we were just a bit short on the day." Captain Stuart McCallum can also reflecton a season which has saw their first divison spot preserved, a run to a national cup final, and with some enthusiastic youngsters filling spots in the second XI things should be on the up for the Marress cricketers in 2008.

.