Gordon Potts Memorial Cricket Match - 2016
Friday 24th June 2016 saw the ninth playing of the Annual Gordon Potts Memorial Cricket Match at Forthill.
The new Friday night slot which happily coincided with the opening evening of the Dundee Beer Festival at the same venue proved popular and a good turnout of participants from down the years was evident. As is tradition for this fixture, the teams comprise squads of Dundee and Dundee United supporters who do battle for the trophy. The Dundee United team was almost identical to the side that competed in the first year of this fixture; and under the leadership of Chic they seemed determined to stop the losing streak which had seen Dundee move ahead 4 -3 (with one tie) in the series. The Dundee side had a flurry of late call offs and we were grateful to some of the club’s younger guard for stepping in at short notice.
After a customary warm up of a pint of lager, the teams took the field and it was Dundee United who were batting first.
On a decent night, the Duke quickly retired after scoring a rapid 30 – and it was lucky for Dundee that his opening partner Butts was playing like Stevie Wonder on a bad day or else a record score might have been on the cards. Luckily for United, Cully was enjoying batting on his own wicket and he too made his way to 30 and duly retired. This brought Gus to the crease and he proceeded to score 11 singles on the trot much to the dismay of his team mates who voiced their vocal displeasure. Gus wasn’t too happy either as he was knackered from all of that running. He finally struck a boundary before swiftly getting out soon after. Butts had also departed by then – and this allowed Howie to come came in and play with his usual class to score 30 and he was well assisted by a very trim looking Nobby who scored a quick 20.
All of this meant that United closed with a very challenging 158 for 4 - and at the mid innings drinks break the general consensus was that United had scored too many for their local rivals. Cheese was the pick of the home bowlers, his two overs costing just 8 runs.
To try and ensure victory was secured, United sneaked on a twelfth man in the shape of Duke Junior. Jack opened up in fine style for Dundee and fell just short of 30. His opening partner Hector played the innings of the day. He flayed the Arab bowling to all parts and retired for a hard hitting 32 that put Dundee in with a shout. Clark also got to 30 and at the mid-point of the innings an unlikely Dundee victory seemed on the cards. Bryce continued the good chase with a steady 28, however, some tight bowling and more cautious batting quickly saw things change again and with a couple of overs left United had the upper hand.United were admittedly heavily hampered by not being able to bowl their secret weapon Tucker who was out of the attack due him being investigated by the ICC over a suspect bowling action.
With United now on top Ted came on and to the surprise of all young James struck him over mid-wicket for six. It was now game on; but when both Girolami’s fell in quick succession it left “non cricketers” Scott and Connie at the crease and Howie bowling the final over. Connie (with no pads, gloves or even box!) managed to get one away and this brought big Scott on strike - and in the tensest of finishes he struck the winning run with two balls to go.
It was not lost on the winning team that in this year of all years; Dundee had come from a seemingly lost position to put their near neighbours down to a defeat.........and one of their own had notched the winner…
Anne and Ian were both in attendance among a healthy crowd ; and Ann handed the trophy over to winning captain Bryce. Scott won the “Champagne Moment” for his winning run.
A few beers were enjoyed after the game and as ever the evening was one to reminisce and think of past times.