Western Union: high achievement and low farce

Mike Stanger surveys the state of the Western Union leagues and finds strange contrasts between high achievement and low farce...

The Western Union provides a lot of opportunities for recreational cricketers, but also acts as a springboard for clubs aspiring to the national leagues. In both cases, an admirable loyalty to the local club is surely the main incentive offsetting any temptation simply to move to another club that's higher up the food chain of Scottish cricket.

The remarkably dry and sunny start to this cricket season has obviously resulted in a lower-than-average number of games not played, but it has also provided the conditions for some remarkably high-scoring games.

None more so than the Division One match at Meikleriggs on June 12, when a hyperventilating Irvine batting line-up led by their South African overseas amateur, who made 240-odd, smashed all known records in making 439 for the loss of seven wickets, and won the game by 334 runs! Irvine also reached 355-4 at home against Titwood on May 8 for a 158-run victory.

Glasgow Accies v Meikleriggs on May 22, when the home side, led by Richard Andrew's ton, racked up a massive first-innings total of 358 for the loss of three wickets, to set the scene for a 166-run victory. But they still only got 10 points for their trouble! Accies also topped the 300 mark at Titwood on June 12 on the way to a 125-run triumph.

Hillhead also passed the three-ton milestone at Irvine on May 22, their massive 341 for three being 185 runs too many for the home side - the largest margin of victory in any game in the first half of the season. Helensburgh made 310 all out at home to Galloway on June 12, although their margin of victory was just 107. And on June 5, Prestwick made 303-9 to set up a 145-run win over Meikleriggs at the Oval.

Other notable totals were Prestwick's 296 all out and a 158-run win against Partick at Hamilton Crescent on May 15, and Helensburgh's 289 all out on June 5, giving them a 165-run win over Partick.

The most unusual of all the Division 1 results, however, was surely the tie between Meikleriggs and Partick on June 19, when both sides scored 220, and both sides were all out!

All of which leaves Prestwick at the top of the table with six wins from eight games and a percentage of 87.5%, marginally ahead of Hillhead (85.7%) with EK and Accies not far behind in third and fourth places.

At the foot of the table is Galloway, having won just one of their seven games, though they somehow still accumulated enough points to retain a 51.4% rating.

In Division 2, St Michael's have the highest percentage rating of any club in any division, with 90.2%. with GHK second at 89.3%, both clubs having won seven of their nine games. Flirting with relegation are Bothwell (38.7%) and Langloan (35.5%), both having won just one game.

Kilmarnock were one of only two sides to top the 300 mark with 326 all out at Cambusdoon on June 5, while Whitehaugh made 306-5 a week later at home against the same opposition. On June 19, GHK were just three short of the magic mark in the derby game with Anniesland, the winning margin just 55.

Division 3 was blighted by the disgraceful scenes in the match at Hamilton Palace on May 22. With unsubstantiated accusations of racism clouding the waters, the WDCU's disciplinary committee decided that both Hamilton and Motherwell were equally to blame; both sides accepted that they had breached the Spirit of Cricket with their behaviour, and both teams were awarded Nil Points, though the match was deemed to have been conceded by Motherwell, who had walked off the ground, thereby prompting the loss of a further 10 points.

Had the above scenario not been enacted, Hamilton would have been at the top of the Division 3 table with 90.2%. As it is, Active Life have managed to play only five of their games, winning four of them to achieve a nominal 84.8% in mid-season, with Albert Park and Victoria not far behind - though whether this pattern can be sustained without further ramifications is a matter for speculation. At the foot of the table sits GHK/Strathclyde with 32% and one win from nine matches.

Division 4 was an altogether more peaceful oasis, with Moorcroft and Hughenden vying for top place, just 1% apart. Heading for Division 5 is Ardencaple on 10.5%, having not won any of their eight matches so far.

And, perhaps not surprisingly, Division 5 saw the most number of conceded games, leaving Gatehouse and Memorial Field - their three conceded matches actually giving them a negative percentage! - languishing at the bottom of the Western Union ladder, while Vale of Leven and Bute are competing for promotional honours.