Stonehaven Thistle entertained Inverurie on Saturday and were putting into bat by the guests having lost an important toss. A. Milroy took the captain’s role in the absence of C. Hinchcliffe but last weeks centurion quickly holed out to a sole boundary fielder for 0. Fellow opener A. Keith was soon to join him after a defensively played ball coasted back onto the stumps with just enough force to dislodge the bails. A Kemp then mistimed a pull to mid wicket leaving Stonehaven reeling at 8 for 3.
Denis Garden and James Crosier halted the procession of quick wickets but runs were proving very hard to come by, with Crosier bowled trying to force the pace. This brought A Hinchcliffe to the crease for the first time this year and he seemed to have lost none of his ability, striking an excellent 6 off Hadden. However it was a short lived cameo and he departed for 15, eventually to become the highest score of the 1st innings. J V DeRuit and C V DeRuit, potential match winning brothers, both came and went in quick succession and Denis Garden followed after providing the anchorage for a partnership that never came.
Andy Wilson fell to a superb c&b by Ewen for 0 before David Garden was last man out, bowled for a tidy 13, with A Long the undefeated batsman. Stonehaven mustering a miserable 63 a.o. Inverurie had bowled well, with Cootes taking 2-6 and Hadden 2-27; however the performance of the day was Ewen’s splendid 4-14, including two rare double wicket maidens.

After a magnificent tea Stonehaven set about trying to wrestle something back from the match and were immediately rewarded when Inverurie captain Hadden was superbly plucked by C V DeRuit at gully after edging Long’s out swinger. Further wickets followed and the Lazarus mission seemed achievable. Inverurie however managed to find gaps in an attacking field and achieved the lowly total of 64 for the loss of 6 wickets, Parr top scoring with 14 followed by Cootes with 10. The Stonehaven wicket takers yielding returns of Long 2-11, J V DeR 2-32 and A Keith 2-12.
Match Sponsor – The Station Hotel.

Next week Stonehaven 1st XI travel to Aberdeen to play Bon Accord in what last year was the clubs finest win of the season, however it remains to see whether the batting line up will be furnished with Dr.Jekyll’s or Mr. Hyde’s ??