Buckie cricketers win at the double!
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THERE has been plenty to celebrate for Buckie Cricket Club (BCC) after scooping two major trophies.
Buckie Development side claimed the Highland Club Nosca Development League, a competition which went right to the wire in a final day clash with challengers Ross County in Dingwall. A dramatic victory meant the Linzee Gordon Park team finished the season on 87.5 points ahead of County on 83.13.
There was to be yet more drama in the final of the Nosca Development Cup when Buckie and Skye and Lochalsh met in Inverness. A single run was to separate victors from vanquished, Buckie claiming the silverware in 128-127 triumph.
There was certainly many positives for Development side captain Tahir Shakeel.
He said: "It was a long journey to play Ross County in the last game of the league and I'm very grateful we had enough people to make a team.
"They did a fantastic job, I take my hat off to them, it all hinged on that last game of the season. We had been neck and neck with Ross Country more or less all season.
"The cup game went down to the last over, it was a very exciting and tight game. At one point I thought we had lost it but in the last over we had the experienced Johnny Corsie bowling for us and we won.
"I'm really proud of the team and to be involved with Buckie Cricket Club – it's really enjoyable but it can be havoc at times as well!
"To win both trophies is really incredible. We've got a good bunch of experienced guys and a couple of new ones."
Shakeel, who has led the side for the last four years and has been with the club since 2005, went on to pay tribute to all of the people who work away behind the scenes for the club, including their groundsman and coach Iain Mcdonald.
However, the continued success of the club rests on being able to attract enough players and volunteers. Buckie previously had a side in the senior league but had to pull out as work and family commitments meant that they could not gather together sufficient players for a team.
This situation, though, is by no means exclusive to Buckie.
Shakeel added: "Hopefully next year we can get some more guys.
"We've got a strong nine or 10 at the moment but we need more.
"Anybody at all from the area is welcome to get in touch or come along. They'll be made very welcome."
To find out more message the club via the BCC Facebook page or give former president Eadie Walls a phone on 07977 888787.
The new season is set to get under way at the end April of next year.
More information on the Senior and Development Leagues is available at http://www.nosca.net/
