Scottish Universities Indoor Sixes 2011
Martin Flynn reflects on a busy Indoor Sixes season for Scottish Students Sport a recently established organisation which embraces students from Scotland’s Colleges as well as its Universities.
The cricket section of Scottish Students’ Sport, morphed from Scottish Universities Cricket, have had a busy and successful winter term organising four Indoor Six-a-side events, two in Edinburgh and one each in Glasgow and Perth.
Due to hall availability three of the tournaments had to be scheduled for October, rather than preferable month of November, which allows more times for clubs to get up and running in the new academic year. This meant that Napier, Heriot-Watt, the University of the West of Scotland and Abertay found it too early in the academic year to accept invitations to participate. The more established clubs absence was compensated by the presence of the City of Glasgow College and Stevenson College from Edinburgh. The logistical and physical differences of the venues means that some refinements in the Regulations may be necessary for future tournaments and these will be implemented.
For the first time the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) invited Scotland to host their ‘Northern’ region qualifying event and this was held at the MES, Edinburgh on 15 October with the competing sides being the universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Stirling, Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Sunderland. Stirling and Newcastle progressed to the next stage of the UK-wide competition with, in fact, the Scottish side being again successful in making it to the semi-final stages at the Headingley Indoor School.
On the same day at Hutchesons School Gym, Strathclyde’s two entries competed the SSS West regional final with the so-called ‘second’ six emerging triumphant on the day. Sixes from Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian Universities and the City of Glasgow College contributed to an excellent day’s entertainment. The second Scottish qualifying event, for the ‘East’, was held at MES a week later where a strong Edinburgh side comfortably overcame St Andrews in the Final in a repeat of the outcome of the 2011 Final in February. Also taking part were an under strength Stirling and Stevenson College, while in the Ladies challenge match Edinburgh University completed the ‘double’ over St Andrews.
The third and final regional qualifying tournament was for the institutions in the north and Midlands. It was hosted at Bell’s Sports Centre in Perth in late November.
The surprise package was the University of the Highlands and Islands represented entirely by Asian cricketers from the local Perth College campus who overcame a disappointing Aberdeen side in the last match of the day. However, Dundee, coached by Abertay Sports Coaching graduate Richard Rennie, emerged as easily the best side on the day winning all three of their games by having highly effective game plans for indoor cricket. This was the first time the Main Hall in Perth was used for such an event and while one or two minor logistical problems were encountered the convenors are convinced these can be dealt with in the future.
The Finals are scheduled for Saturday 18 February 2012 at MES the qualifying teams being Edinburgh, Stirling, Dundee, Strathclyde, UHI and St Andrews. If issues of funding and availability of venues can be solved it is hoped to organise a second event for some of the university sides not involved so far and the fledgling college teams, of which several are starting to spring up across the country, which is heartening for all at SSS.
A sincere vote of thanks must to accorded to the staffs of the three venues used for their willing co-operation and advice, to John Blair from the Western Junior Union Committee and Kirsteen Ross of Live Active Perth for their involvement and also to all the umpires and scorers.
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(Report by Martin Flynn, 6 December 2011)
