SNCL Premier Division: Week 9 Previews

UDDINGSTON v ABERDEENSHIRE
The season reaches its halfway stage with Uddingston in a familiar berth on the fringes of the title race. However, this week's visitors have been the real surprise of the campaign to date. Promoted as first division champions last season, the Dons sit proudly at the top of the table after a run of seven wins and just one defeat on the opening day. The Mannofield men refuse to get carried away, however, and Neil MacRae, their player-coach and a former Uddingston player, insists that is the way it will stay. He said: "We are just trying to improve with each game. There are new challenges every week and that will be the case again when we go to Uddingston. We are expecting a really good wicket for batting and we are looking forward to it. But we know Uddingston can be a dangerous side and we will need to be at our best." The visitors are unchanged, meaning young wicketkeeper Matthew Cross retains his place after taking three stumpings and two catches for Scotland Lions against MCC during the week." Uddingston also continue to give youth a fling with teenager Neil MacLeod again in the starting line-up. 
Prediction: Dons march on.

CARLTON v WEST OF SCOTLAND
Cedric English, the Carlton captain, insists his highly-rated side can turn the corner after a run of poor results which has seen them slump into the bottom half of the table. Their latest reverse came in a D/L defeat to Heriot's last week, but English said: "To be honest, I think we have been unlucky in a couple of games and I am honestly not concerned about our league position. But I will be asking the guys to step up to the mark because West are going well." That is something of an understatement about today's visitors, who came up via the promotion play-offs and have emerged as title challengers. Carlton are without Pete Deakin while West recall Dave McNulty and Mo Kashif.
Prediction: Carlton to stop the rot.

GRANGE v GREAVES CLYDESDALE
Champions Grange overcame the absence of ten key players last Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a successful title defence and they are still under strength for the visit of a Clydesdale side who normally relish their trips to the capital. This game comes just too early for wicketkeeper Simon Smith as he recovers from a broken thumb, while Stuart Davidson is also on the injured list, Stuart Moffat is on honeymoon and Gregor Maiden is unavailable. However, Simon Taylor, Duncan Hodge and Giles Holmes return. The visitors, in high spirits after defeating Greenock a week ago, are without Greig Williamson and the injured Craig Smith.
Prediction: Grange to pull through.

HERIOT'S v GREENOCK
Steve Knox, the Heriot's player-coach, is in no doubt about the importance of a match which could see them open up a significant gap over their visitors. He said: "Victory would give us three more wins than them, whereas defeat would close the gap to just one so there is every incentive." The Goldenacre side are without Gavin McIntyre and Ali Farooq, but Knox has able deputies in Ant Edington and Jed Case. Greenock, buoyed by Sunday's Scottish Cup win at Stirling, had further good news during the week following the arrival of overseas amateur Adam Lockhart-Krause, who will play subject to his registration going through. Moneeb Iqbal also plays, despite a tragic double family bereavement last weekend, but seam bowlers Dewald Nel and Sean Weeraratna are both injured. 
Prediction: Heriot's have the edge.

WATSONIANS v AYR
Watsonians continue to blow hot and cold, a fine win at Greenock being followed by last week's slump against Aberdeenshire. A visit from the division's bottom side presents the perfect chance to bounce back, but they will have to do so without injured duo Euan Stubbs and Dwayne Batchelor. George Cairns takes the keeper's gloves, while Raj Routray returns to bolster the seam attack. Ayr, still searching for their first win, replace one Johnstone with another, Dougie coming in for Davie. Mark Renny's participation is subject to a fitness test.
Prediction: Watsons with ease.
 

FORFARSHIRE v ARBROATH
Ryan Watson, the Forfarshire skipper, believes youth will have a say in the latest Angus derby. The home side have already benefited from the performances of Craig Wallace and Henry Phillips with bat and ball respectively, while several of Arbroath's clutch of talented youngsters are already established performers for Scotland U19s. Watson declared: "It's good for Scottish cricket to see young guys coming through and I've been personally delighted with Craig and Henry this season. We also know all about Arbroath's youngsters but I'm not bothered whether it's our kids or our old stagers who do the business as long as we manage another win. We're on a bit of a run just now and it would be an ideal time for us to put some pressure on the teams above." Forfarshire are threateningly poised in fourth place, but for Arbroath, a further 12% behind, this match has a must-win look. The Lichties have a poor record in this fixture, having lost four of the last five matches against their local rivals, but are in good spirits following a hard-fought win over Penicuik last week. 
Prediction: Another derby success for 'Shire.
 

Best of the Rest: Ferguslie to claim home advantage against Drumpellier; struggling NVT Poloc to submit to Stoneywood-Dyce; Penicuik to be outshone by Dunfermline Knights; and Stirling County to be outdone by derby rivals Stenhousemuir.

FALKLAND v RENFREW
High-flying Falkland will end the first half of the season unbeaten if they can get the better of a free-scoring Renfrew side at Scroggie Park. The Fifers have a perfect record of seven straight wins and skipper Ryan Hepburn admitted: "We never expected to be in this position. It's the best run we have ever had in the National League and we just want to keep it going as long as we can. Everybody has been contributing and I think that has been the key to our success." However, Hepburn added: "We are taking nothing for granted and we know Renfrew have some really dangerous players in their side." These include Ahmad Said who boasts the highest individual score of the season (127) and Fida Hussain who is the second highest run scorer in the league. In contrast to their hosts, Renfrew are aiming for a more modest third consecutive win following excellent victories over Freuchie and Corstorphine.
Prediction: Falkland to fly on.

Best of the rest: Imans Edinburgh to win at home to Freuchie; RH Corstorphine to be topped by APD Dumfries; SMRH to remain pointless against MGM Prestwick; and Weirs to continue recovery at home to West Lothian.

Editorial contributions from Cricket Media Scotland