Two young captains are looking forward to leading out their respective sides in the CSL Eastern Premier Division play-off match on Saturday at Freuchie.
With the top flight season having finished last weekend and with Glenrothes dropping out of the division there is one spot out of 10 left to be filled ahead of the 2019 campaign.
And the place will go to either Kelso or Stoneywood Dyce depending on the result of this cracking looking tie.
Mazars Grange II won the CSL Eastern Championship title, but as they are a second XI they cannot go up and, having finished second, Kelso are the team to benefit from that.
The Borderers have been led well by 21-year-old local lad Mark Henderson this summer and won 14 and lost three of their 17 completed league matches.
For Mark it was a big task to take over the leadership role from club stalwart Dougie Wilson, but the latter has helped him greatly.
“Dougie is a club legend really, so to become captain after him was a big job, but one I was very honoured to take on,” Mark stated.
“We have Dougie and our two oversea players and then the rest of the squad are young local guys who have come through the ranks together and the mix is brilliant.
“Everyone gets on really well and plays for each other and we always know we have Dougie’s experience to turn to should we need a hand.”
Key with the bat this year for the Shedden Park men have been South African Michael Eckard and New Zealander Tristan Van Ingen-kal.
“They are quality performers for us, but more importantly for me they have bought into what our community club is all about and have helped our youngsters,” Mark said ahead of the weekend’s big clash in Fife.
Similar to Kelso, Stoneywood Dyce finished second in their league.
With Strathmore & Perthshire Cricket Union N-E Championship winners Falkland not wanting promotion, the People’s Park side were keen to give it a bash after 13 wins and three league losses during the regular campaign.
Jack Mitchell, 24, suffered an injury midway through the season, but the skipper is fit and raring to go now ahead of this one.
“It has been a good season for us in general and what has been most pleasing has been guys stepping up from our successful youth set-up and doing a job when required,” Jack stated.
“I quite enjoy the leadership role and I have loved my few years at the club since I moved here from Huntly.
“Having ‘old heads’ like Jan Stander and George Ninan really helps me and the other guys and I think as a unit we learnt as things went on this year and bounced back from poor performances pretty well in general.
“Like us, Kelso are coming into this play-off match on a bit of a high after a successful summer so I expect it to be a closely fought affair.”
