The Eastern Premier League season reaches the halfway stage today when second placed Heriot’s take on unbeaten leaders Gen!us Grange in the biggest game of the season so far.
Heriot’s were unbeaten six until last weekend, when they fell to defeat against Stewart’s Melville, but another Edinburgh derby is a perfect opportunity to respond immediately.
Captain Lloyd Brown said: “It’s been a good start to the season for us. Obviously the defeat last week was disappointing, but I thought Stewart’s Melville were full value for their win and it shows just how strong this league is.
“It means that every game is big and you have to be ‘on it’ every week. We are sitting second in the table as the season reaches the halfway stage, we want to bounce back and it is an exciting time to be playing the leaders.
“Goldenacre is looking fantastic, so it should be a good game against Grange with hopefully a lot of runs. Both sides are missing Scotland players, but we are confident we can get over the line if we play well.”
Brown has been the most prolific batter in the league over the last couple of months with 585 runs already to his name in the league, while James Dickinson has taken 13 wickets.
Grange overhauled Meigle’s daunting 354-6 last week, recording their highest run chase in their history in an impressive victory. Ryan Flannigan made 121, Fin McCreath 79, skipper Tom Foulds 58 not out and Angus Brown 50.
That ensured an eighth successive win, and Foulds said: “The first half of the season has flown by. We have had some good results so far and what sticks out for me is just how fun our environment is at the minute, we are all enjoying playing cricket together.
“We have used quite a few players so far and have had a variety of sides out and what has been great has been seeing fringe players really stepping up and playing important roles.
“The relaxed atmosphere has helped those guys and whether we have gone into games as favourites or underdogs it hasn’t mattered, we have simply focused and played good cricket on that given day.
“Heriot’s are a good side and it’ll be a tough game this Saturday, but we are looking forward to it and we want to continue playing with smiles on our faces and backing our skills.”
Elsewhere in the EPL, third-placed Carlton are on the road to fourth-placed Forfarshire, sixth-placed RH Corstorphine take on fifth-placed Watsonians, seventh-placed Stewart’s Melville travel to eighth-placed Falkland and ninth-placed Meigle face bottom side Stoneywood Dyce.
In Western Premiership One, leaders Ayr are looking to keep up their unbeaten start when they host fourth placed McCrea FS West of Scotland.
Ayr have won eight out of eight completed league games and last time out defended 228-9 at nearest rivals M8 Driving Ferguslie.
The Ayr skipper Michael English has led by example in the last couple of months, topping the runs chart in the division with 614 so far. He leads his team against West side that defeated Your Move Dumfries last weeken, with Callum Dutia taking four wickets.
Ferguslie are on the road to seventh placed Clydesdale, while third-placed Loc Hire Stenhousemuir, who racked up 315 runs last week against Clydesdale, visit to sixth-placed SM Stirling County today.
Fifth-placed Prestwick travel to Dumfries while the two bottom sides meet when Tunnock’s Uddingston take on bottom side Greenock.
In the SPCU North East Championship Arbroath United, like Grange and Ayr, are looking to stay unbeaten, as they visit Kinloch on Saturday.
Joel Rush of Perth Doo’cot tops the league batting standings with 414 runs to his name and his joint second-placed side are at home to bottom of the table Falkland II.
Freuchie are joint second with Perth Doo’cot in the table, and they have an intriguing home clash with fourth-placed Huntly. Aberdeenshire face Strathmore while Forfarshire II visit Gordonians.
Sunday sees round seven of the Women’s Premier League being played and there are two matches scheduled. Joint sixth RH Corstorphine are hosting fourth placed Grange in an Edinburgh derby while Watsonians, joint sixth, will be on the road to second placed West of Scotland.
