ROUND-UP Derby pride at stake

Forfarshire and Arbroath face each other at Forthill

Both sides will be desperate to win to have the bragging rights, although they will also feel their title challenges could have been stronger.

Forfarshire have lost three of their last five games to slip to third while Arbroath started the season poorly and are playing catch up.

The sides met on Sunday in the Murgitroyd 20/20 competition and Arbroath will hope they produce a better batting display after being dismissed for only 44.

Fraser Burnett and Elton Willemse return to their line-up and Liam Sweeney and Aman Bailwal are back in the Forfarshire side.

In what could be a high scoring match, the performances of the opposing spinners may prove crucial to the outcome.

Falkland’s miserable season won’t get any easier when they entertain high flying Carlton at Scroggie Park.

The Fifers were shot out for only 36 in last week’s defeat to Watsonians, so their batting will have to improve greatly if they are to pull off a shock victory.

Glenrothes have home advantage over Aberdeenshire with the visitors still fuming over their game being called off last weekend despite both themselves and Grange feeling the ground was perfectly playable. With Chris Venske now returned from his broken leg, the Granite City side will start as slight favourites.

The remaining two games in the division see Stoneywood Dyce face a tough trip to face Grange and an allEdinburgh affair between Heriot’s and leaders Watsonians at Goldenacre.

In the Western Premier Division, the title is now Clydesdale’s to throw away as they have a substantial lead at the top.

They will be sorely tested at Ayr, however, especially if home pro Michael Papps continues his recent good form.

Elsewhere, Ferguslie and Prestwick meet at Meikleriggs and Stenhousemuir have Uddingston as visitors.

In the Western Championship, Greenock and Poloc continue to lead the way. Both should continue in their winning ways as they play Irvine and Weirs respectively.

TOMORROW sees a muchanticipated Angus derby between Forfarshire and Arbroath at Forthill in the CSL Eastern Premier Division.