NotjustanotherSaturday

Cricket: Stoneywood-DycebatsmanDavidsonreadyforseason-defininggame

Stoneywood- Dyce face a season-defining game against top-of-the-table rivals Falkland tomorrow.

That is the view of Ewan Davidson, who has rejoined the unbeaten People’s Park outfit after a summer switch to neighbouring Aberdeenshire.

Both Stoneywood-Dyce and Falkland fly the flag at the top of the Strathmore and Perthshire Union’s North-East Championship, having won seven from seven so far.

Tomorrow’s hosts are out to retain the title they won in emphatic fashion last year as they lost just once en route to runaway success.

Middle-order batsman Davidson felt the family atmosphere at StoneywoodDyce was better suited to him, hence the quick return home, and feels they are more of an all-round team than tomorrow’s opposition.

He said: “This weekend is season-defining – it could change the outcome of the season.

“It means they will be chasing us but even if we lose this weekend, we’ll still believe we can win the title and we’d keep pushing them.

“We’re quite similar teams but if you look at the scorecards, we seem to operate more as a team whereas their professional Harsha Nawalage and Ben Strachan do a lot of work for them. We share the runs and wickets around.

“I made the move (to Shire) as I wanted to play in the National League and get into the Scotland set-up. But I wasn’t enjoying the environment of the club, coming from a family club like Stoneywood-Dyce. It was the right decision to come back and I’ve really enjoyed it. The committee on both sides dealt with it fairly quickly and a couple of days after I spoke to (head coach) Jan Stander, I was back.”

The move has worked out perfectly for Davidson, who has fulfilled his aim of getting into the Scotland set-up after he was called up for their under-19s to face the MCC next week in Arbroath.

Davidson added: “It’s massive for me and given me a lot of confidence

“Thisweekendis season-defining – itcouldchange theoutcomeof theseason”

going to the big game this weekend.

“I’ve got the finals of the T20 competition and the Scotland game to look forward to as well.

“It shows that even though I’ve moved down a division, ( pathway manager) Gordon Drummond haven’t outcast me because I’m not playing in the National League.”

Elsewhere in the NorthEast Championship tomorrow, it is third against fourth as Forfarshire’s seconds host Gordonians, while Mannofield are at home to Strathmore. Dundee High School entertain Arbroath United and Meigle play Perth Doocot in the other fixtures.