Grange aiming to maintain momentum
Leaders have enjoyed recent success in league and cup and they aim to keep feelgood factor with win over Glenrothes
CSL Eastern Premier Division leaders Mazars Grange make three changes to their league XI as they look to continue their march towards the title this afternoon.
Last weekend was a good one for the Portgower Place men, defeating Watsonians on league duty on Saturday then seeing off Ferguslie in dramatic circumstances on Sunday in the Citylets Scottish Cup semifinals.
In the Cup final they will face Edinburgh rivals Heriot’s in Paisley on 19 August but, for now, all energies are focused on the Premier Division with six matches left.
Today Grange welcome bottom side Glenrothes to the capital with all-rounder Tom Foulds and young duo Patrick Ritchie and Jamie Cairns brought into the XI.
The return of Foulds to league action is timely with Nick Farrar unavailable, while Ritchie will keep wicket in the absence of Harris Carnegie and spinner Cairns is in for seamer Cameron Sloman.
The Fifers are still winless and know that they must start winning soon if they are to have any chance of staying up come late August.
Second meets third at Goldenacre when Heriot’s host Forfarshire.
Heriot’s have had a very up and down week, first losing out to Carlton seven days ago in the league, then beating Arbroath in the Cup last four before losing to RH Corstorphine on Thursday evening in the semi-finals of the Masterton Trophy.
They have key men Michael Shean and Peter Ross back for today’s crucial match. Chris Ashforth hit 89 off 54 balls in the Cup game six days ago and said: “Hopefully I can now kick on from here and it is very exciting that we have so much left to play for during the remainder of the season.”
Recent wins over Grange and Stewart’s Melville have kept Forfarshire’s slim title hopes alive.
For their away day they have Jack Hogarth returning in place of Matthew Parker.
Carlton have been in excellent form of late and they will head to Arbroath in fine fettle. Shiv Gupta and Fraser Boyd are unavailable so Omar Ahmad and Rory Allardice come in for the visitors. Viceskipper Ross Mclean is back for Arbroath.
Corstorphine are making the short trip to Watsonians. The visitors are unchanged while the hosts have a muchchanged XI, the likes of captain Ewan Chalmers, his brother Andrew and Brendan O’connell returning.
Stewart’s Melville have Kyle Mccallum and Harry Johnstone coming into the side that hosts Aberdeenshire at Inverleith.
Heriot’s Elliot Ruthven bowls to Gordon Goudie, of Grange, during last month’s clash between the sides. The clubs will meet again in the Scottish Cup final in August.