Grange rely on mix of youth and experience to maintain title challenge

Two players at the opposite ends of the experience scale will be looking to lead Mazars Grange to victory today against RH Corstorphine and take them one step closer to the CSL Eastern Premier Division title.

With four weeks of the season left, Grange are top of the table with Heriot’s the only side who look like they could beat them to the silverware.

A number of players have been in form for Grange this summer, but the names of Neil Mccallum and Tom Mackintosh jump out.

Former Scotland batsman Mccallum is in great form as usual while 15-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman Tom Mackintosh has a very bright future ahead of him.

The former is 40 and has revealed he will retire at the end of this summer while the latter plays for Scotland’s agegrade sides as well as the Durham Academy.

Despite having just a few weeks of action left, Mccallum is not reminiscing just yet though, in fact he has his eyes firmly fixed on a league and Citylets Scottish Cup double to sign off with.

“I am loving my cricket as much as ever with this current Grange team,” Mccallum said.

“We have got ourselves into a good position in the league, but I have been around long enough to know that there could be a few twists and turns to come yet.

“Corstorphine have done really well since promotion and we know we will have to be on our game to get the better of them this weekend.” With pro Hammad Azam having left Corstorphine due to injury, Australian Daniel Payne has returned to the club and will be involved in the match at Portgower Place.

Richard Mccorkell also comes in for the mid-table visitors.

With skipper Keith Morton unavailable, Heriot’s will be led by Hayes van der Berg as they look to keep up the pressure at the top when they take on bottom side Glenrothes at Goldenacre.

Third placed Forfarshire are on the road to Aberdeenshire with Craig Wallace looking to build on his magnificent 152 not out from last week.

Carlton make the trip to Inverleith to play Stewart’s Melville. The home side will be skippered by Adam Mchoul in the absence of Greg Ruthven with visiting skipper Ali Evans back in the fold.

Watsonians have Dewald Nel, Fraser Sands and Rory Evans coming into the XI for their match at Arbroath.

Ross Mclean leads the hosts with Marc Petrie unavailable.