Sport digest
CRICKET
It was a successful weekend for Stirling County with both 1st and 2nd XIS recording Western Union league victories.
After a false start last week when their game against Ferguslie in Paisley was hit by the weather, County welcomed Uddingston to New Williamfield - and sent them home on the end of a 33-run defeat.
On a bright day, County skipper Matthew Tweedie won the toss, decided to bat and was quickly back in the pavilion after being dismissed for five.
Fellow opener Ant Dunford started well and was joined by Brandon Mcmullen who was quickly into his stride with a number of boundaries. Dunford went for 25 and this brought Manus Sahare to the crease in a partnership which set up County’s win.
The Stirling University students added 112 runs before Mcmullen went for 83 and Sahare added another 56 with Amir Shahzad before the latter was unfortunately run out for 29.
Sahare finally fell for 79 as the County tail wagged to reach 280 for eight in their allotted 50 overs.
They then got off to a dream start when Sahare had Zaighum Ahmad caught for zero in the opening over. And when Muhammad Awais and Aamir Gul fell quickly, County were well on top.
Amaan Ramzan held the Uddingston innings together but wickets continued to fall and it wasn’t until skipper Bryan Clarke joined him that Stirling’s march to victory was held up.
They added 79 runs before Ramzan was out for 89 and Clarke followed soon after for 44 as the visitors ended on 247 all out.
Best bowling for County came from Dunford who took four for 53 while Sahare chipped in with three for 57 although Rukman Hewage’s 10 overs for 42 helped keep Uddingston’s run rate in check.
On Saturday, County are on their travels when they head to West of Scotland in another Western Union Premier League match while on Sunday, they face Ayr at New Williamfield in a Scottish Cup first round tie.
Williamfield (Stirling 2nds) made it two wins out of two in Western Union Division Four with a thrilling one-wicket win over Anniesland in Glasgow.
Youngster Aaron Gairns took three for 36 as the home side made 121 all out but his good work looked like it had gone to waste as Williamfield collapsed to 85 for nine.
But Adam Guy and Zeeshan Sami held their nerve to see their side over the winning line.
On Saturday, they play host to Galloway 2nds at New Williamfield.
Anyone interested in playing cricket at Stirling can go along to net practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays at New Williamfield from 6pm.
FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD RESULTS
Wednesday, May 4
Stirling and District AFA
First Division - Grangemouth 4-4 Linlithgow Rose CC.
Cameron Craig - Westfield Colts 4-3
Riverside; Dollar Glen 3-2 Falkirk Athletic LK.
Caledonian League
First Division - Milton 3-2 Westerlands. President’s Cup group stage - Milngavie Wanderers 3-1 Stirling University.
William Turner Challenge Cup second round - Kilsyth 1-2 Dunblane Soccer Club Central Scottish AFL
Premier Division - Greenock HSFP 1-2 Fallin.
Cinema Cup quarter-final - Campsie Minerva 3-3 Bannockburn (Bannockburn won 9-8 on pens).
Friday, May 6
Stirling and District AFA
David Mckinnon Memorial Trophy Final - Alva 3-0 Braehead (at Ochilview, Stenhousemuir)
Saturday, May 7
Stirling and District AFA
First Division - Linlithgow Rose CC 7-1 Cowie United; Riverside 4-1 Grangemouth.
Colley Trophy semi-final - AFC Chryston 2-2 Falkirk Athletic LK (Falkirk Athletic LK won 3-1 on pens).
Cameron Craig Cup - Dollar Glen 0-2 Beechwood Albion.
Caledonian League
First Division - Doune Castle 4-0 Rothesay Brandane; Dunblane Soccer Club 0-6 Kilsyth.
William Turner Challenge Cup second round - Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers 4-1 Cambusbarron Rovers; Thorn Athletic 3-0 Stirling University.
President’s Cup group stage - St Mungos 1-1 Milton.
Central Scottish AFL
Premier Division - Drumchapel 4-1 Bannockburn; Fallin 0-1 Gartcosh United.
Monday, May 9
Caledonian League
William Turner Challenge Cup first round - Giffnock North P-P Doune Castle (Doune walkover win).
Central Scottish AFL
Premier Division - Drumchapel 4-1 Bannockburn; Fallin 1-4 Harestanes.
FIXTURES
Wednesday, May 11
Stirling and District AFA
First Division - Dollar Glen v Grangemouth.
Cameron Craig Cup - Westfield Colts v Condorrat
Central Scottish AFL
Premier Division - Fallin v Uddingston Anvil.
Cinema Cup semi-final - Wishaw HSFP v Bannockburn.
Friday, May 13
Stirling and District AFA
Premier League Cup Final - Dunipace v AFC Chryston (at Ochilview, Stenhousemuir, 7.15pm)
Saturday 14th. May
Stirling and District AFA
Premier Division - Westfield Colts v Braehead.
First Division - Beechwood Albion v Grangemouth.
Caledonian League
First Division - Rothesay Brandane v
Milton; Stirling University v Finnart.
William Turner Challenge Cup quarter-final - Dunblane Soccer Club v Stenhousemuir Community.
Central Scottish AFL
Premier Division - Harestanes v Banncokburn; Lesmahagow v Fallin.
BOWLS STIRLING COUNTY WEST
Hamilton Trophy hopes took an early knock on Saturday when Stirling County West bowlers slumped to an opening defeat.
After an evenly contested first half, opponents Glasgow West proved too strong in the Scottish Counties Championship match at the Stirling green and eventually ran out 28-shot winners.
Only 12 shots adrift at the turn, County West failed to sustain their challenge and by the 15th end the Glasgow boys were in command leading by a comfortable 31 shots.
On a positive note County West did finish with three winning rinks. James Stanfield, George Young, Danny Mccormick and David Kerr were 23-16 winners over Scott Mcwilliams while Daniel Mccann, David Stewart, Michael Murphy and Willie Black carded a 16-12 victory over George Mccartney.
Also winning were Alastair Mcfarlane, David Mckean, James Brown and Gary Malcolmson, who after trailing 14-1, staged a superb comeback to win 20-18 over Stuart Mcmillan.
Losing out were Drew Murdoch, Arron Furzer, David Mcewan sen and
TENNIS STIRLING
On Sunday, May 15 between 1pm and 4pm there will be an Open Day at Stirling Tennis Club at Laurelhill Place.
Anyone who wants to come and join an afternoon of tennis and squash fun with the club’s brilliant coaches please register at www.lta.org.uk/tennisweekends and search for Stirling Tennis Club where you can sign up.
The event is free and if you are interested in getting you or your family into tennis, or haven’t picked up a racket in years and fancy giving it another shot, pop along on Sunday afternoon.
There will also be a discounted membership offer available on the day for those who would like to join the club.
DOLLAR
Dollar Tennis Club’s Emma Howat has won the Young Person of the Year title at this year’s Tennis Scotland Awards.
Emma’s was nominated after striving to open doors in Clackmannanshire by encouraging players to compete in local events.
The awards celebrate the outstanding individuals, clubs, programmes and competitions that made a significant contribution to tennis in 2021 by helping to create an accessible and welcoming environment which supported 8000 incoming club members across the nation.
Blane Dodds, Tennis Scotland Chief Executive, said: “I would like to congratulate each of the winners of this year’s Tennis Scotland Awards, alongside everyone who stepped up and played their part in continuing to grow our sport by facilitating welcoming tennis environments all over the country.
“As the governing body, it gave us great pleasure to witness a plethora of Scottish success stories across the year, on a national and international level. I wish the very best of luck to our winners and LTA President Award nominee as they aim to pick up more accolades at the LTA Awards later this year.”
All category winners will invited to an awards ceremony to be held for recent winners at the Davis Cup in September as part of the celebrations marking the Emirates Arena’s role as a host of group stage matches.