Meigleouttomaintainunbeatenstarttoleagueseason

MEIGLE AIM to maintain their unbeaten North East Championship (Strathmore and Perthshire Premier Division) record this weekend when they travel to face Huntly, who find themselves mid-table following two wins and two losses.

Stoneywood Dyce and Autoecosses Forthill will battle it out at the foot of the table as both sides prolonged their search for a league win against Dundee HSFP and Arbroath United, respectively, last Saturday.

Stoneywood were comprehensively defeated by DHSFP while Autoecosses showed signs of lifting the gloom when they pushed Arbroath into the closing stages, with only a final wicket partnership of 37 saving United.

Perth Doo’cot doubled their league success rate on Saturday, dispatching Strathmore from bat and ball while their opponents this weekend, Arrowdawn Gordonians, kept pace with Meigle with a three-wicket win over Huntly.

Mannofield aim to bounce back against an Arbroath United side that was made to dig deep against Autoecosses for their first league win of the season.

Mannofield travelled to Victory Park but found the Meigle machine too hot to handle as overseas amateur Matt Farmer and Alan Neave tore apart the United batting order.

United skittled Autoecosses all-out for 124 with Chris Rob’s 3-5 and Chris Goodfellow’s 3-28 doing the damage with the ball but found themselves staring defeat in the face after Autoecosses bowlers Andrew Wallace and Gordon Walker helped reduce Arbroath to 88-9.

It was only a final wicket partnership of 37, with Goodfellow saving the day, that handed the Lochlands side their first league win.

In the final Division 1 game of the weekend, Strathmore look to bounce back against Dundee HSFP, who scored a resounding victory over Stoneywood Dyce.

Strathmore were unbeaten going into Saturday’s clash with the Perth side but were brushed aside by a splendid century from Saaed Usman, 40 from Graham Ferguson and 36 from Mike Bland, while Jonathan Hill ripped into the home side’s batting, with bowling numbers of 5-12, to help despatch Strathmore for only 68.

In the Baillie and Gifford East League Division 1, leaders Edinburgh CC travel north to Largo as they bid to make it five wins from five, while the home side look to rebound after slumping to defeat against Edinburgh Accies.