Stag party forces Arbroath squad players to host in-form Falkland
AFTER the first washout of the season it is back to the action this afternoon as the Eastern Premier title race continues to unfold. Sadly last week’s rain put paid to the top-of-the-table clash between Arbroath and Grange.
Although it deprived his team of an opportunity to leapfrog the frontrunners, Marc Petrie, the Arbroath captain, is more interested in looking forward to today’s visit of in-form Falkland than contemplating what might have been. “Of course, we were disappointed at having to call off the match against Grange but playing cricket in Scotland that is to be expected from time to time,” Petrie said. “It was just a shame it was such a big match. That’s in the past now and we will be looking to carry on our good form against a Falkland team who have a lot of momentum at the moment.”
How sides cope in the absence of key players is always an issue in high summer as the international season reaches its peak but, in addition to losing Harris Carnegie and Jack Waller to the national Under-19s, Arbroath are also missing the Burnett brothers, Fraser and Calvin, who are attending a stag weekend in Iceland.
Petrie, though, believes Arbroath have sufficient strength in depth. “We are always confident in calling up our squad players,” he added. “All of them have first-team experience and have been in good form for our second team.” Brothers Craig and Ryan Cameron come in along with Blair Carnegie while Greig Peal has temporarily come out of retirement.
Forfarshire are also hit by call-offs for their trip north to face StoneywoodDyce with Craig Wallace and Michael Leask both on Scotland duty and Scott Cameron with the Under-19s.
Most cricketing eyes in the capital may be focused on events at The Grange where Scotland take on the Netherlands in the World T20 qualifier, but a couple of significant league matches will get under way in Edinburgh after the lunchtime conclusion of the international.
At Inverleith, Corstorphine have a tough task attempting to forge a first win of the campaign against visiting leaders Grange. While Carlton miss captain Preston Mommsen and fast bowler Ali Evans, who are on Scotland duty, for their derby with Heriot’s.