Ferguslie face tough battle for survival (13 August 1999)

13 August 1999

Ferguslie face tough battle for survival

Keith Graham

The spotlight falls on Premiership survival issues in tomorrow's SNCL programme, with some interesting confrontations taking on more significance than the destiny of the championship itself.

Ferguslie, for instance, staring relegation in the face, meet front-runners West of Scotland at Meikleriggs, a fixture with many decades of intense rivalry behind it. West have entered the last lap of the season in rare championship form with a succession of convincing victories.

They are a well-balanced side, astutely led by Mark Townson and with real quality players with bat and ball.

Ferguslie have had a dreadful season, winning only once, and currently ten percentage points adrift of Stoneywood Dyce at the foot of the table. West would virtually clinch the title should they win, and at the same time, condemn the Paisley side to first division cricket next season.

Stoneywood's visit to Mannofield also looks likely to be a tense affair. The home side have slumped recently, surrendering a healthy lead at the top with a run as bad as West of Scotland's has been good. And with intense local rivalry likely to engender some uncompromising cricket, the visitors also have plenty to play for. Occupying ninth position in the table, first division cricket beckons, but their win last week over Ayr has ensured that they are still capable of overhauling West Lothian.

The Boghall side also have a tricky journey to Grange Loan where they must seek maximum points against Carlton.

Ayr's trip to Grange and Greenock's away fixture at Heriot's have no real bearing on the top or bottom of the table, although Ayr's thoughts may well be focussed upon how they might conjour up a Scottish Cup final victory on Sunday against a rampant West of Scotland side who roundly defeated them on Monday evening in the final of the Rowan Cup. Both teams expect to be at full strength for Sunday's final.

Scotland's team for their three-day game against Ireland in Belfast which begins on Aug 21, shows only one change from the eleven that defeated the South African Cricket Academy at Titwood last weekend, Prestwick spinner Andy Tennant replacing Poloc's Keith Sheridan.

SCOTLAND (v Ireland, Belfast Aug 21): G Salmond (Grange, capt), J Brinkley (Worcester), Asim Butt (Heriot's), N Dyer (Chichester), A Gul (West Lothian), N MacRae (Aberdeenshire), A Parsons (Prestwick), C Smith (Aberdeenshire), A Tennant (Prestwick), G Williamson (Clydesdale), C Wright (W of Scotland).

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)