1st XI keen to play on Saturday and overcome Helensburgh

The 1st XI get back to league business this Saturday with the visit to Glenpark of near neighbours from across the Clyde, Helensburgh. It is a hugely important game as the visitors are currently occupying one position above the 1st XI with both teams needing to win to move up the table.

The cancelled match last Saturday against Hillhead in Glasgow, because of the wet weather, was a big blow as the fixture was one which the team had targeted as a must win. It was the only match lost to the weather in the Western Premiership Two and the team were bitterly disappointed not to have the chance to play the second bottom team.

Having been denied that opportunity, the Helensburgh match takes on an even greater importance. Helensburgh have won just two matches in the league this season. The first three matches played were all lost and the team was anchored at the bottom of the league table. But since then they have won two out of the last four, beating Stirling County and Hillhead and so have moved up the league ladder.

Last Saturday saw them lose to the then bottom side Mearns by 40 runs after a high scoring match. The win lifted Mearns above both Greenock and Helensburgh as the battle at the lower end of the league table became increasingly tight.

Four teams, Mearns, Helensburgh, Greenock and Hillhead all have two wins with East Kilbride at the bottom with just one win. A win provides 25 points but losing sides can earn bonus points depending on how well contested the match has been. The bonus points may well become more and more important as the season progresses as league placings are decided on percentage worked out from points gained from wins plus any bonus points picked up.

The 1st XI have played six matches out of seven available to be played to date. Of these, the fixture list has been perhaps less than kind as they have already been matched against the top four sides and against only one of the bottom four.

For Saturday, the selected team will have the services of Sean Fischer-Keogh who returns into the team after having been living and studying at university in Edinburgh for several years. The former Scotland Under-19 World Cup player will add significant strength to the bowling attack with his pace and he may also put some runs on the board as a lower order bat.

With Fahim Dinarkhiel free from work commitments and available to play, it will mean that the team will be able to employ a pace attack from both ends, if that is a tactic which is chosen to be used.

Supporting this pace attack will be the off spin provided by the Club's two Aussie amateurs Toby Matthews and Adam McGuirk. And with Nikhil Kadyan and Chirag Pandher also in the team, plus Greg McDougall returned from holiday, the bowling attack should provide a challenge for the visitors' batting line-up.

But it may be that the team's own batting performance will decide the outcome of the match. If Toby Matthews and Adam McGuirk can score well and be supported by others, then if batting first, they could post a large challenging total for Helensburgh to have to chase.

So, if the weather is kind on Saturday and the match gets played, it should be a fascinating game with both sets of players eager to gain a win which would ease their team's current league placing concerns.

The Glenpark XI are away on Saturday against Anniesland, Glasgow Accies' second string. No team has yet been announced but with a strengthened 1st XI, Eddie Ahmad should be able to field a strong outfit this week.

Finally, Sunday sees the Hillend XI welcome Drumpellier to Glenpark for a Sunday League fixture. Last Sunday they easily defeated Ayr and will look for more of the same this week.

The Club is grateful for the continued sponsorship from Ethos Group.