Championship: Misfiring West Lothian put to the sword by East Kilbride

FORMER West Lothian captain Andy Raven couldn't make up his mind whether to grin or girn as he looked back on the club's varying fortunes at the weekend.

Raven volunteered to drop down to the second XI, missing the important home tussle with East Kilbride. Instead, he turned out in an East League tussle at Haddington - an experience he was enjoying thoroughly until he heard the news that the "big team" had suffered a crushing defeat.

Raven said: "I had been struggling with the ball over the previous couple of weekends, so as we had everyone available I opted to have a go with the seconds to enable to get in ten overs as prep for the Poloc game this week.

"It was a case of so far so good as I took a couple of cheap wickets and we earned a one-run victory over Haddington.

"But, when the score filtered through from Torrance House, it put a real dampener on what should have been a great day. There were no excuses from the guys who all said that East Kilbride were good value for their win.

"Ross Lyons opened the batting in reply to our modest total on a tricky surface and finished the job by hitting the new ball over the top."

Raven added: "They say the mark of a good team is how they bounce back, so what better an opportunity to bounce back than Poloc at Boghall on Saturday.We will be ready for them."

Only pro Kruger van Wyk (72 not out) could offer any real resistance to the EK attack and WL slithered to 130 all out. The fired-up home troops sealed their eight-wicket win in only 22 overs.

Tinus Huyser thumped 107 to inspire leaders Poloc to a 181-run demolition job on Stenhousemuir at Shawholm.

Weirs stepped up their challenge by earning a four-wicket victory over Penicuik - in spite of an explosive unbeaten 144 by home pro Ryan Nurse.

Vice-captain Russell Murray had the last word for the Glasgow side, compiling his second century of the season.

Dumfries surged to their expected win against Corstorphine, bowling them out for double figures at Barnton.

Fife neighbours Falkland and Freuchie had mixed fortunes on home turf. Wayne Sullivan was in superb all-round form for Falkland as they notched a tense two-wicket win against Ferguslie. First, he snapped up four cheap scalps to send the Paisley men slipping to 160 all out. He then hit a half century to complete the success, Harsha Cooray making 49.

Freuchie were outgunned by Edinburgh Accies in convincing fashion at Muir Road. They were skittled for 115 in reply to 192 for eight, Kevin Woodmansey boasting a five-wicket haul.