Forfarshire 'back where they belong' as Watson toasts promotion

Published on Monday 14 September 2009 00:58

RYAN Watson believes his young Forfarshire stars will rise to the challenge of playing in Scotland's domestic top flight.

Player-coach Watson led from the front as the Forthill outfit sealed their return to the Premier Division with a comfortable play-off win over Heriot's at Arbroath on Saturday. And, after an absence of five years, Watson reckons Forfarshire are back where they belong.

The former Saltires skipper said: "We have a tremendous group of youngsters at the club and all of them have contributed to our success this season.

"It will be a big step up next year but the Premier Division is where you want to be playing and I think it is where this club should be playing.

"I am sure our young players will benefit from the experience they have had this year and prove they can compete at the higher level.

"We just need to look at what Aberdeenshire have done by winning the Premier Division this year after going up last season. It shows what can be done."

Watson, the SNCL's all-time leading run scorer hit 60 to help Forfarshire post a challenging 258-5 while experienced opener Graeme Garden top-scored with a solid 71.

However, Scotland U-19 player Craig Wallace played his part with 39 before Graham Black claimed four wickets and Umair Mohammad two as Heriot's could only reach 244-9.

A jubilant Watson added: "On a personal note I am delighted at the prospect of playing in the Premier Division again and I will also enjoy testing my coaching skills at that level."

Meanwhile, Heriot's will this week discuss what went wrong in a season which saw them drop out of the top flight for the first time ever.

Player-coach Steven Knox declared: "It is obviously a bitter blow to go down and we will sit down and work out where we go from here."

Elsewhere, Penicuik clung on to their First Division status in their play-off clash with Second Division runners-up Dumfries at New Williamfield. Dumfries appeared to enjoy the momentum going into the match after finishing their league campaign strongly while Penicuik collapsed in the closing weeks to plunge into the play-off place.

However, the Kirkhill side imposed themselves from the start to restrict Dumfries to just 152-7 with John Hutton claiming three wickets.

Penicuik then raced to their target with seven wickets and more than 16 overs to spare, Anjum Aslam top-scoring with 39 after Scotland U-19 batsman Freddie Coleman got the innings off to a bright start with 30.

Western Union champions Kelburne, who missed out on a return to the SNCL at the play-off stage last season, made no mistake this time with a convincing 55-run win over East League winners Fauldhouse.

Victory sees the Paisley side rejoin the elite after an absence of five years.

Meanwhile, Greenock last night survived a big scare before lifting the Murgitroyd Twenty20 Cup at Shawholm, Glasgow. The tournament favourites edged out a battling Corstorphine in the final to claim their third trophy of the season.

Earlier they had looked like crashing out at the semi-final stage after stumbling to 89 against Second Division Dumfries, before a decisive final over from Scotland player Sean Weeraratna conceded just one run.