Eastern Premier Cricket: Carlton’s warning after win hands ’Sonians title

Preston Mommsen last night sent his congratulations to newly crowned Eastern Premier champions Watsonians – then warned the neighbours he and his Carlton colleagues are 
determined to get back in the silverware stakes.

The Scotland all-rounder and his side helped ’Sonians by snuffing out the challenge of chief challengers Grange and, afterwards, Mommsen said: “So many aspects of this season’s events hinged on small margins and we are disappointed we did not get among the trophies. We will draw up plans for next year and hopefully we will again be challenging for the No 1 slot.”

Victory at Carlton would have enabled Grange to leapfrog 
’Sonians, whose home tussle with Aberdeenshire was washed out. But they made just 167 for eight.

Andrew Brock took two quick wickets to reduce the hosts to 84 for four but Mommsen hit an unbeaten 50 as Carlton reached their target with more than three overs to spare.

Grange captain Neil McCallum said: “We were 30 or 40 runs short and then bowled poorly at the start of their innings. Carlton were 80 for four and it was game on but Preston and Toby batted very well.”

Elsewhere, Saltires prospect Michael Leask scored an astonishing 168 as Stoneywood-Dyce beat relegated Forfarshire at Forthill.

And Arbroath’s roller-coaster campaign ended on a high at Lochlands with a comprehensive win against Heriot’s, who clearly had yesterday’s Scottish Cup Final on their minds.