Forfarshire get off to flyer in top-flight bid

FORFARSHIRE president Rae McLelland reckons his side made the ideal start to their quest to return to the top flight at the first time of asking.

The winning margin of 199 runs against West Lothian at Broughty Ferry summed up the gulf between the teams - though McLelland claimed that it might have been even more comprehensive.

He said: “After Craig Wallace and Matty Parker put on 183 for the first wicket, I wondered if we might be on course for a tally topping 400.

“We didn’t quite make that, but we have to be content with such a positive result in our opening Division One match.

“We badly want to bounce back after our relegation and we certainly won’t be taking our foot off the pedal.”

Glenrothes won a battle of nerves and also their first ever match on the national stage, producing a great fightback to snuff out the challenge of Penicuik at Kirkhill.

Going into the final two overs, the home side had five wickets in hand and needed 15 for victory.

However tight bowling and a couple of run-outs tilted the balance in favour of the Glens when it mattered most.

By contrast, Dundee HSFP found the going tough on their return to the big-time as they crashed at the hands of Falkland at Scroggie Park.

High could only make 99 for seven in their 50 overs on the tricky surface and the target proved no problem for the hosts.

Freuchie stepped up their performance level in the wake of their Scottish Cup woes, however they couldn’t stave off defeat at the hands of Corstorphine.

The Fifers will look back on the concession of 39 extras as one of the prime reasons for being edged out by 15 runs.