RH Corstorphine leading the way

RH CORSTORPHINE captain Cam Leeder is delighted with the way his side have started the Baillie Gifford ESCA Championship season and is keen for the good form to continue this afternoon.

Pete Steindl: In form for Corstorphine. Picture: SNS

The men from East Barnton Avenue make the short trip to Kirkhill to take on Penicuik in week three on the back of wins against Edinburgh South and Grange II.

Australian Leeder, in his second season at the club having previously been a junior there when his dad played over here, has led from the front with the bat, scoring 79 not out in week one and 60 last week. The latter knock against Grange II was impressive because, in the face of some tough bowling from Stuart Davidson and Gordon Allan, the RH Corstorphine batsmen found it tough going.

They did make it to 132 for nine from their 50 overs after digging in and then the bowlers took centre stage.

Australian teenager Mackenzie Barclay took 5-4 while former Scotland head coach Pete Steindl chipped in with 3-8 as the opponents were 62 all out.

Leeder, 30, said: “I was really impressed with the way the guys bowled last week and I guess the two guys who starred with the ball show what we are all about. Mackenzie is one of many good young players involved at the club while having an experienced guy like Pete back will help these youngsters flourish. “We had a good pre-season and have hit the ground running, but it will be a long season so we are not getting too far ahead of ourselves. Everyone is enjoying their cricket, though, and that is important.” Their opponents from Midlothian today have yet to win a match, but have some exciting young players in their team and it should be a good contest.

Elsewhere, early-season pacesetters Freuchie are on the road to Boghall to face winless West Lothian, while there are two other teams with two wins from two. Murrayfield DAFS travel to Grange Loan to take on Carlton II and Holy Cross, who have been deducted two points for having no scorer for last week’s match, welcome Glenrothes to Arboretum. The Fifers have won one from one completed.

Edinburgh South take on Grange II with the battle between the former’s South African batsman Darryl Hendricks and the latter’s captain Stuart Davidson – the experienced bowler – set to be interesting.