Defeated Kevin McLaren tips Carlton for glory

DUNFERMLINE all-rounder Kevin McLaren may have raised a few eyebrows among his squadmates when he played down their chances of halting Carlton's run of victories.

However, after the hammering at the hands of the Grange Loan brigade, even the most optimistic of the Knights side would struggle to disagree with his assertion that Carlton are destined to land the SNCL Premiership crown.

McLaren declared: "Before the match my belief was that they were the strongest team in the league and that the only way they could be denied the title was if they blew it themselves. After being on the wrong end of defeat I am even more convinced they will go the whole way."

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But, as McLaren pointed out, the outcome at McKane Park could have been so different had it not been for a single mistake at a crucial time.

He explained: "Our goal had been to get rid of Cedric English, Fraser Watts and my old Corstorphine colleague Preston Mommsen early on. All was going really well when we dismissed the first two - but then the picture changed when we dropped Mommsen on 12."

Mommsen, who has been in great form for Scotland, made the most of his good fortune by going on to make 152.

And when Saltires skipper Gordon Drummond also weighed in with a quick century, the stage was set for Carlton to post a massive 348 for five.

The target was always likely to be outwith the reach of McLaren and co and they finished on 223 for six.

Forfarshire's silverware credentials were also boosted as they completed a three-wicket success against last season's runners-up Watsonians.

The fact that they achieved the feat without inspirational captain Ryan Watson and Tony Weed proved they also have impressive power in reserve.

Ryan Flannigan (88) and Ewan Chalmers (66) combined to propel Watsonians to 226 for seven but consistency was the key for 'Shire as they breasted the tape with more than an over to spare, thanks mainly to Brendan Ford (53), Matty Parker (47), Craig Wallace (40) and Aman Bailwal (30).

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The Aberdonians pulled off a successful two-pronged smash-and-grab raid in the Glasgow area.

Aberdeenshire thumped Drumpellier by six wickets at Langloan, while Stoneywood-Dyce produced a late rally to outgun West of Scotland at Hamilton Crescent.

Chasing 172, West were cruising at 121-3 from thirty overs with Stuart Murray and Anjan Luthra established at the crease but a collapse, sparked by Elton Willemse, who finished with three for 32, saw them fall six runs short.

Willemse accounted for both Murray and Luthra having earlier removed home pro Colin de Grandhomme.

Earlier Stoneywood-Dyce were indebted to 16-year-old Omar Afridi for helping post 171-9.Afridi has been a rare participant for the People's Park side so far this season due to school exams but he showed his worth with a fighting 49 - the highest score of the match. The teenager, having stroked seven boundaries, looked set for a deserved half-century until being unluckily run out.

Saltires star Gordon Goudie, the former West player, was the next highest scorer with 21 while Ian Cran was the pick of the home bowlers, striking with his first delivery to remove the dangerous Jan Stander, en route to figures of 2-22 from ten overs.

If West expected to stroll to their target, they were soon forced to reconsider when Goudie ripped through the defences of home skipper Ian Young.

When de Grandhomme followed, caught in the slips for a single, the Glasgow team were teetering on 18-2 but they appeared to have recovered until that late collapse.

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An impressive unbeaten stand between Ross McLean (52 not out) and Harry Byrnes-Howe (41 not out) carried Arbroath to an emphatic eight-wicket triumph over basement boys Stirling County at New Williamfield.

Needing 145, the Lichties raced to the target in only the 33rd over to bury the bitter memory of their shock defeat at the hands of West.

Pro Warren McSkimming proved again that his batting will be as useful to Grange as his pacy bowling. He struck a fine 68 not out to make sure of the champions' five-wicket home win against inconsistent Uddingston.

And Ayr's hopes of continuing their revival were dashed by Clydesdale at New Cambusdoon - despite a typically exciting unbeaten 130 by home pro Michael Papps.