Premiership: Neil MacRae plots play-off route via Stirling

Shire took a major step in the right direction at the weekend by clinching victory at Clydesdale while all their closest rivals were beaten by the weather.

The Mannofield men now have a handy cushion ahead of the capital trio of Watsonians, Grange and Heriot's.

However, MacRae said: "We have played more games than the teams below us so percentages could still come into it. We will approach next week's game as one we must win."

MacRae's clinical words found expression in the no-nonsense approach which saw them secure victory in a rain-affected encounter at Titwood.

They had conceded 245-5 as a new-look Dale batting line-up hit form. The home side were given a solid start by youngster Partick Barbour (47) and professional Nazer Hussain (41) who put on 100 for the first wicket, providing a platform for cricketing cousins Omer Hussain and Majid Haq to open out. Hussain led the way with a fluent 61 before Haq went on to finish unbeaten on 68.

But the Dons bowlers stuck to their task to keep the chase within reach. They did lose MacRae early on but Graeme Tomlinson joined professional Gerry Strydom in an unbroken stand that won the match.

Tomlinson was content to play second fiddle while the South African made 60no before the rain finally forced the players from the field in the 31st over with 'Shire on 115-1 - seven runs ahead of the D/L target.

"The key was to stay comfortably ahead of the D/L so that we could afford to lose a wicket," revealed MacRae. "We managed to do that pretty much all the way through. It is a pity the rain came because it was set up to be a good game but we're happy to take the win."

Meanwhile Les Sutton, the Stirling president, paid tribute to rivals Ayr after their relegation clash was allowed to go the distance at a damp New Williamfield. The encounter, which the hosts won by two wickets, was the only other game to finish, and Stirling cashed in on their own good play and Ayr's good sportsmanship to boost their hopes of top flight survival.

Victory has hoisted them to third bottom, with one game remaining before the end-of-season split. The New Williamfield club could yet avoid the relegation play-offs between the bottom four.Sutton declared: "It was a great game, a very important win for us and very sporting of Ayr to persist in the bad weather."

Professional Michael Papps' 98 propelled Ayr to what looked like a match-winning total of 239-6, but Stirling professional Kreeson Naicker provided the backbone of his side's innings with a solid 55 as the home side reached their target.

Elsewhere, the battle between the top two, Carlton and Arbroath, was the highest profile casualty of the rain after Arbroath were reduced to 88-5.

Tim Weston's unbeaten 103 counted for nothing in Watsonians' abandoned clash with Stoneywood-Dyce, while Sanjay Patel and Neil McCallum looked poised for three figures on 79 and 78 before Grange's meeting with Drumpellier was also washed out. Greenock, though, were perhaps hardest hit by the weather, ending the day bottom of the table after Saltires professional Luke Butterworth's superb century had set up a possible morale-boosting win at Forfarshire.