Sandy Strang: Weirs weigh in as club faces an injury crisis

Malign mischance is surely bedevilling the doughty Glaswegian Southsiders of Weirs Cricket Club. Having lost all but three of their first eight SNCL matches to the seemingly incessant rains, they've now been stricken by an injury jinx.

First, key veteran left-arm off-spinner and ubiquitous club stalwart Siggy Young has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a serious thumb fracture sustained in last week's Cricket Scotland Trophy tie with St Michael's.

Now Saturday's five-wicket hero against Stenhousemuir, South African seamer Shaun Els, from Port Elizabeth, will have to sit it out for three weeks, also with a broken thumb. Yet it's not all doom and gloom down Albert Park way. Stepping unexpectedly into the breach against Stenny at the weekend after two years out, two major back operations and presumed retirement, was club president Craig Greenwood. The 41-year-old stroked a typically-classy 48 batting at number seven to propel the Cathcart men from a tricky 100 for 5 to an eventually match-winning 186.

Weirs have also lately been the beneficiaries of an influx of talented players from the now disbanded Scot Indians side, one of whom, Rohit Schinde, took the new ball on Saturday.

"We've had our fair share of difficult times over the years here at Weirs," reflected a phlegmatic Young.

"But historically we've been blessed with people stepping up to the plate and delivering when the club has most needed it."

Never more so than right now. Haste ye back, Siggy.