Rain leaves cricket card a washout again

Jun 29 2012 by Andy Newport, Paisley Daily Express

MOTHER Nature continues to wreak havoc with the cricket schedule after heavy rain wiped out another round of fixtures.

Kelburne were due to host Paisley rivals Ferguslie on Wednesday night as they went in search of a West League Cup semi-final berth.

However, their Whitehaugh base was unplayable as dreich conditions left the pitch sodden.

And Renfrew were unable to welcome Greenock to the KGV playing fields as the rain lashed down there too.

Now, following two consecutive weekends without any Cricket Scotland League action as a result of yet another miserable Scottish summer, all three Renfrewshire clubs will have to face crucial Scottish Cup group stage games tomorrow without any big match action under their belt.

Ferguslie are due to make a trip to Stirling County as they bid to escape from Group B, while Renfrew are due to host Group C rivals Grange.

Kelburne and Drumpellier are due to meet in the day’s other contest as they fight it out in Group F.

David Sturgeon, Ferguslie’s cricket convener, admits the midweek call-off has hurt his team’s chances of Scottish Cup success.

He told Express Sports: “The Kelburne game would have been an opportunity for our guys to get some match practice, which would have been particularly useful following two wet weekends.

“We didn’t need to worry too much about the result as our focus is firmly on the Scottish Cup and the Cricket Scotland League but the match was cancelled due to the poor weather we’ve been having.

“It’s disappointing but we will just have to get on with it.”

While Renfrew and Kelburne still harbour hopes of escaping the Renfrewshire section of the League Cup, Ferguslie’s chances had already evaporated.

“No result means the points are shared,” said Sturgeon. “However, we are unable to qualify for the semi-finals of the West League Cup, having lost three and only won one of the four group matches played so far.”