East Premier cricket: Spink back to bolster Arbroath
The former professional footballer hasn’t figured for the Lichties for the best part of a decade, having spent time at Carlton before moving to Australia.
But, having watched Spink in a midweek training session, club president Geoff Fisher has no doubt he can make a big impression. Fisher said: “Darren was always renowned as a fantastic fielder and from what I saw in the nets, he has not lost any of his speed and skill.
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Hide Ad“It is great to see him back on home territory and I am sure his presence will have a positive effect on the rest of the team.”
Arbroath, desperate to haul themselves clear of the Eastern Premiership basement, are further boosted by the return of all-rounder and vice-captain Calvin Burnett.
Fisher echoed the sentiments of skipper Fraser Burnett that the club’s plight was not helped when Calvin was called up by Scotland for two weekend away games – only to be left out of the starting line-up.
The president said: “The situation was an absolute farce. The upshot is that he hasn’t bowled a ball in anger for three weeks.”
Heriot’s and Watsonians embark on a crucial weekend, locking horns today in what could turn out to be a title decider, before squaring up in a Scottish Cup semi-final tomorrow.
Sonians triumphed earlier in the season by the narrowest possible margin – one run. But they will be without coach Craig Wright and Paddy Sadler, who are in Australia on Under-19 World Cup duties.
To counter that, experienced duo Craig Mackellar and Ali Farooq are missing for Heriot’s, along with another national age-group ace, Peter Ross.
The Grange v Aberdeenshire tussle has been switched to Fettes College because Grange’s Raeburn Place is still under repair in the wake of the July floods.
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Hide AdCarlton were one of the victims of Stoneywood-Dyce during the Aberdonians’ surprise run of success early in the campaign, and the fact that it happened at Grange Loan made it all the more of an upset.
A repeat is unlikely this weekend, with Carlton likely to rediscover their edge and earn revenge at People’s Park.