The selection for the final week of the season has been announced.

 

It is still all to play for as the First XI, who whilst guaranteed second place in the SNCL Premier Division travel to McKane Park with the big prize still firmly in their sights.

 

With Grange sitting 2 points clear at the top and travelling to fourth placed Forfarshire only a win (or some other highly impossible set of circumstances) for ‘Sonians coupled with a defeat at Forthill for the Raeburn Place outfit will be good enough to overhaul the current gap.

 

The only thing in the control of the Myreside Men is to ensure a seventh league win on the road this season when they take on a Dunfermline Knights side who sit in third place in their debut season in the top flight and Steve Paige will no doubt lead his confident side in to the match with this goal firmly in their minds.

 

With the kind relaxation of the rules from Cricket Scotland that will allow Scotland players to return to club duty for the final game of the league season ‘Sonians welcome back Internationalist Ryan Flannigan to the top of the order.

 

Playing his final game for ‘Sonians will be Ross Paxton who will be looking to increase his impressive haul of 87 SNCL wickets for the club including 21 scalps in 2010. Another impressive wicket taking tally is that of all rounder Stuart ‘Chumba’ Chalmers who going in to the final league game of the season stands as the Premier Divisions top wicket taker with 33 scalps.

 

With the other selected ‘Sonian bowlers season hauls also in double figures with Paige 23 wkts, Wright 18 wkts, Sadler 15 wkts and Mike Legget 12 wkts there is certainly a potent look to the attack and they’ll be looking to hit the gloves of the energetic keeper Ben Fox who slots in for Euan Stubbs.

 

The Second XI of course secured the title last weekend and they travel the short journey to Grange Loan as the League Champions.

 

With the title wrapped up and Carlton II looking cemented in second place, there is an end-of-term feel to the 2s final game against their local rivals. With Ben Fox and Andy Learmonth in the 1st XI side for their vital last game – and in the absences of a further 6 players in Ali Fleming, Vijay Saisubramanian, Euan Robertson, Raj Routray, Paddy Baker and Fraser Sands – there are opportunities for others to hog the limelight this weekend. There are expected to be a few raised eyebrows when the batting line up is announced as 2s Captain David Breach begins to cast one eye towards 2011 and looks to give opportunities for others to have a long bat.

 

Title winning Captain Breach had this to say following the team selections ”The batting line up remains a closely guarded secret” whilst adding ”Throughout the season all players have shown commitment to the cause, even when the inevitable ‘fresh air’ games occurred and hopefully I can make sure this game allows us to reward some of the squad for all their contributions this season”.

 

Included for the first time this season are big hitting Ali Easton, while the return of Ross Brooks and Mark Yellowlees, from hosting and working chores respectively, gives batting and bowling depth to Breach’s troops.

 

The 3rd XI secured the bonus points they required in a narrow defeat last weekend to ensure that going in to the final week that there is no need to look over there shoulders at the bottom 2.

 

Oliver Gaywood leads out a side at home on the main Myreside square to face a SMRH 2nd XI side who have been at the top end of the league for much of the season. Gaywood includes in his XI the 3s top run scorer Gareth Burnett who will be looking to add to his seasons tally of 363 runs while just one wicket separates the skipper himself, Alan Borthwick and Fergus McNab for leading 3s wicket taker of the year. Gaywood who is finalising his side commented ”Rumours that I’m getting nine overs at the tail and neither of Bothy or Ferg will bowl are unsubstantiated”

 

Good Luck to all ‘Sonians on this final weekend.

 

Please note the 1st & 2nd XI’s matches both start at 12 noon so earlier meet times have been published below.

 

　

Firsts, away to Dunfermline Knights: Meet @ Myreside @ 9.45am (12pm start)

 
Paige, S (Capt)
Chalmers, EF
Chalmers, SJ
Easton, JAC

Flannigan, R

Fox, BW +
Learmonth, AP
Legget, RMS
Paxton, RT
Sadler, PT
Wright, CM

 

 
Seconds, away to Carlton II: Meet @ Grange Loan @ 11.00am (12pm start)

 
Breach, DC (Capt) +
Boorman, NDN
Boorman, TJC

Brooks, RD
Crosby, R

Cash, CA

Easton, AID

Flannigan, KA
Legget, PJS
Sevak, ZU

Yellowlees, MS

Thirds, home to SMRH II: Meet @ Myreside @ 12.00pm (1pm start)

 

Gaywood, OG (Capt)
Borthwick, AR
Burnett, G
Cousin, MA
Harding, G
Little, M
Lockhart, SJ
MacFarlane, C
Malin, A
McNab, F
Moore, J

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