Western Premier: Clarke warns about arrogance

UDDINSGTON may have taken a massive step towards lifting their first CSL title with victory over Drumpellier last week but skipper Bryan Clarke says feet will be staying rooted to the ground around Bothwell Castle.

His side have opened up a sizeable gap at the top of the table but Clarke, bidding to play down inevitable title talk, said: “It’s one game at a time for us.”

The captain knows to expect a tough encounter against a West side who can compete with the best on their day.

Top order ­batsman Andrew Umeed is again absent from the West line-up while Calum ­MacLeod, who is on Saltires duty, is a big miss for Uddy.

Meanwhile, despite the hammer blow of last week’s defeat, no-one in the Drumpellier ranks is throwing in the towel just yet.

They will, though, face another tough test today against a Stirling side who are scrapping for survival after failing to record a single win.

Visiting skipper Graeme ­Taylor said: “We know the games are beginning to run out and we need to start throwing everything we have at teams.

“I have great belief in the lads and if all aspects of our game click we have a good chance of turning things around.”

Both sides lose players to the under-19s, Abdul Sabri missing for the hosts while Nick Farrar is absent from the Stirling side. The ­visitors are also without the injured Ian Shaw but Matthew Tweedie returns.

Ayr, languishing near the foot of the table, may hope that Clydesdale have one eye on tomorrow’s Scottish Cup semi-final clash at Carlton. The home side will take some comfort from the fact that Dale are without their captain Majid Haq who claimed a seven-wicket haul in last week’s win over Renfrew.

However, Ayr are also without their skipper Andi McElnea, who is has technical analyst duties for Scotland Under-19s at the World Cup qualifier in Holland.

Sai Majeed, the Renfrew ­captain, may well be targeting today’s clash with outgoing champions Dumfries as one of the games he believes his side can win to put their top-flight status beyond doubt.

Majeed’s men probably need just one more victory to lengthen their stay in the premier division and if it comes today they could move to within two points of their visitors.

Renfrew will be on the usual lines but Dumfries are without bowler Niall Alexander who is with the national under-19s.