WESTERN UNION

MIDWAY through the season, Greenock were in the doldrums while Clydesdale smashed records galore, helping themselves to more than 300 runs in cricket's equivalent of the Melrose v Stirling County rout.

But on Saturday evening, Greenock capped a dramatic swing in fortune to beat Drumpellier and clinch what had looked an unlikely place in next year's Whyte & Mackay Scottish Cup.

No-one was more delighted than skipper Roddy Neill, who has done a tremendous job in rallying his troops just when all seemed lost.

The former Kelvinside Accies batsman said: ``Like any other team at the start of the season, we believed we could mount a realistic challenge for the title itself. But things began to go wrong right from the start - especially when our main attacking bowler, Peter Duthie, was injured.

``We were without him for half the term and that drastically reduced our ability to bowl teams out - which is essentially what you have to do to be succcessful in this league.''

The evergreen Tom Black was in typically ebullient form as Greenock overhauled Drumpellier's total of 161 with four wickets and time in hand.

He struck an unbeaten 75 off just 78 balls, but more importantly, steadied a severe bout of mid-innings jitters after pro John Shannon and Duthie had provided Greenock with a solid start of 39.

The Coatbridge side had lost their momentum with the departure of Saleem Sajjad for 37. Charlie Stewart and David Duthie, bowling off-spin, shared a seven-wicket haul to peg them right back.

Greenock's qualifying place was at the expense of West of Scotland, who were nudged out of the top five despite their expected comprehensive victory over winless Kilmarnock at Hamilton Crescent.

The highlight of the day was a marvellous 106 not out by Justin Gayfer, his first century since joining West from Ferguslie this summer.

His efforts guided the home side to 217 for six. In reply, West Indian pro David Harper hit a cultured 84, but Killie capitulated at 159 all out. Seamer Craig Wright earned the West bowling plaudits with four for 48.

The unbeaten 147 by Clydesdale's Rennie Keith suggests he is the most improved batsman in the Union this year, with a 700-run tally and an average well above 50. ``It is the result of being patient and not trying to hit every ball out of sight. I now bide my time and wait for the bad deliveries and give them what they deserve,'' he said.

Pro Amir Hanif contributed 88 and Paul Dunn 53 as 'Dale streaked to 299 for the loss of just three men. Hanif then bagged four scalps as the Paisley men stubbornly held on for the draw at 164 for nine.

Ferguslie were confirmed as runners-up after the better of the draw with new champions Ayr at Meikleriggs. Dawnley Joseph set off home to the Caribbean with 108 under his belt as the home team reached 207 for five, Stuart Kennedy chipping in an attractive 41.

With no real incentive to win, Ayr plodded to 123 for five. Bruce Patterson, with 53, was their top scorer.

Honours were shared also at Shawholm, where Poloc made 175 for nine against Uddingston. Sajid Ali hit 65 and Charlie McBride 34, while George Reifer claimed four for 57 and then amassed 66 in the reply of 141 for eight.

Hillhead made sure of being runners-up in Division Two behind GHK by beating Motherwell at Hughenden by three wickets.

In the top flight of the Glasgow League, Hyndland had an unhappy final match by losing to Bishopbriggs - the club they are merging with before the start of next season. Alastair Brocklehurst and Keith Vernal shared seven wickets as Hyndland were all out for 122. Bishopbriggs strolled to victory thanks mainly to an unbeaten half-century by Victor Legrix.

q GALA clinched their first Border League title in more than 20 years when they beat Selkirk by four runs at Meigle Park.