Conference A

HILLHEAD experienced a chastening baptismal weekend, losing both their matches by substantial margins.

On Saturday, they were given a whipping by neighbours GHK, who bowled them out for a miserable 45, but they retrieved some of their self respect at Linlithgow yesterday, compiling an innings a full 100 better to set West Lothian a decent target.

However, with skipper Sanjay Patel in prime form with a crisp half-century, the home side romped clear for the loss of only three wickets.

This was a welcome victory no doubt, for the Boghall side following a hugely disappointing performance on a slow wicket at Grange 24 hours earlier.

The Australian pair of Andrew Dykes and Ian Beven bottled up the visitors while Jamie Burns delivered a deadly 14 overs which netted him three wickets for only 20 runs. Dykes finished with four for 22 from his 13 over stint, and West Lothian were all out three short of the ton.

It was never likely to be enough, but when two home wickets fell at 24 and another two at 75, there were faint tremors, but eventually the assignment was safely negotiated for the loss of five wickets, Roddy Smith having cemented the effort with 34, supported by Jon Williams. Braden Leckie took the bowling honours with four for 21.

All in all, Grange enjoyed a profitable weekend claiming another full points bag from yesterday's trip to Myreside. Dykes and Beven again did the major damage, sharing six wickets as Watsonians were dismissed for 151. Perversely, Burns who had done so well in the previous match, was not called upon in this one at all.

Hamish Grey contributed 47 and shared the substantial partnership of the innings with Neil McCallum. John Weller chipped in with 34 before holing out to George Salmond at deep mid wicket.

Watsonians' skipper Tim Bunker reckoned that the total was 30 or 40 runs short of what they needed and that the innings had lost its way around the mid term.

Salmond then proved the thorn in Watsonians' flesh as he and Dykes dug in to thwart the attack. Together they broke the back of the task, the Scotland captain remaining unbeaten on 44 while Dykes scored 36.

Watsonians had fared rather better at Dunfermline on Saturday, setting a target of 168 for six thanks largely to McCallum's 50 and Weller's 39. The latter was also in form with the ball, returning figures of five for 44 while pro Owen Gilchrist supported ably with four. The real turning point here, however, was Weller's brilliant catch off his own bowling to put paid to Charlie Singh who was shaping up in threatening mode for the Fifers. They got to 150 before conceding defeat.

Stenhousemuir let themselves down at home to Heriot's, amassing only 119 despite a half-century from Graeme Gardner. Shahid Aslam took four for 44 and Asim Butt claimed three victims.

Gardner's spirit was well in evidence during Heriot's reply but such a low total proved impossible to defend, and they made it for the loss of five wickets, three of them to Gardner for only 17 runs. Having done the business with the ball, Shahid then hit 53 runs while Mike Allingham weighed in with a valuable 35.

The big scorers of the day were Kelburne who travelled to Forthill and racked up 229 for nine.

Some loose bowling in the middle of their innings set the scoreboard moving at a gallop as pro Saijad in particular and Donald McNair prospered, both completiong half centuries. Saijad struck three mighty 6 in his whirlwind knock and Colin Gilmour added a crisp 37. Graham McLelland and Barry Stewart each took three wickets.

Forfarshire were of a mind to give it a go but their effort was undermined somewhat at the top of the innings by a couple of dismissals that are usually described as unfortunate, including a run out in which the wicket had been broken apparently before the ball had been returned.

Lindsay Garden and Angus Hay put them back on course, but when they were out and seven wickets were down, it became necessary for the home side to adjust their sights and secure the draw. Graham McLelland and Barry Stewart stayed together for the remaining overs, both not out in the 30s, thus ensuring that some draw points would be salvaged.

So it had been a funny old weekend played in glorious weather in which one side managed to score almost five times as many runs as poor luckless Hillhead.