FORRES HAD the worst possible start to their weekend as they went down to a heavy defeat at the hands of Fochabers in the league, the day before they were due to face Highland in the Macallan Cup Final.

However, due to the bad weather, the cup match was postponed until this Sunday, once again to be hosted by Nairn.

Winning the toss, Forres asked Fochabers to bat first on the grass wicket.

The home side enjoyed the fast outfield as they stroked the ball past the Forres fielders with increasing sureness. Derek Ross and Arron Roberts were the leaders of the attack and Roberts struck first in the eighth over when he bowled Tiddy for 13.

Aditya Mehta joined Mark Stockwell and got his innings under way with two runs through cover, while Stockwell continued to play solid scoring shots at the other end.

Ten overs saw 56 on the board and, as the 16th approached, the score had reached 94 but also saw the end of Mehta when he was bowled by change bowler Iain Roberts in his first over.

Roberts was now paired with Tony Farr, and it was these two who brought the run rate under check with tight lines, taking the pace off the ball. Melind Mehta was now at the crease, and despite some scoring shots he never looked comfortable against the Forres bowling although it was Stockwell who fell first when he too was bowled by Iain Roberts for 56, soon after the century was brought up.

Mehta was joined by Ben Fox, who also struggled with the pace off the ball, especially when Mehta lost patience and skied a Tony Farr delivery and found the waiting hands of Iain Roberts at mid off.

Adam Stockwell came to the crease at 133 for 4 and although he didn't shine with the bat he partnered Fox as he gained in confidence. Stockwell fell to Iain Roberts for just 8, as the bowler sent in a real slow ball and Fochabers were now 152 for 6.

Gordon Sharp lasted a few balls before he nicked the ball through to the keeper off the spin bowling of Gus Farr, bringing Colin Sanders in for the last nine overs. Sanders and Fox had little to gain by sitting back so they tried their luck, with success. Nearly 50 runs came off the last nine overs and Fochabers finished on 201 at the end of their 45 overs, Fox 46 not out, Iain Roberts taking 3 for 34.

Forres opened with Nigel Gerrard and Gus Farr against Adam Stockwell and Josh Valentine.

Stockwell stole the bowling honours as he took two wickets in the third over. Gus Farr poked at the ball, nicking it to the keeper and, two balls later, Neil McGrath played all round the ball and was bowled for 0. Stockwell's next over saw him remove Al Farr as he hacked at a ball that was too quick for him and, in his fifth over, he removed Gerrard as he was judged lbw for 11.

29 for 4 did not look good, and the Forres batsmen knew it just wasn't going to be their day, although Derek Ross once more showed that he has stickability, but that is no use when the rest of the batsmen are falling at speed. David Durance was bowled by Stockwell, followed quickly by Tony Farr, and his seventh victim was Ryan Rose who managed to get one through to the keeper.

After a heavy rain shower, Fochabers rang the changes by bringing Mark Stockwell on to replace Valentine, and he removed the last three Forres wickets. Forres closed on 62 all out in the 18th over, with Adam Stockwell taking 7 for 33.

Derek Ross was 22 not out.