Saints see off Huntly

Forres St Lawrence successfully negotiated a potentially difficult game

against Aberdeenshire side Huntly on Saturday.

An easy victory saw Forres edge ahead in the race for top half status come the half way split.

Winning the toss, Forres asked the visitors to bat first, making first use of the bright sunny conditions. Callum Whyte and Mark McKay took their places against Derek Ross and Tony Farr who were immediately into bowling a tight line with the fielders backing up with some sharp fielding. With only seven on the board in the sixth over, Whyte looked to punish a loose delivery from Farr but found Ian Roberts, who took the catch low down at point. Number 3 D. Cadger didn’t last long as next over from Farr he clean-bowled the batsman for a duck. Dale Alexander gave more solidity to the batting line-up and with McKay, he looked to build a platform for their team.

Ten overs saw just 12 runs on the board but the 15th over brought the next wicket when Derek Ross got a good bouncer which cut back into the batsman who couldn’t get his gloves out of the way. Dale Alexander very sportingly walked upon appeal, having made 15.

Just four runs later, Stuart Muir hit an aerial shot out to the long on boundary but Arron Roberts was waiting to take the catch, giving Derek Ross his second wicket.

36 for 4 became 36 for 5 when McKay missed a Ross delivery and the timbers rattled, out for 15. A change of bowling saw Arron Roberts into the attack, with immediate effect; Grant Barclay being caught at gully by Andy Merricks for nought. With a total of only 37 Huntly needed to get some runs so Liam Forsyth and Gary Reid hit out as best they could. Forsyth is the more natural batsman but Reid was up for it and some lusty swipes gave him a trio of two’s before he missed a straight one from Roberts and was bowled for 7.

Keiron Nicol lasted just two deliveries before he too was bowled by Roberts. Next over from Roberts saw the last of the batsmen swept away in an inspired spell of bowling. First J.Higgins was bowled then Gary Deans popped one up for Tony Farr to pouch at short leg. Huntly closed on 57 all out, Arron Roberts took 5 for 4 off his four overs with Derek Ross 3 for 30.

The Forres innings got under way with a bang as Al Farr took Grant Barclay for a six then next ball four through long on followed by a two and a single.

With 14 off the first over, this was a reply that was never going to last long. However Nicol took revenge as Farr got an inside edge onto his stumps and was bowled for 13.

Gus Farr didn’t hang around either and with skipper Nigel Gerrard they took the score along to 48, including a huge six over long on, before a mis-judgement saw Farr give a simple catch for Higgins at mid on for top score of 26.

Neil McGrath came in to finish the innings but a wild swipe from him ended in his being bowled for a duck, so Tony Farr was needed to help his skipper take the side over the winning line, the last run coming from a bye.

Forres travel to Elgin on Saturday for a cup game, the winners going through to the semi-finals in August.