The Forecast: West visit Renfrew in title clash
The Forecast will be our series of weekend previews for the 2025 season. We hope to cover team selection, form, fixtures and who to look out for in the weekend’s fixtures! We hope to not have to cover the rain!
Four West teams are in action this weekend as we look to move on last weekend’s wet weather.
Saturday
Renfrew vs West of Scotland XI
There is a huge game at the top of Western Premiership Two on Saturday as the West of Scotland XI visit table topping Renfrew. James Fennah’s side will have one eye on toppling their opponents, who are currently on an impressive run of seven league wins in a row, and making a title charge of their own. Back in May the reverse fixture did not survive the wet early season conditions making this a pivotal clash as both sides look to steal a march as the season run-in draws closer. Ali Hamza and Hussanain Haider could provide stiff batting opposition for West having both racked up individual innings of over 120 this season.
Partick XI v Whitehaugh
Meanwhile, there is another top of the table clash at Hamilton Crescent as the Partick XI face Western Championship One leaders Whitehaugh. Both sides have lost only one game this season so it will be fascinating to see who comes out on top with just five weeks of the season remaining. The reverse fixture was cancelled due to wet weather in Paisley back in May, so understanding of the opposition’s strengths will be limited on both sides. Kelburne’s 2nd string boast both the league’s top run scorer (Andrew Miller who has scored 298 runs) and wicket taker (Blair Cameron has 26 wickets) so they are likely to pose a tricky test for Johnny Williams’ side. Kick off at 12pm on Saturday.
Hamilton Crescent XI v Nunholm
Our third side host Nunholm in Stirling hoping to recover from a recent dip in form, not assisted by last weekend’s bad weather. The visitors were early season league leaders but have suffered a run of poor form in recent weeks, including a tight one-wicket defeat at home to The Tryst in their last completed match. Moosa Vakil recalls Naweed Zazai to his bowling attack as Hamilton Crescent look to reverse the score from the encounter in Dumfries back in May when Nunholm ran out winners by over 200 runs.
Sunday
West Women v Murrayfield DAFS
Having finished the league season in midtable, West turn to cup action for a chance of silverware on Sunday as Murrayfield DAFS are the visitors in the quarter final of the Beyond Boundaries Women's Scottish T20 Cup. West took a convicing 68 run win away in the recent league encounter between the two sides so will go into the game confident of recording a victory but a T20 knockout tournament presents a different challenge. First ball is at 1pm.
