Mazars Grange keen to give Neil McCallum the perfect send-off

Neil McCallum will stop playing at the end of this season

Victory for Preston Mommsen’s men in the week-17 fixture would see them crowned champions with one round of matches left to play and only a big Heriot’s victory would give them any slim hope of still retaining their title.

And the Grange team are determined to win the league for departing stalwart Neil McCallum.

The 40-year-old former Scotland man is to step down from playing duties having been a near constant on the Capital cricketing scene for over 20 years, firstly with Watsonians and then, since 2005, with Grange. With the Citylets Scottish Cup final against the same opponents to come on Sunday in Paisley, the Portgower Place outfit have their eyes on a magic weekend and their first league and Cup double since 1998.

All concentration is focused on the league first, though, and Andrew Brock, the 28-year-old spinner who has been a big part of Grange’s recent successes, said: “It is hard to put into words how much of an influence Macca has had on the guys at Grange over the years. Certainly from my point of view he has been one of the main people who has helped me develop my cricket. He plays the game in the right way, he is a top quality batsman and a fierce competitor. Off the pitch, he likes a laugh and a joke and he has certainly been one of the main driving forces this summer along with Preston Mommsen and John Blain as to why our team spirit has been so good. We know that Heriot’s will be hurting after their loss last week and we know they have match winners in their side, but we will take the confidence gained from our win over Arbroath to Goldenacre and try and get the job done.”

As Heriot’s try to stop Grange winning the league, they have brought James Hearn back into their XI in place of Simon Whait.

Elsewhere tomorrow, fourth-placed Carlton are on the road to third-placed Forfarshire. RH Corstorphine play their final home game of a successful season when they take on Arbroath. And, after securing top-flight safety last week, Stewart’s Melville welcome Watsonians – including new Scotland ‘A’ cap Mike Carson – to Inverleith.