Grange skipper Brock out of derby with Watsonians

The Stockbridge men are unbeaten in all competitions – league, Citylets Scottish Cup and the Murgitroyd Masterton Trophy – since they were defeated by Carlton in the league in early May.

Last weekend was a particularly good one with a league victory over Heriot’s being followed up by a cup win at Glenrothes.

However, they will take on Ewan Chalmers’ Watsonians without the in-form Brock because he has suffered a recurrence of a knee injury.

The home side will be led in his absence by either Preston Mommsen or Alex Baum. Both men have made big impressions in the team since they joined over the winter from Carlton and Greenock respectively.

Grange coach John Blain does not expect Brock to be out long term and he has been pleased with the summer to date.

Blain said: “Andrew will be taking a break this weekend, but we have plenty of experience in the team and the guys are feeling pretty good about their cricket at the moment.

“This is the time of the season when squads around the country get stretched a bit by injuries and the matches come thick and fast, so it is just about the guys staying focused on each match as they come.”

One man who is likely to be feeling good heading into the weekend is bowler Chris Sole.

After a tough time with injury in 2015 he has hit the ground running this term and in the last week has taken a number of wickets.

The seamer returned figures of 4-22 against Heriot’s eight days ago and then followed that up with three scalps against Glenrothes in the cup and an appearance for Scotland ‘A’ during their tight three-day loss to Ireland ‘A’ in Ayr during midweek.

Watsonians have already lost twice at Grange this season in various competitions and know they will have to be at their best to record a victory this time around.

They will be looking to bounce back from last week’s loss to Carlton and the top order will be keen to score a few more runs this time around.

Ahead of the match Grange are in third place and Watsonians are fourth.

Carlton are second and they are on the road to Arbroath. For the Lochlands clash, Carlton have made four changes with Kyle Macpherson, Gordon Drummond, Ali Evans and Omar Ahmad returning. Macpherson is rewarded after a century for the seconds last week.

They come in for Rory McCann, Ruairi Macpherson, Mo Ahmed and Calum Everett while Arbroath are always a tough nut to crack on their own patch.

Heriot’s lost two matches last weekend, but they are boosted by the return of James Hearn and Mark Watt for the home clash with Glenrothes.

The duo come into the XI for Kevin McLaren and Richard Cummine.

Glenrothes have won just once in the league to date so Heriot’s will be targeting a return to winning ways.

Elsewhere in the top flight leaders Forfarshire are at Stoneywood-Dyce and Aberdeenshire are taking on Falkland.

After last week’s fine run chase against Edinburgh, Baillie Gifford ESCA Championship leaders SMRH will look to keep up their unbeaten start away to Kelso. The Borderers also got a victory last time out when two wickets and 50 not out from former Heriot’s man Craig Adams saw them defeat RH Corstorphine.

Carlton II are in second place and host Dunnikier while the RH Corstorphine-Mazars Grange II clash looks set to be a tight affair.