THE Scottish domestic season reaches a climax today with both the national club title and the Murgitroyd T20 Cup on the line.
Most interest may focus on The Grange, Edinburgh, where Aberdeenshire, the Eastern Premier champions, take on Western Union winners Ayr in the biggest match of the domestic season.
The stakes are high and, perhaps, particularly so for Ayr who have the chance to become the first champions from the west since the Grand Final was introduced two years ago, Dumfries and Uddingston having lost out to Watsonians and Arbroath respectively. If that places an extra burden of responsibility on the men from Alloway, they are surely accustomed to handling such pressure after staving off a late surge from Clydesdale to win their first Union title for 18 years.
Andi McElnea, who has led his team with distinction throughout a memorable season, puts a typically positive spin on the occasion, seeing it as an opportunity to shine. "It would be a fantastic accolade for the club to be crowned the first champions of the country from the west. Hopefully we can do the Union proud," he said.
McElnea will rely on the attributes which served his team so well throughout a campaign which began with no greater ambition than top-flight survival, yet ended in glory and silverware. "We'll treat it as business as usual," added McElnea. "Last week [the victory over Dumfries to clinch the title] was a strong team performance and that is what got us through the season. Contributions from whole team have allowed us to win the Union and there really are no standouts in the side."
Aberdeenshire have had an extra week to prepare for today's encounter, having clinched their title without a ball being bowled on the final day of the Eastern Premier season. There was a whiff of acrimony in that the outgoing champions Arbroath United felt the plug had been pulled too early on the Mannofield side's clash with Falkland.
There is no doubt that Aberdeenshire were worthy winners, though. They boast the highest run scorer in the opener Chris Venske, while their captain Tyler Buchan was the fourth leading wicket taker with 29 victims. Buchan will miss the game because of a previously booked holiday.
The Murgitroyd T20 Cup finals day will take place at two venues for the first time. Holders and Scottish Cup winners Grange meet Forfarshire at Shawholm at noon, while Clydesdale entertain Dumfries at Titwood. The winners will then contest the final at the traditional Shawholm venue.
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