Blame it on the rain

And so it was for last weekend’s pre-season friendlies, washed out by a combination of under-prepared and under-nourished pitches that have been frozen in the recent cold weather, and the first spring rains that will now hasten the much-needed growth of grass on the grounds.

All of that means that the southside’s three main cricket clubs will enter this weekend’s competitive fixtures without any kind of meaningful grass-wicket practice under their belts.

Last season’s innovative start to the season is being repeated, with the first three matches of the Scottish Cup in the first weeks of the season.

This Saturday, all three southside teams are drawn away. PSL team Sports Clydesdale take the local trip to East Kilbride, a notorious banana-skin match for the Titwood team, while Poloc travel to Ayr and Weirs make the journey across the Clyde to Coatbridge to play Drumpellier.