Two non-national league clubs, Kelburne and Edinburgh Accies, have been invited to join the 30 national league clubs in the Lloyds TSB Scottish Cup for the 2009 cricket season.
And the first-round draw, announced today, is for the first time ‘regionalised’ between clubs in the east and the west of the country, to minimise travel costs.
The ties of the round are to be found in the East regional draw, where Aberdeenshire, newly-promoted to the premier division, are at home to league champions Grange, while Watsonians and Carlton meet in a local derby contest at Myreside.
There’s also a local derby in the West regional draw, where NVT Poloc, now in the first division, have the opportunity to deliver an early-season shock against neightbours Greaves Clydesdale at Shawholm.
The full draws for the first-round ties, to be played on Sunday June 21 , are as follows:
West Region:- Renfrew v Drumpellier
- NVT Poloc v Greaves Clydesdale
- Ayr v Kelburne
- Ferguslie v bbh Stenhousemuir
- MGM Prestwick v APD Dumfries
- Tunnock Uddingston v Weirs
- Stirling County v Greenock
- West Lothian v McCrae FS West
- Aberdeenshire v Grange
- Penicuik v Forfarshire
- Dunfermline Knights v Freuchie
- RH Corstorphine v Arbroath United
- Falkland v Heriots
- Edinburgh Accies v SMRH
- Edinburgh v Stoneywood-Dyce
- Watsonians v Carlton
Lisa Stephenson, Marketing Director, Lloyds TSB Scotland, said: “This competition offers an excellent opportunity for clubs at all levels to participate in some exciting clashes. We are really pleased to play our part as sponsors of the Scottish Cup.”
Roddy Smith, chief executive of Cricket Scotland, commented: "There will certainly be one or two prominent clubs who will be out of this popular competition after just one game. But it is important that the Scottish Cup gives all teams, from all our national leagues and areas of the country, an equal chance to progress through all four rounds to the final in August."