It was ”a bad day at the office” on Saturday with both of Renfrew Cricket Clubs’ sides suffering disappointing defeats in their respective WDCU matches.
At the Deanpark Oval, where it was second against third in the WDCU First Division, the visitors, Stirling County, batted first and were restricted to a total of 176 for 5 from their reduced allocation of 46 overs.
In reply, Renfrew could only muster a score of 138 for 9 from their allotted overs, handing the visitors a 38-run victory, to help strengthen their position in second place.
Renfrew slipped to fourth in the league table, as a result of this reverse and other results elsewhere.
At Hamilton Crescent, leaders West of Scotland stepped up their title bid with a 71-run win against Glasgow High Kelvinside.
The home side posted a total of 172 all out in their 50 overs and duly bowled their visitors out for 101 in 28.2 overs.
In Ayrshire, at Marress, Irvine climbed to third place in the division with a narrow win over second bottom Drumpellier.
Batting first, the visitors were all out for 143 in 43 overs, but the home side made heavy weather of chasing the score, losing 7 wickets before they reached 144 for 7 in 36.1 overs.
At the same time, bottom side St. Michaels recorded an important win at New Anniesland, to close the gap on Drumpellier.
Batting first, the visitors were bowled out for 149 in 45.5 overs but they would have been elated when they dismissed Glasgow Accies for just 62 in 29.2 overs.
In the other match in the division at The Tryst, the home side, Stenhousemuir, recorded a win by the slenderest of margins.
The visitors, Weirs, were shot out for 67 in 30.2 overs, with home professional Rushdi Jappie picking up six wickets for 20 and Callum Grant taking 2 for 5.
In reply Stenhousemuir struggled to reach their target, losing nine wickets before eventually securing maximum points at 68 for 9 in 28.5 overs.
Meanwhile, in the First Reserve Division, Renfrew’s second eleven, Deanpark, suffered only their second defeat of the season against Stirling County’s second eleven, Williamfield, at New Williamfield.
Batting first, the home side amassed an impressive 300 for 5 in their 50 overs. In reply, an under strength Royal Burgh side could only muster 254 all out in 49 overs.
Fortunately, for Deanpark their closest title chasers, Torrance House, could not take advantage of their slip, as they too came unstuck in their match with GHK Strathclyde at Old Anniesland.
In a match reduced to 40 overs a side, GHK Strathclyde compiled a total of 176 for 9.
In reply, Torrance House fell 16 runs short of their target, reaching 161 all out in 38.4 overs.
These two results mean that there is no change at the head of the division with Deanpark remaining top and Torrance House a close second.
Elsewhere in the division, there were wins for Anniesland, Albert Park and Glenpark.
At Dumfries, Glasgow Accies second eleven, Anniesland, completed a comfortable win over St. Michaels second eleven, Kingholm.
The visitors amassed 302 for 7 in their 50 overs, before restricting the home side to just 180 for 8 from their allocation.
On the southside of Glasgow, Stenhousemuir’s second eleven, The Tryst, scored 140 for 8, in a match reduced to 40 overs a side.
In reply, the home side, Albert Park, reached 141 for 8 in 36.4 overs, to secure a two-wicket win.
At the same time, at Glenpark, Greenock’s second eleven, Glenpark took maximum points from their match against Irvine’s second eleven Marress.
The visitors batted first and were all out for 183 in 42.4 overs. In reply Glenpark reached their target with two wickets to spare at 187 for 8 in 46 overs.
Both of Renfrew’s elevens will be hoping for a change of fortune this coming Saturday, when the first eleven face Weirs at Albert Park, while the respective second elevens go head to head at the Deanpark Oval.