A worrying statistic from last weekends prelim round was that three teams failed to fulfil their fixture - the question arising from this is, does this mean Regional teams are short of players, or were they just caught out by the early start due to the additional fixtures needed for the 12 team league format - I suppose we'll find out over the next few weeks.
This weekend sees Round 1 proper in the Shield whilst we have a prelim round in the Bowl.
The way the fixtures have worked out in the Shield sees all the games (bar one) with West 1 teams playing each other or West 2 teams playing each other - the exception is Cumnock hosting last seasons National 3 relegated team, Greenock Wanderers.
Added to our list of unfulfilled fixtures is the Kilmarnock v Waysiders game, where WD have withdrawn as they're struggling to field a front row (the same reason given by East Kilbride last weekend).
The prelim round in the Bowl this weekend is now down to one fixture, with Mulls trip to Shawlands re-arranged as a double header with next weekends West 3 league game. In the remaining game, Police Scotland - Glasgow host Hyndland on the 3G in Pollock Park, so should at least survive the rain of the past couple of days.
