THE weather may have prevented play but there was nothing to stop Dunfermline and Carnegie Cricket Club from becoming East Division Three champions.

In a double celebration at McKane Park, the club’s second XI are also moving on up after their promotion from Division Seven was also confirmed.

And Broomhall made it a hat-trick of promotions for West Fife sides as they sealed their step-up from Division Four by beating Edinburgh CC third XI in the only match involving local clubs to take place.

On a poignant day at McKane, where the official unveiling of a scoreboard in memory of late club stalwart Tom Gibson took place, the club’s first XI had hoped to cap promotion by clinching the title against Holy Cross.

However, although the contest was rained off, second-top Hawick and Wilton’s match at St Boswells going the same way ensured the championship was theirs.

The seconds, behind only opponents Edinburgh South Second XI, saw their match with the leaders in the capital cancelled due to the weather, which was enough for them to go up.

Club president Martin Honeyford said: “If the weather went against us, we knew we would be crowned champions, as long as Hawick didn’t do anything.

“If their game was off, that was just going to seal it completely. Word came through at two o’clock I think it was that their game was off; happy days, we were champions of Division Three.

“For the twos, basically the same thing happened to them. Their game was off against Edinburgh South and they got promoted alongside Edinburgh South.

“Both teams were quite happy with the outcome. Obviously, they wanted to play, but that’s the first wet Saturday of the season. We’ve been pretty lucky with the weather.

“There was a bottle of a champagne somewhere that was found, that was cracked open and we had a few beers later on. It was good stuff.

“It’s just all the hard work that everybody’s put in. You didn’t want to count your chickens but it was looking pretty promising.

“Being promoted the other week there helps. That takes all the pressure off because that was the aim, and to get the championship is just brilliant.

“The twos, if they’d had a wee bit of better luck in a couple of other games that they lost, they could’ve been winners themselves.

“But, at the end of the day, we got promotion for both sides and that’s what it’s all about.”

Honeyford continued: “Throughout the whole club, it’s strong.

“That’s through hard work, the results, and everybody contributing. We’re not just relying on one person each week; there’s always three or four guys that will put their hand up to do something, be it bowling, batting or a bit of fielding.

“Everybody has played their part. Steve (Rowley), being the coach, Nancy (Gibson) doing the secretary’s work, my captain Bruce (Callan) has done his wee bit, Vasu (Reddy) stepped up – I could go right through the team and what they did individually, but I’d be here all night!”

Broomhall, meanwhile, sealed their promotion by beating closest challengers Edinburgh CC third XI by three wickets on Sunday.

The match was dominated by the damp wicket and on winning the toss, the visitors asked Edinburgh to bat and, with the ball dominating, wickets fell steadily.

Chris Hoefling ended up with the remarkable figures of three for four in his eight-over spell and Scott Lucas picked up two.

Chasing 82 was never going to be easy on such a difficult surface and wickets fell steadily but a solid knock by Lucas saw Broomhall to victory and finish as runners-up to champions Drummond/Trinity.

Edinburgh CC 3rd XI (5) 82 for 9, (C Hoefling 3 for 4, S Lucas 2 for 15).

Broomhall (20) 85 for 7, (S Lucas 35 not out, I Ward 18).