Strathmore Cricket Union: the first 90 years a history 1928-2018

99 given out well in advance with a request to clubs not to arrange fixtures on those dates. Yet both Strathmore and Mannofield XI had seen fit to ignore this request. A more blatant breach of the rules had been apparent in the Three Counties Cup semi-final, and Strathmore had, once again, been one of the joint perpetrators. The rule was that a semi-final had to be played on neutral ground, but Strathmore and Forthill XI had arranged their game on 20th June to be played at Forthill. There had been no coercion or pressure from either team, and as the “away” team, Strathmore, won rather easily, the result was allowed to stand. It was nevertheless a clear breach of the rules, adding to the general perception that Strathmore, because of their sustained success, were getting just a little too big for their boots! Indeed at the AGM in November, it was clearly stated that although Forthill XI had apologised for their part in the business, no such apology had been forthcoming from Strathmore. There was even more trouble in the Three Counties Cup, for the other semi-final, played legitimately at Guthrie Park, Brechin between Aberdeen Grade Select and Meigle did not start until 6.50 pm when it should have been 6.00 pm. In a night game, prompt starts are particularly necessary, and this one finished in farcical conditions in the dark with steady drizzle. Meigle had to bat second and they were the ones to suffer, something that was felt to be a fitting punishment, for they were the team who had arrived late. Aberdeen Grade Select, even though they were the victors of that unfortunate semi-final, then saw fit to inform the Union that if their opponents in the final, Strathmore, were not ready to start by 6.15 pm, they (Aberdeen Grade Select) would go home. Strathmore clearly heeded the warning, the game started timeously, and Strathmore won a good game by 16 runs. They had been a great deal less successful in the Scottish Cup however, for they went down at the first time of asking to their old foes West Lothian at Boghall, this time George Strachan being their nemesis with a good score of 56. This year on the representative front, the Union lost to the East of Scotland at Grange, were lucky to eke out a draw against the North at Guthrie Park, but in one of the better games of representative cricket, beat the Scottish Counties by 2 wickets at the North Inch, the hero being Ron Lusher, the