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

153 had to settle for second place. It was a very good year for the men from Dalnacraig who also lifted the Three Counties Cup and the Six a Sides. Their players all performed when they had to, notably Bobby Hopkins with a devastating spell of 4 wickets in seven balls including a hat-trick in the final of the Three Counties Cup against the Aberdeen Cricket Association, but the teamwas a fine one throughout. Sadly, Howard Garden decided to hang up his wicket keeping gloves at the end of the season after a long and distinguished career. Gavin McKiddie of Strathmore also retired during this season with a prolapsed disc after setting a record for wickets taken in his career in the First Division – a staggering 1138. In the same way as Dundee HSFP did the double in the First Division and the Three Counties Cup, Montrose did likewise in the Second Division and the Two Counties Cup. It was pleasing to notice how well Inverurie had done to finish third, and the Chairman was pleased to welcome Stoneywood- Dyce, who like Inverness Caledonian Thistle in football at about the same time, had amalgamated the teams of Stoneywood and Dyce. They would in years to come make a considerable impression on all of Scottish cricket. There was thus a certain change in geographical emphasis here, and a considerable amount of mumping about travelling, but in recent years as a by-product of the oil industry, roads to Aberdeen had improved beyond all measure. Bill Scott of Meigle won all the Batting Awards that season. He was actually beaten by three professionals, but an Average of 64.70 was very good indeed. Generally speaking the Union had a good season in 1993, unlike England who went down woefully and predictably to Australia in what was generally regarded as one of the most one-sided Ashes series of them all. 1994 was a great year for firsts. Dundonians (well, half of them anyway!) were pleased to see Dundee United win the Scottish Cup for the first time after repeated failures at the final stage, while in the Strathmore Union, Gordonians won the First Division Championship for the first time. Anju Mudkavi starredwithbat andball for them, but therewas admirable support from Bruce Doney and others. Their main challengers were Inverurie who won the Three Counties Cup by soundly beating Brechin at Mannofield, the first time that the final had been staged there and this was perhaps an indication that the Strathmore Union was moving steadily north. Further evidence for this contention came when Stoneywood-Dyce won