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

22 precedent of the 2nd XI Championship a play-off which would have had to be at the start of the next season, or perhaps 17th September if that was not deemed too late for cricket. Brechin were, in any case, all prepared to cry “foul” if Arbroath won both games. But Arbroath split their resources, and made the mistake of sending the talismanic Bob Sievwright to Aberdeen, on the grounds presumably that Aberdeenshire might play some of their County players. In the meantime the professional Williams stayed at Lochlands to deal with Downfield. The ploy backfired. Sievwright for once failed to deliver at Mannofield where DB McPherson scored a century for the Aberdeen side, and Williams was out for 5 at Lochlands. Sievwright did take his 100th wicket for the season, but it was not enough as Downfield easily surpassed Arbroath’s undemanding total. Brechin, all set to “flee up and strick” (in the couthy Angus phrase of the time) if things had not gone their way, looked on in glee and became the champions for the fourth year in a row. In retrospect, Arbroath should have concentrated all their resources on one of the games which would have given them at least a share in the Championship, and their local supporters in letters written to The Arbroath Herald were not slow to tell them that, but of course it is always easy to be wise after the event. The Brechin Advertiser however sheds a Pecksniffian tear and says, tongue firmly planted in cheek, that “Arbroath are to be sympathised with”. Both the Batting and the Bowling Averages this year were topped by Strathmore’s professional Len Halstead, a man who would become a Forfar legendnot least for his hugehandswhichwere commonly referred toas “the shovels”. Awards had been introduced this year for the men who topped the Batting and Bowling Averages, but Halstead, being a professional was not eligible and the awards went to Davie Chapman of Brechin for Batting and, more or less inevitably, to Bob Sievwright for Bowling. At the AGM in the New Club in Forfar on 14th October 1932, everything seemed harmonious. Clearly with the distressing events at the Lochside in midsummer in mind, the question of neutral umpires was raised, but it was generally accepted that the idea was impractical and that the captains of each side had a responsibility to see that the game was played properly. Following the success of Mannofield XI’s participation, Forfarshire made a similar application. It was supported strongly by everyone except, surprisingly, Arbroath who claimed that the fixture list was becoming