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

30 August thus saw both teams going neck and neck with Arbroath marginally ahead, but it all came down to the last day of the season, 15th September, when the cancellation of Brechin’s game against Meigle more or less gave Arbroath the Championship, if they could beat Forthill XI at Lochlands. The weather was not great with loads of mist and dampness about, and one imagines that, had the destination of the Union not depended on it, the game might have been called off. In addition, Eldridge the professional was out with a knee injury and was replaced by a young 2nd XI player by the name of DM Rae who would, that day, carve his own corner of Arbroath history. Things looked grim for Arbroath when they stood at 49 for 9, their batsmen having no answer to the pace attack of Parker and Reid of Forthill XI. Young Rae came out to join the veteran RWSievwright, of whomhe was in awe (as indeed were most people). But Sivvy said a few words of encouragement, then using all his experience, rotated the strike brilliantly and eventually young Rae hit a few strokes, and with the benefit of some fielding errors in the difficult conditions, Arbroath’s last two took the total to a respectable 121, enough to give Sivvy a chance in circumstances that he just loved. The mist, the Arbroath haar, had dispersed but weather was still rather damp. Sievwright bowled well, so did Alex Angus and even young Rae chipped in with a couple of wickets, as Forthill XI, not in all honesty the best batting side in the world, were dismissed for 77 runs. Sievwright, even more crusty and tetchy than normal, took four wickets including the last one when he bowled Reid to a huge cheer. Arbroath’s victory was enough to ensure that even if Brechin tried to play their two remaining fixtures in late September, it would not be enough to catch Arbroath. Brechin, whose players were watching that day, conceded gracefully, although there was the inevitable mutter or two about the suitability of conditions. Brechin had the consolation of winning the 2nd XI Championship, as well as the satisfaction of seeing Chapman and Moir coming in second equal in the Batting Averages, the top being JD Howie of Blairgowrie. Willie Eddie won the Bowling Award, although he was only second, the best returns coming from Len Halstead the professional of Strathmore, and of course professionals, a necessary but sometimes despised breed, were not eligible to win Awards. The AGM had now moved to Jarman’s Hotel in Forfar, whether because