STRATHMORE Cricket Club were given a harsh reminder on Saturday that defending their Strathmore & Perthshire Cricket Union premier division crown will be every bit as hard as winning it.
Forthill were the visitors to Lochside and left with maximum points following a 20-run victory against an admittedly understrength but undeniably disappointing home side.
It all started well enough for the Lochside men as stand-in skipper Mike Go
urlay marshalled his opening bowlers, Andy Cooper and Mattie Simpson, through the opening overs.
Regular inroads were made into the Broughty Ferry men's top order before veterans Bryce Robertson and Barry Stewart steadied things in the middle order.
They were helped at times by some wayward bowling (43 extras was, by far, the visitors' top score) and by sub-standard ground fielding and catching.
Still, a final total of 176 was a target that was well within the home side's reach given a good start.
Unfortunately for the Strathie faithful Nigel Hazel and Graham Hewitson were soon back in the pavilion, which meant too many of the early overs had to be taken up consolidating and avoiding further loss, with run-scoring at a premium.
Mike Gourlay and Angus McCormack both tried to push the score along but, when wickets inevitably started to fall again, there was too much for the lower order to do.
This week sees the impressive Mannofield visit Lochside.
Strathmore will be hoping the return of Mark Stewart, Chris Milne and Alan McKay will help steady things in the field.
Another reverse may prove, even at this early stage of the season, a fatal blow to the chances of repeating last year's success.
The second eleven were also involved in league action on Saturday - away to the experienced outfit from Montrose.
The very young Strathie side was always going to struggle, with their better players away on first team duty.
Only the 'granddad' of the team, Mark Mudie, making a rare guest appearance, looked comfortable in accounting for half his side's runs from the bat.
To the credit of the youngsters, however, they made their hosts fight every bit of the way in picking up five wickets in reply.
Results:
Forthill - 176 for nine (B. Robertson 35; A. Cooper three for 31).
Strathmore - 156 for seven (A. McCormack 35 not out).
Strathmore XI - 36 all out (A. Thorogood three for three; A. Hornsey three for six).
Montrose - 40 for five.
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