RED LETTER DAY
Banffshire Advertiser OPENING CRICKET MATCH Saturday first will be a red letter day for the cricket enthusiasts of Buckie. To open their new pitch in Cluny Public Park, the local Cricket Club are to play a match against Elgin City. Visitors to the Public Park on Saturday afternoon are promised a fine exhibition. Elgin City which is one of the longest established and best clubs in the North of Scotland, have many talented players who can be depended on to provide a bright afternoons cricket. It is ten years since the last match was played in Cluny Public Park and we should like to see a good turnout of spectators to support our newly formed club. The match is timed to start at 3pm. |
The match report shows that Buckie were struggling when time was called. Elgin had scored 62 for 8 and the home side was 17 for 5. The new pitch had played well although inclined to be rather soft. The new pavilion which consists of an old goods van was voted a success and was greatly appreciated by all who took shelter in it during a heavy shower.
Buckie visited Elgin in the return game and suffered a heavy defeat. Some of the Buckie batsmen were none too happy facing the faster home bowlers on a much firmer wicket and surrendered their wickets cheaply.
Elgin 122 (A McDonald63; G R Coutts 4 for 36, J F Stewart 4 for 64)
Buckie 46 (W B Shearer 6 for 22, H M Grant 4 for 17)
Cricket was on the up and during the week as many as 40 youths were to be seen practising at the Public Park. Buckie recorded a win when they travelled to Cullen and then scored their best result to date when they defeated Forres St Lawrence - who were in contention for the North of Scotland League title - in a friendly at Forres.
Buckie 141-7 (G R Coutts, 53no; H Stewart 3 for 25)
Forres St Law 31 (G R Coutts 7 for 5, W D Kennedy 3 for 24)
Cullen 25 (G R Coutts 6 for 8, Stewart 3 for 12)
Buckie 59 (J Scrimgeour 7 for 24)
Buckie began 1925 with a visit to Cullen and Milne took 6 wickets for 10 runs in the visitors 13 run victory. The 2nd Gordon Highlanders were marching through Banffshire and as part of their visit to Buckie they played the local team at cricket.
Buckie 57-4 (W Milne 30no)
2nd Gordons 43 (G R Coutts 6 for 34, J F Stuart 4 for 7)
Buckie returned to Cullen and again were victorious:
Buckie 68 (J Fraser took 4 wickets)
Cullen 23 (W D Kennedy 6 wkts, F Stewart 4 wkts)
There was a large attendance when Buckie visited Grant Park, Forres and among the crowd for a time was the Prime Minister of the Day Ramsey MacDonald from Lossiemouth. Buckie gave a good account of themselves in this friendly game, particularly the batting of Dr Smith, the bowling of G R Coutts and the fielding of "Stir" Milne who was later to find footballing fame with Arsenal.
Buckie 100 (Dr J G Smith 72)
Forres St Law 107-6 (G R Coutts 5 for 50)
Buckie managed a draw when they again visited Forres and G R Coutts was in fine form with the ball capturing 7 wickets.
Forres 84
Buckie 63 for 6
Cullen suffered their third defeat of the season at the hands of Buckie, this time at the Cluny Park.
Buckie 77 (G Findlay 4 for 10, J Newman 3 for 34)
Cullen 46 (J Stuart 5 for 14, W Milne 4 for 30)
Buckie ended their season on a high note when they defeated Elgin at Cooper Park. Elgin claimed to be understrength because G R Coutts who played for Elgin in the North of Scotland League opted to play for Buckie in this friendly.
Buckie 91
Elgin 57
At the AGM in 1926 the question of entering the North of Scotland league was deferred for another season.
A friendly with Forres was arranged but there is no record as to whether the game took place.
Buckie did play Elgin 2nd XI and had a good win with H Douglas claiming 7 Elgin wickets for only 8 runs.
Elgin 2nd XI 38
Buckie 69 for 6
There is mention of Buckie playing two games against a MethodistsXI which were organised by Rev J R Reid.
Results
Methodists 65 Buckie 33 for 4
Buckie 66 Methodists 29
