Alas, they perhaps wished the heavy showers that hit the area on Sunday had arrived a day sooner.

Travelling to Dundee with a weakened side, due to holidays and other commitments, Strathie found the going tough on a slow, green track.

The bowlers did a sound enough job, restricting Dundee High School FP to a modest total.

The home side got off to a solid enough start, thanks to openers A. Chad and K. Kyles, but they were never exactly racing along in the face of some tight bowling.

Indeed, had Strathie held on to a couple more of their chances, they might have restricted Dundee High to a score less than the end total of 178 for six after 45 overs.

K. Kyles hit a half century, which included four fours and a six, with fellow-opener Chad contributing 21 to the end total.

The wickets were evenly spread, with Graham Hewitson (two for 26) and Chris Milne (two for 29) the pick on the day.

In reply, a lot rested on Strathie's experienced players and, to an extent, they did okay, despite a poor start, with score on 11 for two at an early stage.

Mike Gourlay steadied the ship with an excellent 66, hitting a double-figure total of boundaries including a big six and sharing a half century stand with Chris Milne, whose 28 also included some big hits.

But once the pair departed within a few balls of each other the writing was on the ball, the youngsters in the Strathie line-up unable to cope with the left arm spin of Chad, who claimed four wickets as Strathie were bundled out for 100 in the 30th over.

This weekend there is a double bill of first team cricket at the lochside. Strathie entertain Rossie Priory in a league game on the Saturday and then play host to Holy Cross Academicals in the last eight of the cup on the Sunday.

The second eleven travel to take on a Strathearn XI on Sunday.

The Strathmore 1st XI playing host to Rossie Priory on Saturday (players meet at 12 noon) is as follows:-

Mark Stewart (captain), Christopher Milne, Michael Gourlay, Nigel Hazel, Gary Hewitson, Graham Hewitson, Matthew Simpson, Callum Howie,

Andrew Cooper, Douglas Sayers and Fraser Couston; reserves, Russell Booth and Craig McDonald.

The Strathmore 2nd XI to travel to face a Strathearn XI on Sunday (players meet at 11 am) is as follows:-

Craig McDonald (captain), Danny Sturrock, Andy Sturrock, Norman Milton, Douglas Sayers, Fraser Couston, Drew Orr, Stuart Lumsden, Russell Booth,

Ian Cran and Victor Mazella; reserves, Henry Rymer and Jamie Conran-Smith.

All call-offs should be intimated to William Ferguson on 07738-415327.

The Strathmore 1st XI entertaining Holy Cross Academicals at Lochside Park, Forfar on Sunday is as follows (players meet at 12 noon):-

Mark Stewart (captain), Christopher Milne, Michael Gourlay, Matthew Simpson, Callum Howie, Gary Hewitson, Mubeen Danish, Andrew Cooper, Mark McIntosh, Tahar Aakasha and Adil Ali.

All call-offs should be intimated to William Ferguson on 07738-415327.