Comrie Cricket Club

By M.W.M MacLeod

As a schoolboy I used to visit Comrie almost each year from 1910 onwards in the summer holidays.  I think that it was in 1911 that I was first roped in to play for Comrie in replacement of someone who had dropped out at the last minute.  In those days my uncle, Sir George Dundas, was Captain of the side and invariable batted last man in.  On the odd occasions when I was called upon to play I always batted last but one, consequently we had several last wicket stands together but as he was no runner I was in a position to be up and down the pitch three times to his once, causing considerable confusion.

The ground in those days was much as it is now in the lovely setting of Laggan Park.  I have played on many cricket grounds, both home and abroad, but for sheer charm and setting I have met few which can compete with the Comrie ground.  Perhaps if I had to mention one it would be the Duke of Norfolk’s private ground at Arundel Castle.  The only slight snag in those days was the primitive nature of the pavilion, which has now been much improved.

Sir George Dundas was a great personality.  He was very popular in the village, for which he and Lady Dundas had done a great deal, and he was also a keen sportsman.  Cricket was his main interest but he was also an active golfer.  Even after he stopped playing cricket he was always a keen spectator and as often as possible would accompany the team to “away” matches.  It was traditional that when the side travelled by coach, Sir George had to stop for “a box of matches” at most of the locals which the coach passed.  This used to infuriate the teetotal members of the team who knew that the so-called “box of matches” meant a dram of whisky.  Away matches included Crieff, Perth, Dundee, Auchterarder, Amulree etc., so there was considerable scope for the purchase of a “box of matches” on the way home!

Looking back to the old days several special machines came to mind.  One in particular stands out – in 1913 I think it was, against Crieff.  Sir George had included his brother-in-law Harry Wilson (my uncle) in this Comrie side and I also had the privilege of playing.  Crieff batted first under the captaincy of Graham Mickel and put up a goodish total.  Comrie were soon in trouble and about six wickets were down with about fifty runs still needed.  My Uncle Harry was next man in; he was not exactly a cricketer but in his younger days had been well-known for his prowess at throwing the hammer in inter-hospital athletics (he was then a medical student at Guys Hospital).

He came in to bat with a bat which he alleged had belonged to W.G. Grace!  It certainly looked it, for it appeared to be mainly held together with string and piece of tape.  By adopting hammer-throwing tactics Uncle Harry succeeded in connecting with the ball quite successfully but unfortunately on each stroke a piece of the bat flew off and landed in the outfield, and after making some 30-odd runs he was run out, mainly because he had only the handle of the bat with which to reach the crease and safety!  That meant a last wicket stand between Sir George and myself.  

  


The score crept up and eventually we needed two to win and one to equal.  I was facing the bowling and the Crieff bowler bowled me the most flagrant short pitched long-hop.  I stepped across, meaning to pull it for four certain runs but alas I hit right under it and there was the Crieff wicket keeper ready to receive a sitting vertical catch.  We had lost by one run!

Another match I well remember which must have been in the same year (1913) was that in which I saw Freddie Dundas hit the most prodigious six I have ever seen.  He was batting at the Crieff end of the Comrie ground and his hit cleared the road alongside the ground, the railway which existed in those days, and landed full toss in the grounds of the English Church.  Freddie was very powerfully built and that year was on leave from the Bombay Burma Trading Company where doubtless his muscles had been further developed by heaving teak about!  In his schoolboy days he and his brother Robert (later Sir Robert) used to open the batting for the Glenalmond First XI.

I think that the year I enjoyed most in Comrie Cricket was 1923 when I was on leave from India.  I had the privilege of opening the bowling with John Robertson (fast right arm).  My bowling was medium left arm and we had a lot of fun!  Sir George Dundas used to tick off John Robertson for his bowling action which he said was too complicated.  I can recollect them having several heated but friendly arguments about it in the middle of a match!

It was about this time in the 1920s, I think, that the main cricket opponent of Comrie became no longer Crieff, but instead Ghillie Macbeth’s Dunira Estate side.  He was alleged to have provided each member of his team with a set of white flannels and hired two well-known cricket professionals to bolster up his team.  I remember bowling against the better of the two and had him dropped at square leg before he had scored – a sitting catch too!

It was in 1923 also I think that Wilfred Rhodes (Yorkshire and England) who was then living in Perth, attended the Comrie Cricket Club “Benefit” Match.

I was lucky enough to play for Comrie both before and after the Second World War, now under the Captaincy of Sir Robert Dundas, although I do not think that I achieved very much – except perhaps for one match in 1939 when I made (for me) the terrific score of 58 not out against Auchterarder and incidentally made the winning hit.

It is still the greatest joy to visit Comrie during the Cricket season and see matches played and enjoyed just as they were 70 years ago.


So, on that note, I think I had better echo the Umpire and call “over”.