The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Investigation into cricket clash in Arbroath:
Claims of crowd abuse, and hole punched in dressing room by player
Officials at Arbroath and Aberdeenshire have launched an investigation after controversy at the end of their Eastern Premiership encounter.
After Shire pulled off a shock victory over the league leaders at Lochlands, the close-of-play events sparked a war of words between the clubs.
Aberdeenshire skipper Chris Venske accused home supporters of behaving “outrageously”.
However, Arbroath chiefs said their fans were reacting to seeing a Dons player punching a hole in the wall of the changing room.
Honorary president Gary Burnett said: “Any abuse was directed at the Aberdeenshire player when he put his first through the wall.
“The dressing room door was open at the time, so it happened in full view of several people.
“The abuse directed at him had nothing to do with the cricket. It was all about the damage he had done.”
Venske declared: “It was a fiery encounter.
“The abuse we got from some of the crowd has no place in cricket.”
Arbroath captain Marc Petrie said: “What happened off the park is being dealt with by both clubs. “There is nothing else to say.” Venske was the pick of the visiting attack as Arbroath limped to 150 all out. He took four for 25, while Ross McLean and Hayden Laing each hit 39 for the Lichties.
Aberdeenshire reached the target with four wickets and more than five overs in hand.
“It was a bad day at the office for us, Petrie said.
“But I still have great belief in our squad and we’ll quickly move on. The focus has already switched to next weekend, when we face a very good Heriots side.”
Grange maintained their push with a 36-run victory over Forfarshire at Forthill.
The capital troops reached 174 for eight in 40 overs with Dylan Budge (47) and Ryan Flannigan (41) leading the way.
Only Craig Wallace could get to the 30-mark for the hosts, thanks to tight bowling from James Tapper (four for 23) and Nick Farrar (four for 36.)
Glenrothes shrugged off a series of scares to earn revenge for their shock loss earlier in the season to SMRH.
Fred Culley’s 48 paved the way for a tally of 161 at Inverleith.
Three wickets apiece for Chris Mohale and Yasar Arfat sent SMRH sliding to 94 all out.
Heriot’s halted Watsonians at Myreside.
Peter Ross (80 not out) and Hayes van der Berg (50) propelled Heriot’s to 242 for seven in 46 overs.
Rain interruptions altered the Watsons target to 224 in 40, but they collapsed to 174 all out. Mark Watt bagged four for 31. The weather ruled out a result in the Falkland v Carlton tussle at Scroggie Park.