Cargill was probing for space around the breakdowns and Gray made initial inroads with a trademark burst of speed only to unluckily knock on. Strathspey had now found their feet and began to counter attack dangerously with their pacy looking back line. Olliver caught the defence unawares with a bustling run from the base of the scrum; Cowan was on hand to receive the pop which forced the visitors into conceding a penalty for being offside in the resulting ruck. Gray slotted successfully to make it Arbroath 3 – Strathspey 0.

Captain McLennan, who was returning from an injury layoff, gathered the restart only to find himself swamped by defenders. Strathspey were now beginning to string phases together and only a barnstorming hit from Skivington prevented a score. Arbroath were now firmly on the back foot for the first time in the match and despite soaking up a lot of pressure, Strathspey crossed for an unconverted try. Arbroath 3 – Strathspey 5.

Veteran Cowan was forced to leave the field and was replaced by Forrest. With the Strathspey back line exploiting gaps in the defence and hesitancy from the defensive line, the visitors scored 3 unanswered tries to make the score Arbroath 3 – Strathspey 22.

Shell shocked after this onslaught Arbroath were determined to fight back before halftime. Gray narrowly missed a penalty attempt but the covering catcher knocked the ball on to hand Arbroath a scrum 5 metres from the try line. A backs move was called and the Arbroath line caught their opposite numbers unawares with a sudden switch of direction. Gray was never going to be stopped from such short range and he stormed over for an unconverted try. Arbroath 8 – Strathspey 22 at halftime.

Strathspey were determined not to take their foot off the gas and started the second half well. A fine defensive scrummage from Smith, McLennan and Forrest saw them steal a rare scrum against the head to allow Haynes to clear.

The visitors streaked over for a converted try against the run of play to put the game all but beyond the home side. Arbroath 8 – Strathspey 29.

To their credit the home side were still throwing themselves into tackles and making life difficult for the visitors. Such was the pressure that Cowan found himself in the unfamiliar position of calling for a mark and clearing his lines with a kick belying his position. Ralston was pitched into battle and acquitted himself well when he took the ball into a host of defenders and recycled the ball. Determined to have the last say Neish took a quick tap and offloaded to McLennan and Siddall drove on to pin the visitors back in their own half. Indiscipline from the visitors saw a series of free kicks being conceded, all of which Arbroath were determined to take quickly. Cowan and Hall bullocked onwards and Brown thundered towards the try line. Another free kick saw Olliver quickly tap and lunge over the try line despite two defenders hanging off him to score a consolation try.

Full time Arbroath 13 – Strathspey 29.

Team: Smith, McLennan (c), Hall, Yuill, McIntosh, Cowan, Olliver, Neish, Cargill, Haynes, Gray, Watermeyer, Skivington, Johnston, Keillor, Ralston, Spink, Forrest, Siddall, Cull, McCagh, Brown, Jed, Mikey