East Drive Opening

On Sunday 11th May 1986 Largo Cricket Club opened the now famous East Drive wicket with an all star match against the then recently crowned National Village Champions, Freuchie!.  Largo also recruited the services of a former international to help them unveil the new pitch.  It was graced for its inauguration by former England and Kent cricket captain Mike Denness, who played for Largo against Freuchie on this most famous occasion. Denness, a native of Ayr, played over 20 years of first class cricket and averaged just under 40 in his 26 test matches including 4 test centuries and a highest score of 188 against Australia in 1974 / 75 at the MCG.

Mike Denness feels the heat, Australia v England, Brisbane, 1974

Over 500 people turned up to watch the match and there were beer tents, tea & cakes stalls and various sideshows.  President at the time, Andrew Duncan said, " We are absolutely delighted that we have now reached the stage where this opening match can take place, secure in the knowledge that Largo Cricket Club now have a home ground"

Here is the scorecard for that day

FREUCHIE CC

M. Wilkie        b. Barnes                                      5

A. Duncan  c.McFarlane b. Burns                    1

F. Irvine          b. Burns                                       2

G. Wilson       b. Barnes                                   58

D. Cowan      lbw. b. Barnes                              5

S. Irvine     c.Mowat   b. Burns                       21

T. Trewartha c. McFarlane b. Sharma          1

P. Hepplewhite c.Burns b. Seath                     9

B. Christie      b. Sharma                                  5

D. Christie    c.Denness b. Barnes                14

N. McNaughton    Not Out                          12 

                                                         Extras       2  

                     Total (all out)                          135

LARGO CC

R. Mowat    c. Cowan  b. Hepplewhite                  10

D. McFarlane     c. & b. Cowan                               0

M. Denness c. McNaughton b. B.Christie           19

R. Storie        Not Out                                              22

J. Pettifer       b. Hepplewhite                                  3

I. Halley        c. D. Christie  b. Hepplewhite          0 

D. Seath         b. Hepplewhite                                  0

D. Lister         b. S. Irvine                                         2

V. Sharma    lbw. b. Hepplewhite                           0

I. Barnes      c. D.Christie b. Hepplewhite            0

R. Burns         b. F. Irvine                                        3

                                                            Extras            6 

                     Total (all out)                                    69

* Please note the batsman no.7 for Largo, No change there then!! Although he did pick up 1 wicket.