LARGO WIN THE CUP

 "There is only one team in Largo", was the victorious cry at the home of Forfarshire Cricket Club when Largo won the final of the Readers Small Clubs Cup.  It was not the victory Largo was looking for as the weather intervened to wash out the fixture, just as Largo started to make inroads into their oppositions, Cults, batting line up.  Earlier, Largo had lost the toss and been asked to bat on a wicket which looked soft and would show to have unpredictable bounce. The sizeable support from Largo was in buoyant mood as the game commenced.

Largo started badly.  Very badly.  After 10 overs the East Drive boys had stumbled to 12 with the loss of Alistair Duncan, Andrew Donaldson, Bob Mowat and Gordon Kinnear.  Enter Greg "Kiwi", Rodden who with Craig Walker began to repair the damage the Aberdeen bowlers had caused.  Walker played the anchor role which allowed Rodden to play his normal attacking game. Walker lost his wicket for a valuable 13 runs with the score on 53.  Rodden continued to plunder the Cults bowling and together with Bill Simpson moved the score towards 100.  Greg reached a well deserved 50 and moved quickly onto 62 before he was caught with the score on 93.  Bill Simpson kept the rate going and was ably supported by Azman Ali.  The total was moving towards an amount which could be defended.  The tail wagged with Simpson, Ali and Chris Barclay also making contributions.  The Largo innings was brought to a close when Barclay lost his wicket which left the batting enigma Stuart Ritchie undefeated.  Cults were set the total of 129 for the cup.

The drizzle was constant as a determined Largo came out to field.  Rodden and Barclay opened the bowling with their usual pace and hostility, which clearly unsettled the Cults batman. Wickets started to fall with Chris Barclay taking a caught and bowled chance, Gordon Kinnear making no mistake with a catch in the covers and Azman Ali taking a sharp catch close in. After 9 overs the rain was still falling steadily,  the umpires offered the weather to the Cults batsman which they turned down.  A decision which would provide fatal.  4 more overs were played when the umpires took the players of the park.  It became obvious there would be no more cricket and so the cup would be decided on a complicated system normally calculated by Messrs  Duckworth and Lewis, based on the run rate.  The anticipation was measurable but it was joy for the Largo boys as Captain Bob Mowat was presented with the cup.

Man of the match was presented to Greg Rodden for scoring 62 and bringing Largo to within touching distance of cup success.

President Seath mentioned  "This is a fantastic achievement for Largo Cricket Club and the cup celebration will be shared by the players, the supporters and the whole village"

The presentation of the prizes was the cue for much jubilation as the players and supporters partied onto the wee small hours. Many woke up on Monday with sore heads, some more than others.

Thanks go to Stuarts the Bakers for Largo match sponsorship, Donaldsons Coach Hire for travel arrangements and The Railway Tavern, Lower Largo for the considerable hospitality post match.

Largo have still all to play for in the league with the 1sts in second place in division 3 while the 2nds are in the top spot in division 7.