Largo Bow Out

The heroics of Gregg Rodden were but a memory as Largo fell at the first hurdle to Edinburgh side Marchmont in the defence of the Readers Small Clubs Cup. 

In a game sponsored by the Lundin Links Pharmacy, Marchmont won the toss and elected to bat. Chris Barclay and David “Hurricane” Seath, making his first start for the 1st this year, opened the bowling and contained the opening batsmen to 21 over the first 10 overs.  Seath claimed the first wicket when Mowat caught Burker for 1. Marchmont captain McGregor began to assert himself scoring runs to predominantly the leg side of the ground but the wily combination of Seath and change bowler Mowat attempted to slow him down. At one stage the game had been in danger of being called of as the weather turned nasty, but the sun was blazing down as the indefatigable Seath finished a 10 over for 25 run spell down the hill. All the hard work of the opening bowlers was in danger of being unravelled as McGregor and his playing partner Chetly raced from 21 from 10 overs to 75 runs for 20 overs and a big total was looking very much on for the Edinburgh side The hundred was brought up in the 25^th over. Chetly was out in the cruellest manner when he was run out, backing up too far, when the Bowler Ali deflected a straight drive from McGregor onto the stumps. He had made 31 and he had helped to take the score onto 144. Collier came to the middle with the single intention of blasting as many runs as he could, and he and the McGregor, who passed the magic 3-figure mark  put the Largo bowling and fielding to the test. The Centurion McGregor was finally out for 121, stumped by Aly Duncan with the score on 169. Myers and  Colliers accelerated the scoring and the Marchmont total reached an impressive 264 for 4 of their allotted 45 overs with Collier finishing undefeated on 65 and Mathers not out on 31 .  The Largo team should take credit for keeping a high standard in the field with Alan Tocher out in the deep and Aly Duncan, Deputising behind the stumps, worthy of a special mention.

Largo knew 265 was needed if they wanted to hold onto their cup and the enigmatic Craig Walker and Stevie Bentley, fresh from his fine knock on the Saturday, opened the batting. The run chase fell away early in the innings as first Bentley, then Mowat where back in the pavilion with single figure scores. Aly Duncan joined Walker at the crease and these two were looking good until Walker, fresh from celebrating his 50 with a six over wide mid-on, was bowled for 56. Only the patient Duncan and the wiry Ali, making a welcome return to form, managed double figures and the Largo score was halted for 146 when the magical Dakin was the last man out for the home side.

 Largo now are able “to concentrate on the League” and will be hoping to pull free of any relegation situations starting next week at home to Grange 3s.