On a sunny but windy day in Elie, Largo for the first time in decades graced the beach to take on the Ship Inn in a 30 over a side match on the famous sands in front of the pub, home to many famous faces and teams over the years. Ben Coates, a former Ship Inn player captained the Largo side and after the toss they were asked to field first in the slightly soggy conditions as the tides moved away from the ground.

Largo opened with ‘Brian’ Bentley and Michie with both adapting well to the different conditions with only a few 6s from D’Ath moving the scoreboard along. With 3 overs max per bowler Coates had to ring the changes and it was down to Sneddon to take the first wicket with Gillin taking a fantastic diving catch on the boundary. Warrender would also take a wicket clean bowled followed soon after by a rare wicket maiden in this sort of fixture from Ahmad.

With drinks taken at 15 overs and the score on 60/3 captain Bodger joined D’Ath who both showed their experience of the beach conditions to move the score towards 100 as they entered the final overs with only an overturned LBW given by Howard Coates umpiring for Largo, troubling the pair. D’Ath would retire on 50 just after winning his height in pints as per the local rules by hitting Gillin in to the beer garden before Galloway was hit hard by Bodger in his 3 overs to also move to 50 and the home sides score to 159/5 in their allotted overs.

After the excellent tea provided by the hosts, Largo opened with the unconventional pair of Michie and Ahmad in what turned out to be a master stoke from Coates as both showed big hitting ability not often seen from either on the grass with 5 sixes in the first 4 overs taking the score towards 50 in no time, much to the delight of the Largo players and supporters in the crowd. Both in quick time though would be dismissed along with Gillin who chipped a caught and bowled back to captain Bodger to reduce Largo to 70/3.

Coates would come to the crease and also give the beer garden spectators some catching practice with a straight six but after drinks Largo continued to lose wickets at regular intervals as they struggled to adapt to the conditions with Patrick Gilmour’s face plant in the sand attempting a quick single highlighting this perfectly.

Largo though in the end would get the better of the home side in a tight finish as Largo Man of the Match David Galloway more than made up for his figures earlier in the day with a classy 42* to see Largo home by 3 wickets with an over to spare.

Overall this was great day out for all involved and was a tick off the list for many in the Largo side with their expectations more than met in what we hope will become more of a regular, than every couple decades event. Thanks must go to the Ship Inn for providing both sides with great facilities and hospitality on the day and to Largo’s sponsor The Crusoe for helping to make the game happen.