Largo’s 1st XI travelled with a weakened side to face Arbroath United 2nd XI looking for a first win of the league season. Ben Coates was captain of the Largo side and his team fielded first in hot conditions with a fast outfield to contend with.

Largo opened with Cusick and Rowley and the pair got off to a solid start, creating a run out chance missed after great work from Warrender in the field followed by a wicket for Cusick with Hogg caught in the covers by Udayan for 11. The Home side though would move past 50 with the 2nd wicket partnership nearing 50 before the introduction of Bentley to the attack brought about the wickets Largo were looking for.

He would dismiss Hayes (13) and Stott (10) caught behind by Coates as well as bowling Peal for a well played 63. This though wouldn’t lead to further success for the visitors as the home side passed 200 still just 4 down with Clarke and Bowick finding the boundaries with consistency as Largo’s catching let them down for a 2nd week running. The home side though wouldn’t get the big score that seemed likely as Cusick and Bentley avoided late innings damage to limit Arbroath to 224/6, Bentley finishing with 4/59.

In reply Largo opened with Cusick and Barclay and with the later struggling with an injury he was the first to fall with an inswinging yorker from Hayes getting through his defences for just 7. Das joined Cusick and looked in aggressive form before becoming the 2nd victim of Hayes, also bowled for 12. Cusick and Warrender would steady the innings with a partnership of 42 before Warrender would be trapped LBW for 16, Largo now 69/3.

This wicket would be the start of a collapse for the Largo side that meant they would begin the season with back to back losses. Cusick was run out with a direct hit for a top scoring 35 before Coates, Udayan and Rowley would also be dismissed searching for quick runs to leave Largo 106/7. Bentley would be joined by Ewan Macleod with the scoring of bonus points still to play for and despite MacLeod being run out again by a direct hit, Merrington would hit a quick fire 14 to inch Largo towards 150 before he was trapped LBW, followed finally by Eilidh MacLeod became the last batter to go, Largo all out for 146 and a 78 run loss.

Despite not being at full strength the Largo side will feel disappointed to not make it a closer game in the end with their catching letting them down for a 2nd week running and the lack of a big score meaning they still seek their first win of 2025. They will hope to turn things around again next week, away once again this time against Kinloch.