No fairy tale ending for Largo in Edinburgh. Reporter - Brent Bentley

On Saturday after last weeks convincing win Largo's 1st.XI cricketers !travelled to Edinburgh to play Royal High Corstorphine's 2nds. who had beaten the Fife team by 100 runs earlier in the season. The home side won the toss and put Largo in to bat - it looked like a good toss to win.

With the in form Warrender unavailable Largo opened with Anderson and stand-in wicketkeeper Robertson. Royal High's bowlers started well swinging and seaming the ball with great accuracy with the luckless Robertson falling for a duck caught at gully. Anderson was much more fortunate with generous fielding efforts from the opposition reprieving him as he and Rintoul got the score going for Largo progressing to 26 when Rintoul was bowled for 13. Anderson then in partnerships with Ian and Aidan Brown pushed the score along to 64 until he went for 34 bowled by Clarkson leaving the score on 64-4 at the half way mark.

After the drinks break veteran Bob Mowat and young Brown set about increasing the score rate with the former leading the way. Unfortunately Mowat often seemed to find the boundary fielders with his shots before falling for 24 bowled attempting another big hit with the score on 109. This though left the scene set for Murray Sneddon who despite struggling to get bat on ball initially finished on 34 not out with 19 off the last over including 2 big "sixes" leaving Largo on 154-7 off their 40 overs.

Opening with A.Brown and Bentley it was Brown who made the breakthrough after a quick first spell getting Khan caught spooning up a short ball to Sneddon for 12. However the home side then built two good partnerships despite some good bowling from Briony Gillin,returning from last weeks Scotland duties, who picked up 2 wickets With 10 overs to go RHC required 38 with 7 wickets in hand - a comfortable position to be in.

However returning for a second spell Anderson took the wicket of the big hitting Sathiy for 19 with Gillin taking a great catch and when Rintoul picked up 2 wickets in an over, including a brilliant caught and bowled to remove Lawrie for 40, the game was very much in the balance. A fairytale finish was not to be with Azam and Gibson seeing RHC home thanks some big hitting to the short boundary and some luck off Brown's bowling. The home side won with 3 overs to go by 3 wickets.

In a game that was in the balance and enjoyable for all involved, Largo produced another good performance against a team who have consistently been near the top of the league and who resoundingly beat Largo at East Drive. Now just above the drop zone Largo have a crucial match at East Drive on Saturday when they take on fellow basement dwellers St.Boswells in a match where a win might secure Largo's involvement in Division 2 next year.
This week match ball sponsor - Patrick Gimour - "Freelance Chef"