Eldon Raynor and Winston “Coe” Trott are the best of friends.

But it wasn’t always that way — especially when it came time to Cup Match as players on opposing teams.

Mr Trott, a left-arm fast bowler, played for Somerset between 1968 and 1983. He claimed 36 wickets at an average of 22.39, with best match figures of five for 24 achieved in the second innings of Somerset’s famous win in 1979, which ended a 19-year trophy drought in the West End.

Mr Raynor, a genuine all-rounder, made 21 appearances for St George’s between 1958 and 1979. He scored 738 runs at an average of 29.52 and a high score of 79 not out. He also claimed 33 wickets at an average of 25.15.

While they were fierce rivals in their heyday, both men had a mutual respect for each other’s ability.

“I always considered “Coe” as one of the threats to the St George’s’ players,” Mr Raynor, who celebrated his 81st birthday this year, said. “He was a good bowler and always a threat.

“His main delivery was a short ball swinging in and that’s the ball he got me out in 1979. I was going for the hook and got caught behind off the glove.

“That’s the year I was seeing two balls coming down at me and I should have never gone back to bat. I had gotten hit (in the head) earlier and had to go hospital.

“‘Coe’ always tried his utmost to get me out and likewise with me. I would always wish you the best but I am one of the fellows trying my utmost to get you out.”

According to Mr Trott, 69, Mr Raynor took the game very seriously.

“Before he got on the field he was always this happy guy chatting with everybody,” Mr Trott said. “But, when the game started, he was very fierce as a player.

“My first Cup Match was in 68’ and I had seen him play before then. But my first run in against him was in Cup Match. Just being a team player was his strength and he let his ability do the talking for him.”

Rescuing St George’s from trouble at the crease was something Mr Raynor earned a reputation from batting at number seven in the order.

“Whenever the team was in trouble I enjoyed going to the wicket and on a few occasions I went to the wicket when Somerset thought they had St George’s and batted them to safety,” Mr Raynor said.

Mr Trott added: “He batted late in the game and the bigger the challenge, the higher he rose to the occasion.”

It was while training with the national team that the bond the two men enjoy today really began to jell.

“We were playing against New Zealand and during a training session I said to Eldon ‘aren’t you tired of putting up bad performances’ because he batted sort of deep and I down the back as a bowler,” Mr Trott said. “I can remember because he looked back at me with the same look that I had.”

Playing golf at home and abroad drew the two Cup Match rivals even closer as friends.

“I was into golf so we started to play a lot of golf together,” Mr Raynor said. “I was in my heyday back then and used to put a lot of licks into him left, right and centre. But today he beats me quite often. He has proven to be a very competitive golfer and cricketer and I enjoy playing with him.”

Mr Trott also has fond memories on the golf course with his friend.

“We have been all over the place playing golf together,” he said. “We have played golf together as far away as Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii.”

It is rare for a St George’s player to go to bat for a Somerset rival.

But that is exactly what Mr Raynor did when he helped Mr Trott secure a building site for his welding business beside the former’s well drilling business at Well Bottom in Warwick.

“I knew this guy who offered me a building lot and Coe was looking around for a place where he can get himself established — and this is where he is today,” Mr Raynor recalled.

Mr Trott added: “He was here first and helped me to put the building up. It is always helpful whenever you are trying to achieve something and you have somebody who is going to be give you a little inspiration, electricity, a mixer or even water. All of these types of things were right next door — whether you hired them, he loaned them to you or gave them to you.”

Both men agree that playing in Cup Match is a wonderful experience.

“I think every cricketer who plays cricket must want to play in Cup Match,” Mr Trott said. “Cup Match is so such a big deal that I think if the cricketers stayed home their families would still go the game. It is that important to us as a game and you can’t beat that occasion. It’s the biggest crowd we have to any event in Bermuda.”

Mr Raynor added: “It’s pretty hard to explain what is like to play in Cup Match because a lot of things happen that you never dream would happen to you. Like in 1976 when I bowled up in Somerset and got seven wickets for 18 runs.”