Somerset and St.George?s ?old boys? battled to an exciting 2-2 draw in Saturday?s tenth annual R.O.Smith Veterans All-Star Match at Somerset Cricket Club.

Leading 2-1 with ten minutes remaining in the match, former Trojan Kevin Bailey beat St.George?s? ?keeper Gregory Smith with a firm low drive to earn the home team a deserved share of the spoils.

It was Bailey who had put Somerset ahead against the run of play in the 20th minute with drive from an acute angle which eluded the grasp of Smith, who otherwise had a stellar day between the sticks, only for Gary Tucker to draw the teams level at the opposite end shortly after.

St.George?s went ahead in the 39th minute through a text-book free kick, the towering Milton Jones slamming his effort from all of 25 yards over the outstretched hands of diminutive Somerset ?keeper Phillip (Stickman) Galloway.

Both teams had further chances to add to their tally, especially the visitors through Charles (Nature) Wade who squandered a golden opportunity to extend the match well beyond Somerset?s reach.

Instead, however, the former BAA player failed to capitalise on a breakaway, seemingly running out of ideas in front of goal with only substitute goalie Oliver Caisey to beat.

Winger Noel (Sub) Smith also proved to be a constant menace to a Somerset defence marshalled by former Trojan midfield maestro George Brangman ? smartly clad in traditional sock bands.

That Somerset were able end the match all square owed much to Caisey. The former Hamilton Parish and Devonshire Colts custodian was either up to the challenge or simply in the right place at the right moment to make clutch saves and keep his team afloat.

And with St.George?s coasting to what appeared to be certain victory, Bailey pounced late on to throw cold water on the East Enders? celebration plans ? though at the end of the day charity was still the big winner.

Proceeds from the match ? witnessed by several hundred fans ? went to various local charities.

?The day went off very well. The attendance was great, the atmosphere was good and the crowd was almost the size of the crowd we had at Garrison Field last year,? said event organiser Warrington (Soup) Zuill.

Over $2,000 was raised during the annual match which now sees the clubs deadlocked with identical records (four wins, four losses and two draws apiece) in the decade-old rivalry pitting East against West.

Saturday?s event, however, wasn?t solely reserved for former greats as some of the sport?s future prospects (pee wees) from opposite ends of the Island were also on hand to display their talents.

Following the match, former players Kenneth Cann, Michael Gilbert, George (Friday) Bremar, Colbert Pearman, Aaron Sabir, Sinclair Reid, Neville Swainson and Frederick Hall were all honoured for their past achievements in the sport.