Cup Match?s oldest survivor Arnim (Sam Porgy) Smith passed away earlier this week in Baltimore, Maryland, falling just shy of a well-deserved century.

The 97-year-old former Somerset Cup Match player is to be laid to rest tomorrow at St.James church in Somerset ? a stone?s throw away from his long-time residence on Portland Square.

Introduced to the mid-summer cricket spectacle in 1927 at age 19, Smith was among four colts on a victorious Somerset side that reclaimed the cup with an exciting one-wicket win over St.George?s at Wellington Oval ? the others being the legendary Alma (Champ) Hunt, O?Brien Simons and C.Isaac-Henry.

Smith did not play in 1928 but returned the following year and played continuously until 1944 before bowing out of the annual classic, having compiled 410 runs as a left-handed batsman with a top score of 71.

Smith was also a tidy spin bowler, specialising in bowling leg and off breaks. Though he prided himself on being an all-rounder, he once told , his strength was when coming in at third wicket down.

?When I started playing cricket we used to play big games on Thursdays which was a half day holiday,? Smith said in a previous interview with .

?I also used to play Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays but not Sundays. The first Sunday I played was during the war.

?At that time we in Somerset had the Navy teams which we played against and some of the Navy fellas were (English) county players . . . and big-time county players, too!?

During his Cup Match career, Smith played under five different captains at Somerset ? Warren Simons, Edward Durrant, Arthur Simons, Amon Hunt and Nathaniel Proctor.

?I played many years and never made a duck,? Smith declared proudly. ?I pride myself on that.?

Although arch rivals in the middle, Smith formed a long-time friendship with late St.George?s? Cup Match player Burton Paynter.

Paynter represented St.George?s four times in the classic during the 1930s as an opening batsman while taking up duties behind the stumps on one occasion.

?As far as I can remember he (Smith) came into Cup Match in 1927 and played up till 1944. I can remember him very vaguely being a tall, upright person but I didn?t get a chance to witness him play too long because of the year he went out in 1944 I was young,? recalled local sports historian Warrington (Soup) Zuill yesterday.

?I enjoyed him and he made a great contribution to Somerset Cricket Club during the period he played Cup Match and he will be missed.?

Smith also served as treasurer at Somerset Cricket Club as well as on the executive of the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control.

Bermuda Umpires Association founder and Somerset Cup Match skipper Anthony (Sonny) Roberts is now the oldest surviving Somerset player, in his 87th year.

Roberts captained Somerset in 1952.

Former St.George?s Cup Match skipper, Leroy (Tubby) Richardson, is the oldest surviving member in the East End at 84.

Richardson captained St.George?s from 1951 to 1954.

?I had the pleasure of playing against Sam Porgy (Smith) in 1941 when I was a colt,? recalled Richardson. ?I also had the privilege of catching and bowling Alma (Champ) Hunt out when he had scored 104 runs at Royal Navy Field in Somerset.

?When Hunt was dismissed the scoreboard read 129 for seven ? last man out 104! And to top it all off Somerset won the match I think by 30 runs.

?I?m now the most senior St.George?s ex Cup Match player and so I feel duty bound to attend the funeral.?