When Barry DeCouto made his Cup Match debut for Somerset some might have seen him as a pioneer by breaking into an arena normally the domain of blacks.

But for the man at the centre of media attention during his 1978 Cup Match debut it was business as usual.

"If you have played internationally it was like any other game of cricket,'' said Mr. DeCouto who is rated as one of Bermuda's best-ever wicket-keepers. "I wasn't nervous - a lot of players get selected for Cup Match before they play internationally so it's more of an experience for them to encounter such crowds - you get 10-12,000 people there on the first day."

And it was Mr. DeCouto's years of experience as a wicket-keeper which led to him being recruited by captain Randy Horton who was desperate to end two decades without a Somerset victory. Nor was Mr. DeCouto the first white player in the rivalry which has its roots in 19th century commemoration of the Emancipation of slaves on August 1,1834.

Records collected by Cup Match historians Tommy Aitchison and the late Percival Ratteray Sr. show that in 1914, Day Martin played in the classic - 13 years after its start in 1902.

Mark (Beaver) Ray made his debut in 1987 for St. George's, and brothers Darrin and Jason Lewis donned cricketing whites for opposite teams - though not at the same time.

Mr. DeCouto said of his debut: "The main reason I got selected was that Randy Horton wanted the best players - he wanted to win the cup. The 1979 team was quite a side - there were a group of players who had represented Bermuda."

With so many familiar faces around him Mr. DeCouto could concentrate on the game and while victory was beyond them in 1978, Somerset managed a draw on home turf.

"Being a wicket keeper it was easier because you are in the middle of the park - it's easier to concentrate."

But for many others Mr. DeCouto's appearance was a big deal. "It was quite an event - there were a lot of headlines," he said. "Some people who had never been before came along to see what was going to happen - to see how you performed in the heat of the moment.

"The crowd were wonderful - there was a very warm reception, it was huge. It's definitely an experience."

However the best was yet to come. "The following year I was part of the team which won the cup back for Somerset after St. George's had it for 20 years.

"To win the cup was even more exciting - it was tremendous."

Despite his fond memories Mr. DeCouto didn't attend the centenary celebrations last year.

"I have not been for a few years - usually they send an invitation to the ex-players but after a while they forget you."

"You would have thought in the 100th anniversary celebration the ex-players would have been invited."

Following Mr. DeCouto's lead was another Devonshire resident who headed west for cup glory.

Darrin Lewis was 23 when he made his debut in 1989, taking three wickets and making three catches but still winding up on the losing side. And like, Mr. DeCouto, being the odd man out was hardly a new experience for him. Both played for a number of years for Devonshire Recreation Club and never felt out of place in the team. Mr. Lewis just took it in his stride.

He said: "I had been the only white guy playing for the Bermudian national team. I had never considered race as holding me back in the national programme."

And the crowd boosted his confidence. "We ran out to warm up and the reception from the crowd was great.

"Basically when you are not playing you don't really notice the crowd - you don't know if there are two people or 2,000, but the warm up is when you really notice the magnitude of it."

Sadly an allergic reaction to eye medicine a year later cut short Mr. Lewis's cricket career and future Cup Match appearances. He is also a former Bermuda youth team captain, leading the team to victory in the International Youth Tournament here in Bermuda in 1985.

That team, which beat the England North team captained by former England captain Mike Atherton, contained current Somerset Cup Match players Albert Steede and brothers Dexter and Richard Basden.

Mr. Lewis, a right-arm spin bowler and stylish left-handed batsman, was the first Bermuda cricketer to play in three International Youth Tournaments in 1981, 1983 and 1985).

Mr. Lewis will be following Cup Match via the media and will be rooting for Somerset to win. "There's nothing like it for a cricketer," he says of the experience of playing in the Island's major cricket match, "Although most of the time I am on the water fishing during Cup Match."

He still takes part in the game by coaching youngsters at Spice Valley Middle School where he is deputy principal.

Darrin's younger brother Jason followed him into Cup Match, but with rivals St. George's in 1997, the same year another white player, Mark Ray, also made his debut for the east enders. Jason lost his place in the team after that year, but Ray has been ever-present since then and was voted MVP in 1998 following his century at Somerset.

And it is undestood that young David Ferreira is in the running for Colt status for Somerset - having had success with Southampton Rangers this season - and is playing in this weekend's trial match.