The gentleman?s game turned truly ugly at Wellington Oval yesterday ? but before nightfall amends were being made.

Fans watched in shock as two of the Island?s rising sensations Stephen Outerbridge and George O?Brien jr engaged in some unseemly behaviour that both would want to forget as soon as possible.

Having had opener Outerbridge caught at long on by Stefan Kelly to leave Somerset reeling at 69 for four, O?Brien ran up to his opponent gloating triumphantly. Then a suddenly angry O?Brien let fling a right-handed punch to Outerbridge?s face ? provoked by the dismissed batsman spitting at him ? and a huge uproar ensued which led to a premature tea break.

Later, after the dust had settled Outerbridge, who refused to speak to , apparently confessed to spitting at O?Brien and apologised to the latter?s father George O?Brien sr.

?S**t happens,? he is said to have told the elder O?Brien in expressing his remorse.

O?Brien ? the hero of St. George?s win with a match haul of 11 wickets for 120 ? also regretted the incident which cast a pall on his stunning Cup Match debut.

?I apologise to the community. I?m sorry for my actions on the field but that?s (spitting) the worst thing anybody could do to a person and I didn?t appreciate it at all,? said the 20-year-old who accepted Outerbridge?s indirect apology.

St. George?s officials appealed to the public to forgive O?Brien?s reaction and embrace him for a great bowling performance. ?It was an unfortunate situation. In sport emotions run high and sometimes people make mistakes. I just hope the two players come together and realise the game is bigger than them and let things move forward,? said St. George?s president Neil Paynter.