AS CUP MATCH fizzled out into an inevitable draw last Friday evening, Somerset fans must, at best, have felt a tad disappointed.

Yes, their side retained the trophy by virtue of not having lost, but this was a game that was there for the taking.

Having so clearly dominated on the first day, the hosts could have contemplated finishing off their opponents as early as mid-afternoon on Friday.

Instead, they seemed perfectly comfortable with allowing the match to drift into a yawning stalemate.

That's not to take anything away from St. George's, who demonstrated far more grit and determination in the second innings than they did in their first, and in century-maker and record-breaker Clay Smith fielded a player who reaffirmed his status as the Island's most complete batsman.

But the visitors' task was arguably made much easier by a Somerset team who clearly lacked the kind of fighting spirit which might have secured a result.

Having declared overnight with a healthy 216-run lead, and then snapped up three early wickets in the morning, their supporters had every right to expect a quick kill.

But the players showed little or no sense of urgency, taking their sweet time over water breaks and field changes, and employing containing tactics rather than attacking the jugular.

They and their officials might argue that it was oppressively hot, but no moreso than in previous matches this summer. Cricket these days demands physical fitness, and if the players couldn't handle those conditions they had no right to be on the field.

The lackadaisical attitude which seemed to prevail was hardly a healthy advertisement for the game, and certainly not for a match which is billed as the country's most prestigious.

Credit to Somerset for retaining the cup, but if marks were to be given for effort then most of those in the champions' side would get no more than five out of ten.

* * * *

STILL on Cup Match, regular contributor to Sports Mailbox, Recman, by and large makes a lot of sense with his analysis of the local game.

But his offering this week, published in Wednesday's Royal Gazette, was not only off the mark but bordering on the offensive.

One can only hope that his views are not shared by the majority of Somerset supporters.

His admission that he was at ill at ease with the thought that South African-born Saleem Mukuddem might break skipper Janeiro Tucker's all-time scoring record because it was only fitting that a Bermudian hold that mark, smacked of the kind of xenophobia which is all too prevalent in this small island.

To his great credit, Mukuddem made not the slightest fuss when he was left stranded on 160 not out - just 26 runs shy of Tucker's record - as Somerset declared their innings. It's understood that he was aware Somerset would declare at the end of the first day, no matter what.

But the question still begs, had Tucker himself or perhaps former captain Albert Steede been in the same position, would the West Enders have closed their innings. One suspects not.

And Recman unashamedly argues it was the correct decision as it was better that an outsider not be allowed to break the record.

How selfish is that?

If Bermudians such as Recman don't want ‘outsiders' to excel then perhaps the answer would be not to pick them in the first place.

Fortunately, not all Islanders think like our prolific letter-writer and most will have appreciated the contribution Mukuddem has made to local cricket, both on and off the field, since his arrival a few years back.

He's been a huge asset to the local game and had he been allowed to attempt to eclipse Tucker's record, success would have been a fitting reward for his efforts.

Shame he wasn't given the chance!