History has a funny way of repeating itself.

Exactly 35 years ago Social Club and Devonshire Recreation Club met in the very first Central Counties Cup match in 1969 at the former National Sports Club grounds in Devonshire.

Now, following Devonshire?s 102-run upset win over Stars and Social Club?s nine-wicket annihilation of Police on Sunday, the two clubs will meet again ? this time in the Central Counties final next month.

Although the first match ? which saw Devonshire?s Lionel Thomas score the first-ever century (108 not out) in the competition ? ended in a draw, Social Club were awarded the cup on account of having been the first team drawn out of the hat that year.

Social Club then successfully defended their crown against Nationals, Western Stars, Bermuda Athletic Association (BAA), Police Recreation Club and a Pembroke Hamilton Club (PHC) team led by former St.George?s Cup Match players Calvin (Bummy) Symonds and Rupert Scotland.

This year has seen a dramatic transformation of Social Club from the league?s whipping boys to Bermuda Cricket Board First Division Limited Overs champions ? decades after enjoying huge success (eight titles) in the late 1940s and early ?50s in the now defunct Somers Isle Cricket League under the captaincy of Clayton Richardson (now deceased).

?The guys have had a great season from the time they went on tour of Antigua (earlier this spring) for the Test series between England and the West Indies,? said former Social Club all-rounder Earl (Gabby) Hart.

?I saw a tremendous amount of camaraderie in the team in the Caribbean and now having returned a lot of them seem to have benefited immensely from that tour. I think Charlie (Marshall) has done a tremendous job along with the other senior players in the team and I hope they can stay together and continue enjoying themselves.?

Social Club had their ranks bolstered by the pre-season arrivals of player/coach Marshall, Kenny Phillip, Glenn Blakeney and fast bowler Kevin Hurdle from Western Stars. Marshall is currently on a three-year contract.

Hart, who played in the first Central Counties match against Devonshire during a four-year stint at Social Club, vividly recalled that game.

?Devonshire won the toss and elected to bat and they scored about 220 odd runs,? he recollected. ?We then went in to bat and were 78 for four when rain came down. Play never resumed because the wicket was soaked and so we were awarded the cup.

?But I just hope the guys can keep their cool and go out there and complete the job that has to be done. And it?s good to see them back in the limelight and I know some of the great Social Club players who went before them are smiling from above.?

Social Club will now attempt to add the Two-Day league championship to their collection when they take on First Division Group A leaders Flatts in this weekend?s final at a venue still to be determined.

Former Devonshire right-arm fast and later spin bowler Ellsworth Christopher, who seized 31 Central Counties wickets at an average of 11.32, also recalled the days when his club were a powerhouse in domestic cricket.

?For years Devonshire dominated the Central Counties and when I played cricket from 1955 to to 1976 Western Stars never beat us,? he said. ?The first time they beat us was around 1987-88 when Roger Leverock scored most of the runs and got most of the wickets.?

Last Sunday Devonshire became the first club in the new millennium to topple mighty Stars who had held the cup since the mid-?90s.

Christopher added: ?I?m very glad our team have reached the final . . . but for years Devonshire dominated the Central Counties and so we aren?t really over elated.?