Robinson as MVP, so three members of the sports media were asked to submit votes to break the deadlock.

In the end it was century-maker Ray who got the nod for the Most Valuable Player which was announced yesterday at Bermuda Cricket Board of Control's office. Ray scored 103 not out, including 17 boundaries, to rescue St.

George's in the second innings after Somerset had taken three early wickets.

St. George's captain Clay Smith declared immediately after Ray reached his century, which left Somerset to bat for 18 overs and score 265 for victory.

Robinson was Somerset's top bat in the first innings with 63 and was unbeaten on 27 in the second innings.

"It comes back to once bitten, twice shy,'' said Ray, referring to 1996 when Somerset handed Smith a sound beating. He didn't want to lose the cup twice in three years.

"Somerset had the manpower to go for the runs. It's bragging rights, east against west, and it's too much at stake.

"I don't think we played negative cricket, it just came to a point where you have to change your game plan.'' Ray defended Somerset's decision to send St. George's in to bat first, as Dexter Basden realised he had to bowl St. George's out twice in order to win the match. In fact, the last eight victories going back to 1981 were all achieved by the team batting second.

"In order to win sometimes you have to send a team in and try to push, like Somerset won in 1996,'' said Ray.

"You have to take a chance, put them in and get them out and then get your runs fast and send them back in.'' Ray stressed he never thought much about scoring a century, but was more occupied with pulling the team out of trouble on the second day.

"I never really worried about it, as I said before,'' said Ray after receiving the MVP award.

"I guess when I got in the 60s and 70s I said `now, this is something that could be possible' but it was never a goal to make it.'' Nevertheless, Ray is excited to join the exclusive club of century makers in Cup Match. Nothing he has ever experienced in sports, he said, could compare to the feeling.

"I'm so glad that I did get there because I've never felt a feeling like that before.'' Even now Ray, with two years under his belt, hasn't set any personal goals for Cup Match.

"I just take it year to year, as it comes,'' he said. "There are no personal goals, just as long as our club keeps the cup.

"I'm more a team person and like to set team goals.'' Ray's first 50 came in 161 minutes and his century in 321 minutes with a drive for four to the deep extra cover boundary off Del Hollis. The innings was chanceless.

"Dwayne Leverock was causing most of the problems, he and Hasan (Durham). But Hasan seemed to bowl more bad balls in an over,'' said Ray of the Somerset bowling.

"Dwayne had a pretty good line and length but I thought they didn't bowl at me enough. They were bowling too much outside the off stump where I could afford to leave balls. They needed to put a little more pressure on me because if they had gotten me out it could have been a big fall.'' Bermuda's under-16 cricket team, currently in Toronto, saw their third match in a four-game series against Canada's youth team rained out yesterday.

Weather permitting, the series decider will be played today, following a win each in previous games this week.

MARK RAY -- The St. George's century-maker was voted Cup Match's Most Valuable Player by the media ahead of Somerset's Sammy Robinson after the two clubs failed to reach an agreement.