The last time Cleveland and Flatts played each other for the Eastern Counties trophy, most of the players taking part in tomorrow's game weren't even born.

It was almost 30 years ago that the two sides last met at St David's, when they contested the title on Saturday, July 18, 1981.

So long ago in fact, that the UBP were still in power, people were shopping at Piggly Wiggly, Frankie Avalon was singing at the Empire Room at the Southampton Princess, a case of Beck's from Friths Liquors cost $9.75, and Mrs Hilda Aitken, one of the first women elected to the House of Assembly in 1948, celebrated her 90th birthday.

Charles and Diana still hadn't even gotten married yet.

Then, it was Flatts who were in possession of the cup. Having beaten Cleveland the previous season in the final round at Sea Breeze Oval the pair were drawn together for the first round the following year.

Even without the talents of wicketkeeper Dennis Wainwright, and medium pacer Clarence Parfitt, who were both injured, the holders could still call upon the likes of Braxton Stowe, Barry DeCouto and Treadwell Gibbons Sr.

So confident was Flatts skipper Harrington Harvey that he told The Royal Gazette prior to the game that: "It's my aim to keep the cup for the whole season, our confidence is high."

Cleveland meanwhile had the likes of McNeil McGowan, Grant Smith, Johnny Richardson and Maxwell Musson in their team.

In the end the challengers won by three wickets, after bowling Flatts out for 117, Cleveland reached 121 for seven, with McGowan (33), and Musson and Eugene Simmons putting on 32 for the sixth wicket after Cleveland had collapsed to 61 for five.

"We have no trouble winning the cup," McGowan told The Gazette afterwards, "now we just have to work on keeping it."

Fast forward three decades, and the cup is back in Cleveland's possession, Flatts are the opposition, and while Cleveland are champions by default, the rivalry that raged between these two teams in the 1980s is about to be played out once more.