Cup Match Friday was a wash out on the field, but the reason for the season was not lost on the revellers. Once the cricket was discontinued, in fact, the party ensued with increasing intensity. So by the time the Soca versus Reggae event began at Snorkel Park, all those in attendance were more than ready to dance the night away and how they did dance the night away.

Reggae supporters seemed to be more abundant from the start of the festivities at Snorkel Park, but the slight Soca minority definitely brought more volume, which made 'getting loud' naturally easier for them.

The first round of the annual battle began promptly at 11 p.m., with Soca winning the toss and sending Reggae in to 'bat'.

The local Reggae representatives served notice early that this was not going to be a night when frenzied jumping and waving would reign supreme. YGS Entertainment opened with a Bob Marley infused vintage Reggae set that sent the local Soca team into a panic.

D'General and 'Tombo responded well for Soca, but YGS proved much stronger than anticipated, and ran away with round one pretty comfortably. By the time round one hotted up, the crowd had swollen to something like 2,000 people, and the frantic front rows were already soaked with sweat and water.

During YGS Entertainment's second 20 minute set, the Reggae team threw a new twist into the mix, with dancing team Bermuda Squad pumping up the crowd with a spectacularly energetic dance routine that had the crowd absolutely loving the Reggae effort.

Soca, of course, has always enjoyed stage dancers during this event, so there was no surprise to see folks bumping and wining on stage during the Soca sets.

Celebrity judge Jah Simmons gave a judges' report after the first round, revealing to a rapt crowd that Reggae was indeed ahead on two of the three judge's cards. Sometime after 12 a.m. the international portion of the show began with the introduction of the legendary Poison Dart sound system out of Florida.

Poison Dart was mean from the start, bashing huge dents in the defending champions' armour. His musical darts were accompanied by at times scathing commentary.

Disc spinner and mic man supreme Asante 'Taranchyla' Reid represented Reggae single-handedly against the very formidable Soca Twins, thrilling the crowd with every tune he played, and every word he spoke. This was a special performance, the likes of which the Reggae team has never delivered in the previous three years.

After Poison Dart's first 20 minute set, the two-time champions got their first shot.

The Soca Twins seemed disoriented at times during their first set — like they had been hit by a flurry of devastating combination punches and were desperately trying to gather themselves against the ropes.

The crowd was eerily still at times during their first set, and completely hyper at others. The damage, however, had clearly been inflicted already, giving Reggae a clear win in the second round as well.

The third round brought more of the same— sharp vocal barbs by Taranchyla, wonderful dance routines by Hype Energy and the Bermuda Squad, a brilliant fight back by the proud champions, frenetic crowd responses, and something new as well.

The promised live acts were revealed during the third round, and may have cost Reggae the unanimous victory.

Mr. Easy was the Reggae artist. He delivered a few recognisable hits, but never really engaged the crowd. The Reggae fanatics gave him some support, but his 12 or so minutes were really nothing more than an interruption in the true glory of the Poison Dart final set.

Skinny Fabulous was certainly more of an enhancement for Soca, but even he seemed a bit out of place at this event. He did engage the crowd, he did create moments of excitement, but he did nothing that the Soca Twins couldn't have done without him.

He was at least strong enough to trump the forgettable reggae artist, and thereby give the Soca team enough energy and strength to sweep an explosive final round.

In the end, however, the early round excellence won the day for the Reggae team. The judges called it a Reggae victory by split decision. The wonderful Soca Twins accepted defeat with grace, and Poison Dart paid tribute to them in his brief victory speech.

They had a great run at Soca versus Reggae, and will be remembered fondly as early Cup Match greats in this wonderfully innovative and festive party series. The crowd certainly loved them, making more noise for Soca right to the final second, but the die had been cast, so Reggae played the rest of the night.