Two Cup Match legends were honoured by the Hamilton Rotary Club yesterday for their contributions to the Annual Classic.

Randy Horton, a former Somerset captain, and Neville Darrell, a former St George's captain, were praised by Rotarians and wellwishers during a panel discussion in their honour at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club.

Mr Horton, 79, who also excelled in football, said he felt honoured at the recognition.

He added: “I think it’s important for us to understand and pay homage to our forefathers who started the game back in 1902 and continued to build it to what it is today.”

As he reflected on his career, he urged the audience to remember the significance of Cup Match.

He said: “The evolution of Cup Match came following the emancipation of slaves. They came together and they started to celebrate emancipation every August the first.”

He added: “In 1901, one match was so exciting that the Somerset Cricket Club and St George’s Cricket Club decided to make it official, and the first match was played in Somerset in 1902.”

Mr Horton, a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, said one of his more memorable moments on the field came in 1963 when he went out to bat and faced taunting from the Somerset players.

He said he took his guard in front of the wicket with his bat and looked up at the bowler running in to bowl.

He explained: “When I looked up, I saw a glare, and the only thing I remember was hearing my stumps.”

He added: “One thing you have to learn, though, is when you get knocked down, you have to get up ‒ and it helped me to learn how to get up, because in the second innings I got my first wicket.”

“That made it a great Cup Match for me,” he said, adding that he vividly remembered the occasion.

Mr Darrell, 84, said he played cricket for many years but he was not familiar with the history of Cup Match at the time.

However, he said he was a keen competitor who played to keep up the spirit of the game.

He recalled one match when five of his team-mates were dismissed and it was his turn to bat.

He said: “I was shaking in my boots, but I was not out. I came off the field not out on 42.”

He said there were other moments still etched in his memory.

Mr Horton told the club he also had many stories from his time in the sport.

He hailed the outpouring of support for the Annual Classic from residents.

He said: “The one thing I can remember: you are playing in Cup Match, that people pay to come to see you play and you have to give people their money’s worth.

“I used to always tell my players you have to give your best all the time, dig deep and give the best that you can.”

He added: “Certainly for me, if it was a big crowd, that lifted me up. I just loved the crowd.”

With a chuckle, Mr Darrell said he could not share with the audience the nature of his conversations on the field with the opposition.

He said the mood on such occasions was always tense.

He said that he when he played the sport “I always set myself up to play the game and take the game to the opposing team”.

Meanwhile, Mr Horton noted that while cricket had evolved, he saw need for improvement of the sport on the island.

He said: “Today the cricketers have a lot more equipment, a lot more technology.

“When I look at our game here, I’m afraid I don’t see the outstanding batsmen, the outstanding bowlers.

“We have good players but I think there is work to be done to really raise the level of our cricket.”

Mr Horton urged the island’s cricketers to compete in the spirit of the game and to respect the umpires and game officials.

He added: “The attitude of the players will have a significant impact on young people.

“Just be disciplined. It shows how important it is and how successful you can be in your arts.”

Cathy Bassett, the president of Hamilton Rotary, said the club was honoured to recognise the men’s contributions.

She added: “We hear so much about you and we love you both.

“To actually see you and be in the same room with you is such an honour.”