Jamaica Clubs: Well done, Lucas (12 May 1999)

12 May 1999

Jamaica Clubs: Well done, Lucas

Tony Becca

Lucas CC won the 1999 Surrey Senior Cup cricket title last weekend when, with one round to go, they defeated St. Thomas to leave themselves in an invincible position with 43 points.

In winning the title for the 18th time since they first won it in 1904, Lucas have joined Kensington in second place on the all-time list behind Melbourne on 21, and who is to tell, this may be the beginning of a golden run.

Based on their early history when once they won there was no stopping them, they could regain the lead before too long - especially as they boast a team with an average age of 21.4 years and some good young players in the likes of captain Andre Coley, Gareth Breese, Christopher Gayle and pacer Anshuman Kentish.

Their first victory in 1904, for example, was followed by others in 1905 and 1906, when they won again in 1911, they went on to win five times out of seven, and although they lost immediately after winning in 1932, they came back to win in 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944 and 1945.

Regardless of how many times one triumphs, victory is always sweet. Sometimes, however, it is sweeter after a long time without a taste and after winning it again in 1954 and then failing to win since 1971, after going close but falling short in recent years, after finishing second in 94, second again in 1995, losing in the semi-finals in 1996 to eventual winners Melbourne, second again in 1997, and third in 1998, the celebration at Nelson Oval could last a long time.

In the celebration, players like Coley - a winner first time out as captain, Breese, Chris Gayle and Kentish, Royan Smith, Garnett Murray, Ryan Wellington, Xavier Gilbert, Norvel Britton, and Wayne Gayle and veterans Delroy Morgan and Oneil Cruickshank - the only two players who were born when Lucas last won the cup 28 years ago - will all be serenaded and so too will manager George Prescod and coach Dennis Miller.

As Lucas pat themselves on the back, however, the toast to those who batted and bowled and fielded so well, to the manager and the coach, should also include club stalwarts like Brian Breese, Margaret Cooke and Percy Lindo whose support behind the scenes over the years was invaluable and when they look back over the years to 1971, when they remember that they were among the last set of Lucas players to lift the cup, members like Easton McMorris, Roy Paul and George Herdsman are likely to be among the first to raise their glasses.

If they do, one of them, probably McMorris, the captain in 1971, will certainly remember not only Arthur McLean who is sure to join the celebrations, but also past stalwarts like teacher Anglin Jones, Ruel Vaz, Judge Wesley Alexander, Vera "Auntie V" Wright, George Townsend, Leslie Hylton, George Headley, Kenneth "Bam Bam" Weekes, J. K. Holt Snr., J. K. Holt Jnr. and John Prescod who must be smiling in the great beyond.

Congrats Lucas - not only on winning the Cup, not only for some good cricket but also for how you played the game.

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)