HERIOT’S last night won the Scottish Cup for the third time in their history and denied Watsonians a league-and-cup double in a final played out in welcome sunshine at Titwood, Glasgow.

No Edinburgh club had lifted the trophy since Heriot’s previous success twelve years ago and the two capital rivals served-up an entertaining, if ultimately one-sided clash which the Goldenacre side won by seven wickets.

Chasing 172 for victory, Heriot’s came flying out the blocks to reach 25-0 from just four overs.

However, two runs later skipper Steve Knox was yorked by Dewald Nel and gradually Watsonians applied the squeeze.

The introduction of Craig Wright brought a double success with David Ross just failing to clear the fielder at long on before Kevin McLaren holed out on the deep mid-wicket boundary.

Wright and Stuart Chalmers continued to keep it tight while Brad Kneebone and Cammy Farrell were forced to rebuild the innings.

The pair managed to do just that in an unbroken stand o 114 which carried Heriot’s to glory.

Kneebone provided the anchor and Farrell, a loser with Dunfermline in last season’s final, played the more aggressive role as when he hoisted a six over long-on.

Boundaries, though, were at a premium on a slow Titwood outfield and the pair seized on every opportunity to increase the total with quick running between the wickets.

However, Farrell became more belligerent as victory beckoned, moving to his half-century with another maximum off Stuart Chalmers.

He added a third – his biggest yet which landed in the adjoining school playground – as Heriot’s hastened towards their target.

They reached it with seven overs to spare, Farrell striking the winning boundary to finish on 75 while Kneebone made a classy 51no.

Earlier ‘Sonians skipper Chalmers held his side’s innings together after Heriot’s had seized early control in helpful bowling conditions.

Sean Weeraratna claimed two wickets, bursting through the defences of James Easton and then cutting short former Clydesdale batsman Andy Hislop’s return to Titwood in similar fashion.

Ali Farooq also got in on the act when he bowled Saltires star Ewan Chalmers and, at 25-3, Watsonians were in trouble.

However, Chalmers and his elder brother Andrew effected partial repairs to take the tally to 60 before the latter holed out when set on 23.

Wright then departed for just 8 though the former Scotland captain looked less than impressed with the stumping verdict that gave Craig Adams a wicket.

Having slumped to 83-5, the Myreside men finally got some impetus when Nel made a rapid 20 but, having clouted Keith Morton for a six over long on, the former Scotland bowler fell to the next delivery.

However, Chalmers and Peter Legget added 54 for the seventh wicket, the latter stroking a glorious straight six in his 33 before being unluckily run out at the non-striker’s end.

The captain’s commonsense approach to batting, meanwhile, yielded 54 runs from 105 balls.

He hit four boundaries before being out in the final over and his contribution at least allowed Watsonians to post a challenging 171-9.

Weeraratna was the pick of a well-disciplined Goldenacre attack, claiming 3-37.

Watsonians at least have the consolation of reflecting on their first top flight league title, Grange’s defeat to Carlton on Saturday handing the Myreside club the inaugural Eastern Premier Division title.