KIMBERLEY (South Africa) - When Eric Simons departed, edging a catch to Wendell Bossenger off the bowling of Deon Kruis for 25, it was to have heralded the end of a long provincial career.

No going out with the smile of the victorious as Griqualand West beat a flat-looking Western Province at the Kimberly Country club yesterday. Not standing ovation either as Province carefully structured their own coffin then dug the grave and provided the tombstone as well through a thoroughly unprofessional performance.

Defeat by 19 runs spelt the end of what has been a season balanced between the success in the SuperSport Series and failure in the Standard Bank League and Cup slogs. After all, set 209 to win is not too tough a target.

But the mind, if not the spirit seemed to have been forfeit from the start. It also means that Griquas Diamonds will get another chance to sparkle at the Country Club with the visitors this time being Gauteng looking to fight their way into the final. Just one step away from the final. You can almost hear Ken Rutherford revving up the yellow kindred who were so full of their own ability when they beat a disjointed Natal Dolphins at the Wanderers. Kepler Wessels too. ``If you have a dream follow that star and you never know until you have tried ...''

It was his motto of sorts in the days when isolation was a grim reminder of the political state of the country he left to seek fame and a little fortune as well.

For Simons, however, the road has, it seems come to an end. Perhaps the ``farewell speeches'' were made in East London 13 days before when Province lifted the SuperSport Series crown. Then again, is it just from the first-class game he has retired and is still available to help prop up Province on the limited overs arena.

There are rumours and there are whispers, but for now the Simons retirement is not ``the full Eric'' just on loan for the slogs next season. well, that's the rumour. Fact of course is something totally different.

While Garth Roe, an unpretentious seamer who is more of a journeyman than anything else, won the man of the match award and Province's openers made a hash of it and at 17 for three and 114 for five did not deserve to be allowed back into the game at any stage let along win it.

The pitch was flat, slow and both sides batted as tiredly as you are likely to see as this stage of the season. In fact you had the impression, from Province, that it was ``just another step too many'' or a game too far, whatever metaphor you wish to apply.

As it is Griquas seemed that little extra hungry as they fought back from 83 for four with Pat Symcox and

Ottis Gibson hoisting the Province bowlers over the inner ring with a little more expertise than Province managed to muster. John Commins, who needed to bat through the innings if Province were to be in a shout at the end, was typical of the way not to get out when under pressure.

And young Ashwell Prince was lured to his fate by the cunning of a Symcox off-spinner after setting sights on building a bigger total. It was classical lesson of telegraphing what shot you plan to play and then becoming unstitched by a touch of youthful folly and inexperience.

Where as Wessels, with Finley Brooker, Gibson and Symcox built a target they felt they could defend Province were overspent in terms of their own confidence. They sold themselves a terrible dummy, allowed Roe a gap and before they knew it, were in trouble from the 20th over of the innings and were playing catch up from that point.

So have we seen the last of Eric the Lion Heart? Time will tell, but it was sad that the send off was the sort a bowler should feel a little ashamed; it will come his turn one day.