A second attempt by the Police Recreation Club to bring the Puerto Rico national soccer team in for a match next week has fallen through, a club official confirmed yesterday.

Anthony Mouchette said that the withdrawal of the major sponsor for the one-match tour forced the host club to scrap the idea.

In December, similar plans to bring the same team here also fell through.

The tour was seen as a chance for the Bermuda national team to play in a competitive match prior to next month's Shell Cup in the Cayman Islands.

They were to meet the Puerto Ricans next Wednesday at National Stadium, but now will travel to the Caribbean in early May without the benefit of playing a serious match.

"It would have helped the Bermuda team,'' Mouchette acnkowledged. "We were planning to bring them in so that Bermudians could see the team in action against competitive opposition. We do apologise. We did our part but due to the sponsorship falling through we are unable to host it due to financial restraints.'' Mouchette would not say who the sponsor was.

The news was better for Bermuda's under-20 team, who leave Bermuda today for the Cayman Islands, where two matches against the host country next week will determine who advances to the second round of the CONCACAF Zone for the World Cup qualifying.

But on the eve of the departure, one of the team's top players, Joey Rego, had to withdraw because of school commitments. Another student, Ralph Bean, is also doubtful for the trip, leaving Ernest Signor on standby.

Despite the setbacks, technical director Clyde Best, remained optimistic about the team's chances of advancing to the next round in Trinidad in August. "If the boys do what they are supposed to do I look forward to getting to the next round,'' said Best yesterday.

Best said he was disappointed at not being able to send his best team "but the squad is very deep so we have enough talent to cover (the loss of Rego).

We've got people to step up and do the job.'' Bermuda and the Cayman Islands will meet in their two-leg contest on Sunday and again next Tuesday when the winners will be decided on aggregate. In the event the score is tied after the second match, golden-goal extra time will be played, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

BFA general secretary David Sabir will accompany the team. "This team has been drug tested and I'm happy to say that we've got a team that's going to represent Bermuda very well,'' he said. While in the Caymans, BFA officials will make final preparations for the senior national squad, who are due to arrive by May 6 for matches against the Cayman Islands and Cuba.

YOUTH SQUAD Thomas Smith (Dev.Colts), Jay Smith (PHC), Jermaine Dill (Southampton), Robert Wilson (Boulevard), Kofi Dill (North Village), Jermel Simmons (Dev.Colts), Jelani Scott (Somerset), Aaron Williams (Boulevard), Clevon Hill (Ham.

Parish), Khano Smith (Dandy Town), Sullivan Phillips (Dev.Colts), Jameiko Jennings (North Village), Devon DeGraffe (North Village), Daniel Jennings (North Village), John Nusum (Wolves), Steven Astwood (PHC), Ralph Bean (North Village), Terry Richardson (equipment manager), Anthony Raynor (trainer), Dennis Brown (Head coach), Clyde Best (technical director), Gregory Grimes (team manager), David Sabir (general secretary).