St. David's Cricket Club received a major boost yesterday with the announcement of a five-figure sponsorship deal with legal firm Conyers, Dill and Pearman.

The money will help to meet the costs of equipment and the Islanders' thriving youth development programme and the team will wear the CD&P logo this summer.

The deal is for one year, but company partner Alec Anderson said yesterday that he expected the sponsorship to extend beyond.

Last season St. David's were runners-up to Western Stars in the Premier League with a team boasting an average age of just 23.

The east end club boast some of the Island's top youngsters, including O.J.

Pitcher, Landro Minors and Chris Foggo -- three of the four Bermuda players chosen to represent the junior Americas team which competed in the ICC World Youth Tournament in Sri Lanka last year.

St. David's president Wilbur Pitcher said: "We have worked hard over the last decade to build one of the best, if not the best junior and senior programmes in Bermuda and we are delighted to have Conyers, Dill and Pearman come on board as sponsors to help us lay a foundation to achieve our long-term goals.'' Player-coach Clay Smith felt the sponsorship deal would help the club realise their plans for years of future success.

"St. David's have such an abundance of gifted players on the youth teams, it is our goal to gradually filter as many of them as possible into our senior team,'' said Smith. "We feel that through this process, we have the opportunity to build a dynasty.'' St. David's were one of several cricket clubs to approach the Bermuda-based international law firm in a bid for sponsorship. CD&P partner Alec Anderson explained why the company opted for the Islanders.

"We were impressed with St. David's' community-oriented attitude and programme,'' said Anderson.

"It seemed to us like they had a very good philosophy. Not that other clubs did not have good plans, but St. David's seemed to fit with what we were looking for. They are a bunch of great people.

"We did not base it on cricket ability, we just thought St. David's' plans were in keeping with CD&P and our desire to be a good corporate citizen. We like to do that through the medium of sport as we feel it is a great tool for bringing people together.'' CD&P have a history of financial backing of sport, most notably cycling, in which the firm sponsor Bermuda's annual Grand Prix and up until recently they also helped out Elliot Hubbard in his professional cycling career.

Anderson said Hubbard's recent retirement had freed up some cash in their sports sponsorship budget.

Clay Smith: `Opportunity to build a dynasty'