about, and soon the sleeping giant will rise to another challenge.

Despite their talent the islanders are languishing near the foot of the Premier Division standings, but with their Champion of Champions and Eastern Counties titles soon to be put on the line this is the time of the season when St. David's raise their game.

Success in one makes it possible to participate in the other and their winning streak in the Eastern Counties since 1987 has made it possible to participate in the competition sponsored by Benson and Hedges for the last five years.

Finally, last season they found the winning formula as they breezed past Nationals of the Central Counties by 154 runs and then stopped Western Counties champs Southampton Rangers by seven wickets in the final.

"Everybody is enthused and up for the games,'' said first-year captain James Pace yesterday. "We're looking at playing a full weekend.'' St. David's will meet Rangers in the semifinal on Saturday with the winners taking on Western Stars in the final the following day. Both match are at Devonshire Rec. field.

"I feel this year our opponents are a lot stronger,'' Pace added. "We prefer playing the first game as opposed to going straight into the final.

"I'm a strong believer that the team that wins the first day is more up to win the trophy than the team already in the final.

"The team already in the final tends to get over-confident and take their opponents lightly. I thought Rangers did it last year.'' The team representing the Eastern Counties are at an advantage over the Western and Central Counties teams in that they are able to call on guest players.

In the case of St. David's they can look to Devonshire and Bermuda captain Albert Steede, Del Hollis of Cleveland and even Anthony Foggo who will likely opt to play with Stars in Sunday's final.

"Our strength is about the same though we won't be at full strength with Wendell Smith still injured,'' said Pace. "One person we have out training and who should be given strong consideration is George Cannonier.

"Dean Pitcher is back on the island after a two-week vacation and is keen to get back in the groove.'' Pace admits with the Eastern Counties rapidly approaching there is a new feeling of enthusiasm about. "The (county) feeling is starting to come now with people starting to erect stands,'' he said.

"We're looking at these games as a warm-up for county. Everybody is looking to fight and establish themselves for county cup.'' Ken Pitcher, Herbie Bascome and Dale Fox will provide the fast bowling strength for St. David's with Lionel Cann, who took a record eight for 16 against Nationals in last year's semifinal, the team's key all-rounder.

Sammy Robinson is soon to leave with the Under-19 national team for the International Youth Tournament in Denmark and will not be available for the first county match against Flatts on July 17.

Pace says his first season as captain has "been going as expected'' though his productivity in the runs department is noticeably down.

"With a few changes not always comes success,'' he said. "Patience is the key when someone is trying something new. We're just trying to get guys to play as a team and to put everything into the games and in training.''