the end of a marathon match in Honduras against promotion rivals the US Virgin Islands.

At press time, the match was still ongoing -- five hours after it started -- with the two countries tied 1-1 after singles and everything resting on the crucial doubles rubber.

Youngster Jenson Bascome and veteran Dean Mello lost the opening set of that doubles 4-6 to the experienced pair of John Richards and Greg Newton.

Bermuda and the USVI are both vying for the second promotion spot from the American Zone Group IV with hosts Honduras, relegated last year, almost certain to clinch the top spot following another 3-0 clean sweep yesterday.

But even if Bermuda went on to lose last night's match, Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association president David Lambert was still hopeful they could finish second in the six-team standings.

The four-man team will be favoured over the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States today and possibly over Antigua in the final match tomorrow.

"There's still an awful lot to play for,'' said Lambert last night. "Should we lose tonight we'd be 2-2 like a couple of other teams. Should we win, we'd be 3-1 and in a very good position. But there's a long way to go.'' In earlier matches yesterday, the ailing Ricky Mallory put up a brave fight against USVI's number two player Lewis Taylor before going down in three sets.

Still suffering from a neck injury, Mallory won the first set 6-4, but then lost the next 3-6 and went down in a thrilling decider 5-7.

"Ricky's not 100 percent,'' said Lambert. "But we're not making any excuses.

Lewis Taylor was a very good player and he deserved to win. He was very smart, kept the ball in play and moved Ricky around. But it was a tremendous match.'' Bermuda, however, quickly bounced back from that loss with number one James Collieson surviving another three-setter against the USVI's Greg Newton.

Collieson took the first set 6-4, lost the second 2-6, but clinched the match 6-4 in the third.

"James is just getting better every day,'' added Lambert. "He looked really sharp today against a very good opponent.

"But it is getting hard for the players in this heat. We're playing every day without a break and the next two days are going to be tough.'' Ricky Mallory: neck injury is taking its toll.