BERMUDA'S foreign legion of cricketers endured a week just gone that saw the deliverance of the familiar parting shots from the English spring - rain, rain and more rain. In the West Midlands, Ryan Steede and Noel Gibbons saw their match against Nuneaton abandoned after Atherstone Town had reached 111 for seven while, in Surrey, Chris Foggo and OJ Pitcher had a pair of representative matches washed out.

But there was better news for the St. David's and Bermuda duo as their league match for Pyrford withstood a small rain delay before recording a fourth successive victory in the Surrey County League. Foggo was out without scoring in a 33-run win over Churt and Pitcher, after claiming his first wicket on English soil, made 11.

Nonetheless, the adverse conditions impacted more upon Steede who has made tremendous strides in recent weeks and was looking to improve on a four-wicket haul from the previous match. The lanky right-hander has made few inroads with the bat, nor too, for that matter, has Noel Gibbons, the player-coach, but his bowling has instilled belief in a club that finished generously in mid-table of the Warwickshire Cricket League first division last season.

Steede claimed four for 30 in a two-wicket victory over Aston Manor that was made extraordinary for the manner in which Atherstone capitulated in chase of meagre 65. With Gibbons making 13 and Steede three, Atherstone were 36 for seven in reply in the 27-over-a-side affair, due to a late start, before limping over the finish line with a few overs to spare.

Despite the batting hiccups, Gibbons, who is due soon to leave for South Africa to complete a coaching course, has been satisfied with the progress of his 26-year-old St. George's charge, such sentiments supported by senior members at a club that has made its best start to a season in a number of years. "So far so good," Gibbons said this week. "There is a lot of potential in this team. With a little guidance we should be there or thereabouts by the end of the season."

Gibbons, who spent much of his career in the limelight, has struggled to make an impact as a player thus far but he is more focused on the exploits of Steede who, despite having been called into the national team in 1998 and having played twice in Cup Match for St. George's, is seen largely back home as a player treading water. "He (Steede) has done well," Gibbons commented. "Everyone has been pleased with him but he needs to recognise that he will be required to bowl long."

Steede, in his first extended spell outside of his homeland since playing in the 1993 International Youth Tournament in Denmark for Bermuda Under-19, confirmed that he has settled in nicely, although he has yet to hit his straps with the bat. There is, too, another concern. "I really have to work on my fitness," he said, belatedly echoing the cries of supporters throughout his young career. "I've never really pushed myself to get fit but now, with here not being as much pressure on me as it was in St. George's, I know I am going to be asked to bowl long.

"The chairman of the club and the captain told me after the game (on Saturday) that I will be bowling long spells throughout the season so I will have to do something extra to make sure I last." The early-season conditions have been difficult for batsmen and Steede believes, with a top score of 22 from four league matches, that he will be propping up the order before long. "There are a few good young players here," he said. "I might be competing for a spot as the season wears on." The club's prospects will be put into focus after this weekend, when they are scheduled to play twice because of the impending Bank Holiday. Tomorrow, they host Olton & West Warwicks, the runaway league leaders, before playing away to Coleshill, who are a place above Atherstone in fourth.

Farther south in the Surrey County League, Chris Foggo and OJ Pitcher, the St. David's and Bermuda players, are in little danger of playing for their places after Roland Butcher plucked them from the relative obscurity of Bermuda cricket.

Pitcher's debut with Pyrford went smoothly enough in a comfortable, eight-wicket win over Leatherhead, the all-rounder, who arrived only a fortnight ago, conceding a mere seven runs in a miserly nine-over spell as Leatherhead, long removed from the heights of Surrey Championship cricket, were dismissed for 55.

Foggo, promoted to opening bat, then went on to make his highest score of the season, 28 not out, before plans were set into motion to feed the players a steady diet of cricket. The pair were due to play in a representative match for the league last Wednesday and, then on the Sunday, they were meant to turn out for British West Indian Association in a cup competition formerly known as the Clive Lloyd Trophy.

The rain scuppered such plans but, back to league play, Pyrford continued their impressive start after losing the toss. Foggo was out in the first over, top-edging a pull to square leg while Pitcher played onto his stumps attempting a back-foot forcing shot. Such is the quality of Pyrford these days, with Roland Butcher, the player-coach, in tow that they scrambled to 208 for eight declared after 52 overs and dismissed Churt for 175 in 42.1 overs despite fielding with ten men.

"I'm enjoying it so far," Pitcher said. "The conditions seem to be helping my bowling more. The ball is swinging around a lot and moving well off the seam." On the flip side, though, is Foggo, who is looking for his first significant score of the season. "If anything I can't say that I'm struggling too much," he said. "The duck was one of those things but I have to recognise that for now the conditions will favour the bowlers and be more patient." Like the Bermudians in the Midlands, this weekend will be Foggo and Pitcher on double duty, with their Sovereign Cup match on Monday against Kingstonian, whom they share first place with in the league, the tie of the second round.

They will be expected to continue their perfect run in the league tomorrow, away to Old Walcountians, who were relegated from the Surrey Championship at the end of last season but Monday's match has the making of a classic, with the winner expected to fill one of the final places.

In my eagerness to report the exploits of the travelling Bermudians, I neglected to note that there is a fifth local, albeit a resident, playing league cricket in England - the author. But after scores of six, 22, 18 and nought, first ball no less, in the first four matches of the Surrey Championship third division for Southern Railway, there is little to write home about. Saturday's 65-run defeat, after dismissing Albury for 155 was our first of the season and leaves us in seventh place from 20 clubs.

The weekend ahead is important from a team morale standpoint as we are home to Chertsey on Saturday and then host the second round of the Sovereign Cup on Bank Holiday Monday against Wallington. We are in the other half of the draw from Pyrford, so the possibility of three Bermudians contesting an English league cup final on opposing sides is real.