THEY may have the oldest team in the Premier Division, but Southampton Rangers' senior players are still excited about winning trophies...as was seen last weekend when they became the first winners of the newly named Belco Cup.

It used to be said that cricket is an 'old man's game', and certainly Rangers are proving this season that "if you are good enough, you are young enough". Half the team are either over the age of 40 or in their late 30s, but player coach Clevie Wade is still amazed by their enthusiasm.

"They are putting the work in in training," said Wade who falls into the over-40 category.

"As old as they are, they come out on Tuesdays and Thursdays and run their butts off."

Last weekend against a youthful St. David's side, Rangers showed there is no substitute for experience as veteran batsman Stevie Lightbourne led the way in the high scoring semi-final win with a knock of 100. A day later he carried on where he left off with a boundary filled 46 in the final against St. George's as Rangers won the competition for the first time.

The fact that this could possibly have been the last chance for most of the older players to win that trophy was no doubt a motivating factor and after the semi-final triumph one got the feeling this would be their year.

"I felt that way after pulling the victory off against St. David's...278 is a lot of runs," said the player-coach.

"At one point we said they can get 300, that's how confident the players were feeling that we could pull it off."

The next day Rangers finally won the trophy forthe first time. St. George's scored half the runs as St. David's, but Wade knew from experience that the task could still be a tricky one if his batsmen became complacent.

"This is my fifth season at Rangers and we've been in the Camel Cup since I've been there, coming so close and not getting over the final hurdle," said Wade.

"This year, most of the senior players are winding down, but said let's try to win the trophy that has slipped our grasp. They guys have really worked hard. Hard work, dedication, the will to win and playing hard...that's what it boiled down to."

Clinching the win was especially gratifying for Wade as it came against his former team.

"It was nice to play against my old team," he acknowledged.

"I've always told Rangers since I've been there that St. George's are a team that will fight to the end. If they score 110 they will make you sweat for the victory.

"They have always been a good team to defend low totals and up to today they still do it with guys like Gregg Foggo and Calabash (Eugene Foggo). Unfortunately they came up short in the end, but I have a job to do and want to go out there and do the best for the team that I'm representing which is Rangers."

In fact it was under Wade's captaincy that St. George's league team first began winning trophies in 1982, the year they won the Knockout Cup. The following year Wade had possibly his biggest win as a captain when he reclaimed the Cup Match trophy against John Tucker's Somerset team.

So long ago has that been that Wade is now winning trophies with Tucker's son, Janeiro, who is the Rangers captain. However, Wade's passion for the game has not diminished with time and even though he stated at the start of the season that he would only play sporatically, he has been a regular fixture in the team.

"After that first loss (to St. George's), a couple of the players came to me and said 'hey, coach, you've gotta come out'," said Wade.

"I had said I would play now and then but I've been playing ever since. I'm training with them and I'm starting to get that feeling again. The players have said they want to do well this season and I guess they want me to be a part of it. I'm starting to get that urge again so I guess I'll be there for awhile."

Wade is assisted in the coaching by 'Ju Ju' Waldron and it is working out well.

"He's been with Stars, has won trophies with them," said Wade. "He brings the experience and we are blending it together."

Wade is still reminded of the year in the early 1980s when the team swept all before them in winning about seven trophies. They know the magnitude of such a task and their coach doesn't want to burden the team with such expectations.

"The players are determined to do good this year, they have put the work in," said Wade.

"They want to win trophies this year, but I tell them to take one game at a time and when it comes to a trophy game we up it a bit because we only have one shot at it."

Rangers still have to play their Premier Division knockout match against PHC and after they will begin their quest to reclaim the Western Counties title they lost to Somerset Bridge in last year's final. Rangers will play in the second round on July 12. By then they could also be well on their way to their second league title in four years.

"Our main objective is to be league champions, if you win the league you are the best team on the Island," Wade stressed.

"That's the true champion. We are on a mission but we are taking it one game at a time."

League cricket resumes this Sunday with Rangers and St. George's locking horns again, this time at Southampton Oval. Rangers have gone unbeaten in all cricket since their opening day loss to the east enders.

St. George's are second to Rangers in the tables, 14 points behind the leaders with third placed St. David's a further seven points back. With St. David's entertaining Western Stars, Rangers have the opportunity to widen their gap over the chasing pair.

In other matches Cleveland meet Somerset at St. John's field while Willow Cuts host PHC at Somerset.

First Division leaders Devonshire Rec. and second-placed Bailey's Bay should continue their push for promotion with home victories over Warwick and Social Club respectively. Flatts, third, meet Leg Trappers at Police Field while Somerset Bridge host Police at White Hill field.