THE loss of four key players would have affected most teams, but it seems to be business as usual at St. David's where the returning Landro Minors has helped fill a void at the top of the batting order.

St. David's have had an unbeaten start to the season despite losing George O'Brien, Sammy Robinson, Shannon Raynor and Fiqre Crockwell. That speaks volumes for the quality of their programme, and captain Lionel Cann predicts the 20/20 finalists will be competitive again this season.

Minors is back out playing after a two-year absence because of a club suspension and the man who helped oversee the club's youth programme several years ago, George Cannonier, has also returned to the club as coach.

"We lost four good players and all four of them had good seasons ¿ Sammy had a break-out season last year when he made a 100 and Fiqre made a 100 last year and was turning into a fine opening," said Cann.

"All of them have gone to different teams and all are performing at a high level which shows you the quality of players we have produced at St. David's and continue to produce. George coached them from nine-years-old right up to their teenage years. They all love him as a father and respect him. That allows me to be the captain and concentrate on my game.

"We have a policy at our club that we play two youngsters in every game no matter what. We rotate them and they get experience and exposure to the cricket and once those guys left they'll get the opoportunities. Even last year when they got the opportunities they were performing. It shows you the quality of St. David's islanders, there are no 'foreigners' in our team!"

St. David's, who blasted the Devonshire Rec. bowlers for 352-5 before Rec, too, posted 300 before losing by 33 runs. It was the perfect warm-up for Saturday's rescheduled 20/20 final with Somerset at the National Sports Centre starting at 8 p.m.

"Hopefully we can come out victorious, it would be great to win a trophy," said the St. David's captain. "It doesn't make sense playing good cricket and then get to a final and lose. We're building momentum, training hard this week and are mentally focused. We're looking forward to the final and if we can continue our good play we can come out victorious."

Cann added: "We plan on being right there every game and involved in every trophy. We have very good team unity, it's not always about having great players but we have a lot more unity than we did last year, I can say that. Guys are very much more committed and that's what it takes, a strong commitment."

Up until he stopped playing, Minors, still only 23, was being named as a future national team player. Having him back is a boost to the top of the batting order and he has already slotted right back in alongside Chris Foggo.

"Landro has been out of the game a couple of years and always wanted to play," said Cann. "He has come back in and will need some fine tuning but I've been impressed with him. He middles the ball and is a very good timer of the ball and he's a left-hander which is a benefit. He's been a good addition to the team and as the season goes on he will find his way.

"He was banned from St. David's Cricket Club and didn't want to play for anyone else. His ban is up and he is playing again. He has a great temperament, and along with Chris Foggo, OJ (Pitcher) and Delyone (Borden) those were the four who were going to be Bermuda's best of the coming-through youngsters.

"As for the national programme, that's a different story. At St. David's I always tell them national team first but in the end it is always their choice who they want to play for and when they want to play. You can't force anybody. It is up to all of them, but they are young enough and hopefully they go on to bigger and better things and represent Bermuda. All of them are the same age and are definitely talented. Some of the players I played with in the national programme aren't half as talented as them. They have to find the will themselves to represent their country."

The team have other key players besides, with Justin Pitcher, who scored a half-century on his Eastern Counties debut last season against Cleveland, taking on more responsibility as a pace bowler to fill the void left by O'Brien, while the spin department is adequately served by the experienced Del Hollis and Kameron Fox, both former Bermuda players. Arthur Pitcher Jr, Justin's brother, is their main strike bowler.

"In every game the guys have batted well and scored runs," said Cann. "We have only lost three or four wickets every game. I have been very impressed with the batting and the bowling has been good also. We had a little lapse on Sunday, after scoring 350 the professionalism went out the door a little bit, catches and stuff like that which made it a closer game. That's what we're doing this week, a lot of fielding practice, trying to bring the professionalism back on the field. I'm not too worried about the batting at all."

The time of the two matches will remain the same, with the third-place match between Leg Trappers and Police starting at 4 p.m. and the final set for 8 p.m.

League action continues on Sunday with Premier Division league champions Social Club expected to bounce back from their opening day loss with victory over St. George's at Devonshire Rec. while Somerset are at home to Devonshire Rec. and St. David's host Cleveland.

Three matches are also scheduled in the First Division where Leg Trappers play Warwick at Police Field, PHC host Flatts and the Under 18s play Willow Cuts at the Sports Centre.