Warwick 149-3 After a winless run in the 1990s, Warwick are Western Counties champions again.

With outstanding bowling and batting, they beat champions Somerset Bridge by a comfortable seven wicket margin in the first round at White Hill on Saturday.

Needing to score at only three runs an over, Warwick batted sensibly with Daniel Morgan and guest player Treadwell Gibbons setting up victory with a third wicket stand of 89 which carried the score from 50 to 139.

Morgan, who batted for 129 minutes and hit five boundaries, scored 55 before he lofted a catch to Corvette Lambert while Gibbons carried his bat for 40 not out. Opener Trent Simmons scored 18 while Denzil Dill was the best Bridge bowler with two for 23 from 9.2 overs.

"I'm very excited to get the cup after all these years,'' said Warwick captain Allan Wilkinson afterwards.

"It was a good performance by Daniel Morgan in particular but there is still a bit of work to be done now that we're facing a couple of tough teams (Southampton and Willow Cuts). We need to be sharper with our extras but overall the total Bridge posted was well within our reach.

"This is the third year we've taken Treaddy Gibbons as our guest player. He's a very experienced player and he carried that onto the pitch today.'' Late preparations of the wicket delayed the start by 85 minutes but Warwick had quick success after sending Bridge in, with O'Neil Virgil being dismissed on the last ball of the first over from Hoyt Zuill.

David Jones and colt Paul Jones steadied things by adding 44 for the second wicket in 10 overs with Jones dominating the stand, smashing five fours and a six in his top score of 36. The next batsman in double figures for the champions was colt Andrew (Wire) Wilson who batted patiently for 79 minutes for his 32.

Wilson's contribution came in stands of 43 and 30 for the seventh and eighth wickets after Bridge had slumped to 74-6. Guest players Anthony Amory and Arnold Manders were among those failing to reach double figures.

Jermaine Salaam, another colt, was the third player in double figures, scoring 19 in the tailend.

Wilkinson, 2-5 after five overs, finished with impressive figures of three for 22 from 10 overs with three maidens while Zuill took two for 25 from 10 overs with four maidens. Gibbons claimed two for 18 and Ritchie Foggo two for nine as they took the last four wickets between them.