Despite the loss of key all-rounders Clay Smith and Lionel Cann, top team in 1998, St. George's, insist they will still be competitive this summer.

Herbie Bascome has taken over as captain from Smith and faces the challenge of trying to match last year's achievements when the side won both the Open League competition and Camel Cup.

"I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be competitive,'' said Bascome after a training session yesterday.

"I don't think anybody who says that we won't is serious about what they are saying. They may be throwing that up in the air to make it look like the team has just been rallying around Clay.

"Even Clay can tell you that a number of times when he came in, the team was already set. We were knocking teams down for 120 runs.'' St. George's have been in the headlines during the off-season with the news that Smith -- as player-coach -- and Cann would be joining neighbours St.

David's while another all-rounder, Clevie Wade, has agreed to take on a similar post at Southampton Rangers.

Bowler Kenny Phillip has also returned to Police, robbing the team of another experienced player.

But Bascome is happy with those players filling the gaps -- players like Dexter Smith, who returns after two years at Devonshire Rec, Jason Lewis, who didn't play for St. George's at all last year, and Philip (Billy Joe) Pitcher who is joining the team from St. David's.

"We received three for two, if you look at it. We got Dexter, Phillip and Jason and lost Lionel and Clay,'' said Bascome, not referring to Wade and Phillip as significant losses since they didn't play for much of last season.

Dexter was sandwiched inbetween Clay Smith and Cann as the second highest run-getter in local competition last season, scoring 739 runs compared to 881 by Clay and 704 by Cann.

"The gaps are pretty much filled,'' insisted Bascome, who conceded a batsman of Clay's calibre would be sorely missed.

"With Clay in the team you had batsmen who would rely on him because of his potential. Now it gives the other batsmen the opportunity to say `let's stick in and bat'.

"It's just up to the players as to who will take full control of the batting department. The main thing is the batsmen have to apply themselves. It's my job to take care of the bowling department and I've been doing that since I have been playing for St. George's.

"Now we just have to adjust our batting order where it can work to our advantage when we are looking for runs. We shouldn't have a problem making runs.'' `Don't write us off' warns skipper From Page 27 It was St. David's who put a blemish on an otherwise perfect season for St.

George's last year when they narrowly beat their neighbours in the Knockout Cup final at the end of the season.

It was the only loss for St. George's in 1998 and, as fate would have it, the teams are due to meet in the first round of the Knockout on May 23. The weekend before St. George's put their Camel Cup title on the line in the semi-finals against Western Stars. Bailey's Bay meet Police in the other match.

As parish rivals, the St. George's-St. David's match-up will be an eagerly awaited clash, though St. David's, who themselves could be one of the teams to watch this season, may not have Smith back from school by then.

School commitments will also rob St. George's of three other players during the opening weeks of the season as wicketkeeper Dean Minors and bowler Gregg Foggo are both away. School principal Wendell Smith, coach of the team, has said he isn't likely to play until school breaks for the summer.

Clay Smith and Cann led the team in bowling last season, claiming 70 wickets between them as they finished first and fifth respectively in the averages.

"With Lionel we had variety as he can open and also come on first change, but we can still get the wickets with myself, Ryan (Steede), Gregg, `Calabash' (Eugene Foggo), `Chick' (David Adams), the youngster Mackie Crane and `Beaver' (Mark Ray),'' said Bascome.

A few years ago Bascome coached the club's football team to a third place finish in the First Division and victory in the Friendship final. But he acknowledges captaining the cricket team and coaching football is not quite the same.

"It's a different type of leadership... in football I have a lot more theory than in cricket,'' Bascome admitted. "But the commitment, in general, should be the same.'' Bascome was approached about the captaincy after Smith's shock departure. He said he wouldn't hesitate to listen to the advice of his coach and the senior players in the team.

"I'm looking for an exciting season and hope to motivate the players to the best of my ability. I'm an aggressive type of cricketer and I like the challenges.

"Being a skipper is going to require a lot of discipline and commitment but that's right up my alley.

"I have asked the experienced players to rally together and explained to the youngsters `you might not only get advice from me, but also from the senior players, so take heed, stick in and all of us come together and pull this thing off'.'' Opening league fixtures on May 2: Police v YMSC; Bailey's Bay v St. David's; Willow Cuts v Flatts; Southampton Rangers v Cleveland, Western Stars v PHC; St. George's v Warwick, Devonshire Rec. v Somerset. Som. Bridge have a bye.

Knockout Cup, first round: Bailey's Bay v Warwick; Devonshire Rec. v YMSC; Willow Cuts v Flatts; Western Stars v Southampton Rangers; St. George's v St.

David's, Police v Cleveland. Somerset and PHC have a bye.

Herbie Bascome: takes over as skipper of St. George's following the departure of Clay Smith.