Two St. George's Cup Match contenders are battling to recover from fractures in time for the summer classic which is five weeks away.

For the second straight year spin bowler Eugene Foggo has been sidelined with an injury that is threatening to rule him out of Cup Match. Last year Foggo suffered a broken finger which, though he recovered to play again before Cup Match, ruled him out as a serious contender as there was some question about his fitness.

Now the veteran allrounder could face a similiar dilemma as now he has been sidelined with a hairline fracture in his left foot after a bike accident last week.

Foggo is not alone, though, as Cleon Scotland is recovering from a broken finger on his right hand which he suffered in the Central Counties final against Police. Scotland, a contender for the east enders for a number of years without gaining a place in the team, expects to be playing again in three or four weeks though the finger could take longer to heal.

"The doctor is saying four to six weeks but I'm thinking more of three weeks,'' said Scotland. "I've had broken fingers before and it's normally three weeks, so hopefully in three weeks I'll be back.'' Scotland is wearing a plastic splint sleeve on the finger.

"You just haved to wait and see, they may heal faster than expected,'' said chairman of the St. George's selectors, Cal Richardson, this week. If Foggo does not recover in time, St. George's will go into Cup Match without a recognised spin bowler for the first time in many years.

Neither Arnold Manders, who had hinted that last year would be his final Cup Match, nor David Adams had paid their dues at the club before the May 31 deadline.

Last year Manders did the bulk of the slow bowling in the absence of Foggo, but with Adams not having played this season, the options for a spin bowler are few.

In fact, the champions are limited in options allround as St. David's are planning a trip to England to play in a tournament which will rule out players for both teams.

Somerset have Sammy Robinson, surprisingly dropped last year after an impressive debut the year before, and Del Hollis out of the reckoning while St. George's will not be able to call on Chris Foggo, Lionel Cann or Glenn Blakeney. Cann has expressed his willingness to return to the Island if he is selected.

One St. David's player hoping to gain a spot in Cup Match this year is young batsman OJ Pitcher who is not travelling with his St. David's team-mates.

Last year Pitcher was a reserve for St. George's.

Continued on page 33 Cup Match fitness battle Continued from page 31 Young Pitcher's entry into Cup Match is expected to come sooner rather than later as the champions look to youth to replace the likes of Clevie Wade and Charlie Marshall.

"OJ Pitcher is staying behind and we have received a letter from Chris Foggo saying that he is going,'' said St. George's selection committee chairman, Cal Richardson.

Gary Brangman, who planned to retire this season, is now playing again for Stars and has put his name forward for consideration, Richardson confirmed.

"I have received a letter from him stating that he will be away and gets back late on the day of the last trial and if selected he will be (at the ground) late but is interested in playing,'' said Richardson.

Executives from both Cup Match clubs met recently when they exchanged lists of players eligible for Cup Match selection on the basis of paid dues by the end of May. Amongst the Somerset players from last year are the names of veteran openers Ricky Hill and Keith Wainwright and Western Stars' early-order batsman Ricky Brangman.

Hill last played in Cup Match in 1993 after falling out of favour with the club's selectors, while neither Wainwright nor Brangman have played before.

St. George's have confirmed a Cup Match trial on Saturday against St. David's at Lord's for the Turkey Barnes Trophy, starting at 11a.m.

The team: Dean Minors, Ryan Steede, Dexter Smith, Mark Ray, Travis Smith, Mackie Crane, Gregg Foggo, Sinclair Gibbons, Graham Fox, Charlie Marshall, Clarkie Trott, Gary Brangman, Robert Fox. Anyone unable to play is to call Dean Minors at 297-0582