take to the field against St. David's in the first round of the Benson & Hedges Champion of Champions competition tomorrow (11 a.m.) at Devonshire Rec.

field.

Rangers were beaten in last year's final by St. David's and earlier this season they fell to Western Stars, who await tomorrow's winner's, in a league match they appeared set to win.

After a promising start at 69 for one, Rangers were undone by the economy of Lionel Cann (two for 19) and Del Hollis (two for 23) plus three costly run-outs at White Hill field last year.

The Western Counties Cup holders managed only 146 and Albert Steede completed an expected victory for the Eastern Counties champions with an unbeaten 67.

Rangers captain Ricky Brangman is well aware of that final, he was one of the run-out victims, and is hoping his side can raise their game.

"Our chances are good just like the other teams,'' he said. "We are going to go out there on Saturday looking for a win and I hope we get it.'' Rangers started the 1993 season positively with three successive wins but then suffered a stunning loss to Cleveland and were beaten by Stars soon after.

They presently lie seventh in the 16-team league, four points behind leaders St. George's.

"The team's performances have been good,'' added Brangman. "The only thing is that we have been losing concentration in batting. We need to do that now and bat the 50 overs.'' Dramatic collapses proved their undoing in key losses to Devonshire Rec. and Stars last season, and in the current campaign they lost by 16 runs to Stars.

After doing the hard work in dismissing the league champions for 160 on a good batting strip, they quickly fell to 15 for four and were facing an uphill battle.

"It is going to be a good competition,'' Brangman said, "and if we get to the final against Western Stars it's going to be pay back time.

"We are all friends and family but we want them bad after losing that league game to them earlier this season.'' This weekend will mark the last time Rangers fans get to see their top youngsters in action as all-rounder Janeiro Tucker, wicket-keeper/batsman Kwame Tucker and fast bowler Garry Williams are soon to depart for the International Youth Tournament.

Tucker will captain Bermuda's Under-19 team in Denmark for the tournament, which will run from July 11-19.

The one thing Rangers can take heart in is that they won the competition the last time these three teams were involved.

In 1990, they beat Western Stars in the first round and then held on to knock off St. David's in the final. The series, as is the case now, was also held at a Central Counties venue -- St. John's field.

THINKING PAY BACK -- Southampton Rangers captain Ricky Brangman, fielding, in the 1990 final against Allen Richardson and St. David's.