Jeff Richardson hammered a record-breaking 186 runs, but his cavalier innings still wasn't enough to help his team Somerset Bridge dethrone champions Southampton Rangers in this two-day Western Counties Cup final at Southampton Oval on Saturday and Sunday.

Southampton retained the cup as a result of the draw.

The game ended in a tame draw yesterday evening, but not after the heavily favoured Southampton team were forced to sweat it out in their second innings to prevent the visitors from taking a firm grip of things.

Trailing by 98 runs when they started their second innings Southampton were reeling when they lost three wickets for 56 runs, but stability came when Stevie Lightbourne struck 69 and Clevie Wade hit 37 to ease the pressure with a fourth-wicket stand of 93. Then safety was ensured when skipper Ricky Brangman followed with 56 not out, Quinton Burch 44 and Kyle Lightbourne 33.

But the highlight of this game was Richardson's performance, one which he proudly described as his "best-ever innings.'' It was also one that placed him in the record books as he shattered the existing record of 156 not out scored by Sheridan Raynor of Southampton Rangers in 1965.

What made Richardson's knock even more heroic was that it came when his team's backs were against the wall as they chased Southampton's first innings score of 147.

Named as a colt by Bridge on Thursday night and one of two guest players from Western Stars in the lineup (the other being Arnold Manders), Richardson proved to be a worthwhile addition.

With the Bridge in all sorts of trouble at 17 for four the Western Stars pair joined together -- and they quickly set about tearing the bowling apart.

Manders (16) sent young Gary Williams' first ball fiercely through the covers for four and Richardson put the first ball he faced from Williams in the similar direction for four runs. Then Manders sent the first ball he saw from Quinton Burch through the covers for four and then handed Lightbourne's first delivery similar punishment.

But after the two separated with the score on 66 when Manders was out lbw, Richardson took stage alone and what a sensational solo performance it was. He finished with 15 sixes and 18 fours and faced 100 balls. He reached his century off 72 balls.

When he was out after facing just three balls yesterday morning, Somerset Bridge had not only stopped what looked to be a rout -- but they had in fact gained a sizeable first-innings lead, thanks to Richardson.

Normally unfairly regarded as a slugger, this was by no means a swashbuckling innings and Richardson was quick to point this out.

"I wanted to proved I could score runs without swinging, and I'm proud of this century because there were a lot of controlled strokes,'' said Richardson who said it was his best century ever.

"I have always had trouble scoring against them. But we needed runs and I'm best when the team is in trouble. We had to score quickly and put them to bat so I decided to put up some quick runs. It was my best knock, it certainly helped to make up for the disappointment in Cup Match,'' he said.

Richardson made the bowlers pay dearly, including Rangers' best bowler Quinton Burch who still finished with five wickets for 56.

Lightbourne, who has just been taken on as a professional soccer player with Scarborough of the English Third Division, bowled well but couldn't do much to ease the flow of runs off Richardson bat. The hard hitting batsmen hammered him alone for five sixes with Lightbourne finishing with two for 49 off eight overs.

Clevie Wade was the most economical bowler for Southampton with two for 32 off 11 overs.

When they batted a second time at 11.48 a.m. yesterday Southampton faced trouble from the outset when opener Keith Wainwright was bowled for a duck without adding a run to his team's total, but fortunately he had some teammates following who this time improved on Saturday's performances.

Corvett Lambert led the Bridge attack with three wickets for 42.

Afterwards Southampton's skipper Ricky Brangman gave Richardson and his opponents the praise they deserved for their spirited challenge.

"Jeff hit everybody, we just couldn't get him out. We batted too casual on Saturday but we improved on Sunday. They bowled and fielded well, they surely did make a game of it,'' said Brangman.

St. David's 212 Cleveland 50 St. David's emerged as the 1992 Junior Eastern Counties champions after captain Sammy Robinson led them to a comfortable 162 run win over Cleveland in the final on Saturday at Lord's.

Robinson led the St. David's batting with 47 and then with the new ball removed Cleveland's openers Gavin Woolridge and Vernon Trott in the space of six runs to put the visitors on the rack.

Cleveland had early success themselves when they got St. David's opening batsmen Kameron Fox and Angelo Cannonier with just 23 runs on the board. And then after they removed Otis Minors to make it 51-3, Robinson came to the wicket and boosted his team's scoring with a 54 run fourth wicket stand with Chris Foggo who was next high man with 37.

Rudy Smith hit a crucial 16 not out in the tailend to help his team reach 200 while Minors was the other batsman in double figures with 15. Smith and Scott Tucker added 37 for the eighth wicket in taking the score from 160 to 197.

Cleveland captain Jeremy Fray was their best bowler with four for 18 from 4.3 overs while opener Anthony Johnson and first-change Gregory Talbot both took two wickets.

Cleveland never recovered from their bad start and after their openers were removed they also lost Gregory Talbot to Javon Foggo with six runs still on the board. A fourth wicket stand of 20 gave them some hope but they never worried the St. David's bowlers as their last six wickets fell for just 10 runs.

Ankoma Cannonier claimed two for two from just nine deliveries while Robinson finished with two for 19 from six overs and Javon Foggo two for 18 off five overs. Robinson's allround performance earned him the Man of the Match award.

TOP BAT -- Jeff Richardson hit a record-breaking 186 runs for Somerset Bridge.