more than half a season still to go -- a pumped up Western Stars team is now aiming for the sky as they prepare for a club record silverware haul for a season.

It's still possible that they could pull off the sensational feat of a five trophy haul by adding three more trophies to their cabinet in the form of the Premier league, Knockout and Benson and Hedges Championships.

Not since Southampton Rangers in 1980 has a club swept all before them in winning five trophies, the Premier Division, Western Counties, Benson and Hedges, Budweiser and Easton Thomas Trophy and retaining the Schaefer Shield and Premier Cup which were not contested for in 1980, has a team been so dominant in a season.

Stars have their sights set on a similiar sweep and, encouraged by their performances so far, skipper Gary Brangman said yesterday they would be fighting hard to win every title they are eligible for.

"That's our goal. We won two titles last year and we want to improve on that performance this time around,'' said the skipper.

Veteran Arnold Manders agreed. "As far as we see it our chances of winning the other three competitions are just as good as anybody else,'' he said.

According to Brangman, team morale was high after their overwhelming 97-run victory over powerful challengers Devonshire Rec. in last Saturday's Central Counties Cup final at St. John's field.

They were in a similiar mood on May 16 at Lord's when they romped past Bailey's Bay by 164 runs to win the Camel Cup final for the first time.

"After Saturday's win over Devonshire everybody felt that we should go all out and try to win all of the remaining titles and that's what our goal is going to be,'' said Brangman.

Manders recalls leading Western Stars to their most triumphant season back in 1983 when they won three titles -- the Central Counties, Benson and Hedges and Knockout -- and he feels they have a realistic chance of improving on that feat.

He is particularly encouraged by the prospect of doing better this season because the team is a more organised one with far more depth than the team of 10 years ago.

"I strongly feel that the present squad is a bit stronger and far more organised. It is also one that has more team effort than one that had to depend on certain individuals to excel,'' said Manders.

"Our batting is superior because the players from 10 years ago are obviously more mature. That goes for the bowling as well. However, our fielding is nowhere near as good as it previously was.'' All-rounder Roger Leverock is still unable to play regularly because of a nagging hamstring injury, but with new signing Darrin Lewis expected to make his debut soon depth is still one of the strengths of the team.

Amongst the team's bright spots this season has been the improvement of opening batsman Anthony Foggo who appears to be reaching peak form for the first time since transferring from St. David's two season's ago and the progress being made by young all-rounders Cleon Scotland and Hasan Durham.

"All three have made a good contribution this season, it's particularly good to finally see Foggo come around,'' said Manders.

"Scotland and Durham have been quite impressive, not just with their bowling and batting but with their fielding as well. They are two youngsters with a great deal of potential.'' One of the team's biggest joys last year was when they captured the Premier League title for the first time in their history to go with the Central Counties.

By taking the two titles they regarded the season as being a "real success'', but they now find themselves in a position where they can go even further and establish themselves as the premier club on the island.

They are currently third in the league tables but remain close enough where they can overall leaders St. George's and second place Bailey's Bay if those teams make the slightest slip.

The Benson and Hedges starts on July 4 and the Knockout Cup two weeks after that and by then they will know if their five-championship sweep will be achieved.

The Rangers team that won all before them 13 years ago was captained by Colin Blades and also included the likes of Sheridan Raynor, Qiunton Sherlock, St Clair (Brinky) Tucker, Lee Raynor, Randy Raynor, Eldon Raynor, Edgar Smith, Calix Todd and Howard Cross, John Tucker, Terry Fray, Lloyd Morrison and Ricky Brangman who is now captain of the team.

CHEERFUL MOMENT -- Stars captain Gary Brangman (middle) celebrates a dismissal with his teammates during Saturday's Central Counties final against Devonshire Rec.