After months of behind-the-scenes wrangling, Somerset Cricket Club and counterparts St. George's Cricket Club have finally come to an agreement on the `year about' Cup Match format.

The move was first discussed more than a year ago but it was only last week that a contract was signed that will have the mid-summer spectacle alternating between the two venues on a yearly basis rather than the two-year conditional agreement previously in place. The switch will take effect with the 1995 Cup Match which will be staged at Wellington Oval.

It is believed the delay in finalising the switch was caused by the unwillingness of the membership of St. George's to accept the proposal. Now President Clevie Foggo has assured that their concerns had been satisfied.

The move is being seen as a way to return excitement to the classic and eliminate the sequence of draws. Previously the team hosting the event in the first year would be less inclined to gamble on a victory, knowing that a loss would mean the venue being switched the following year and a considerable loss in revenue.

"I think it'll put more in the match itself,'' said Foggo. "I don't think both teams will go out and play for a draw knowing that the game will be at the other field next year. I feel that both will go out and play for a victory and make the match and event all the more exciting.'' Reginald Pearman, secretary of Somerset, similarly confirmed the move, simply saying: "Both clubs were happy''.

St. George's enter this year's match at the west end as champions having dominated the event in recent times. The last win in Cup Match was in 1991 when St. George's won.

GRAHAM FOX -- St. George's skipper holds Cup Match trophy.