Rangers set to defend crown

Southampton Rangers have a score to settle with nearby rivals PHC.

Rangers hopes of a unprecedented sixth straight Belco Cup were dashed by the men in black earlier this season. And those wounds have yet to heal.

Tomorrow will see Rangers rest their Western Counties crown on the line against a PHC side who have nosedived since their shock Belco Cup final win over their illustrious opponents.

The competition's reigning champions will enter the match keen on avenging their Belco Cup heartbreak against their nearby rivals — though influential player-coach Janeiro Tucker would have you believe otherwise.

He said: "We are not worrying about what happened in the past — besides we have gone unbeaten since and are playing some good cricket at the moment.

"For us it's just another game and we are really looking forward to playing to the best of our ability and getting the job done on the day." The Western Counties champions are fresh off last weekend's convincing league win over previously unbeaten Bailey's Bay and, as such, will be favoured to get past PHC and advance to the next round.

Slump

But not if PHC stalwart Cal Waldron has any say in the matter.

"It would be nice to break free of our slump with a win against Rangers," he said. "We need to improve on certain aspects of our game and it would be nice if it all can come together against Rangers because you only get one chance in county cup cricket.

At press time both teams had yet to name their squads for tomorrow's match, though they aren't expected to make any drastic changes to their line ups from last season. PHC lost to Somerset last week to remain 0-4 for the season in league play.

Kyle Lightburne's team got their season off to a flyer by being the only other team than Rangers to lift the Belco Cup in the past six years. But since then the Warwick club have had very little to shout about with the patience of highly decorated coach Clevie Wade said to be running thin.

"I don't think the guys have been playing all that badly, we just haven't been able to capitalize on some of our chances. But hopefully a good result against Rangers will put us back in good stead," added Waldron.

In stark contrast, Rangers have been in sparkling form to lay early claim to a Premier Division title that appears to be slipping away from the grasp of champions St. David's with each passing week.