Bermuda's national youth cricket team set out on a mission yesterday when they departed for the 11th International Youth Tournament in Holland from July 14 to 24.

The team -- under coach George Rock and managed by Ellsworth Christopher -- have an immediate aim of improving on their last-place finish amongst the seven teams in Denmark two years ago.

Bermuda have twice won the tournament, in 1979 in Canada under Charlie Marshall and again in 1985 here at home when Darrin Lewis led Bermuda to a thrilling victory over an England North team captained by Mike Atherden, the England Test captain.

Bermuda's fortunes in the biennial tournament have fluctuated since winning the championship at the first attempt in 1979 under Marshall. A second triumph came in 1985 on home soil but the past 10 years has brought little success for the Island's best young cricketers.

When Bermuda went to defend their title in 1981 just one victory in the round robin competition was recorded, before failing to win a single match in 1981.

Exactly 10 years ago Bermuda became the first country to win the trophy more than once, before the struggling continued in 1987, this time in Ireland, where the team finished with a 3-3 record.

In 1989 Bermuda finished fourth in the standings with two wins and a loss, a team which contained the likes of Clay Smith, Dean Minors, Jason Lewis, Greg Foggo, Jermaine Outerbridge and Cal Dill.

Bermuda's best finish since 1985 was a second place finish in 1991 in Winnipeg when only a defeat to a strong England team in the final match denied them their third championship.

Two years ago the team hit rock bottom in Denmark and their aim is to improve on that when the tournament begins on Sunday with Bermuda taking on newcomers Scotland.

There will again be seven teams in the competition, though a noticeable absentee is defending champions Zimbabwe who competed two years ago for the first time.

Next Monday, Bermuda will play hosts Holland in their second match before taking on England, pre-tournament favourites in the absence of Zimbabwe, next Tuesday.

England, who no longer compete with two teams, finished second in the standings to Zimbabwe and their only loss was against the Africans, while Zimbabwe won all six of their matches. Denmark and Holland, who were also in the top four at the last tournament, should be the other favourites.

Bermuda's final three matches will be against Ireland (July 20), Canada (July 21), and Denmark (July 22). Bermuda's only victory in 1993 was against Denmark.

The Bermuda team has a free day on the final day of the competition on July 23.

The team will be captained by Sammy Robinson of St. David's and the vice-captain is Kwame Tucker of Southampton Rangers.

Robinson and bowlers Justin Robinson and Kevin Hurdle were members of the 1993 team. Other members of this year's team include Jason Anderson, who will share the wicketkeeping duties with Tucker, Daniel Caines, who will likely be Hurdle's probable new-ball partner, Quinton Sherlock, Rudy Smith, Kameron Fox, Jeremy Fray and Desmond Crockwell.

SAMMY ROBINSON -- St. David's player will be Bermuda captain in Holland.