Nationals captain Bruce Perinchief has thrown out a challenge to his team-mates -- fulfill your commitment to the club and complete the 1996 season.

A group within the team calling themselves the Super Eight has confirmed their intention to abruptly end the season after becoming frustrated over the lack of interest shown by other members of the team.

However, Perinchief, whose finger injury will not allow him to rejoin the team until the end of the month, wants to see the season completed.

"The so-called Super Eight of Nationals have no authority to inform the BCBC or the BCUA of any position they may take without the consent and collaboration of the secretary of National Sports Club,'' said Perinchief yesterday.

"This type of misconduct should not be tolerated by any club and hopefully Nationals will act accordingly.'' If the finger injury would allow him to play Perinchief says he would do so, even in a short-handed team.

"I say to these same Super Eight. ..there are four matches left on the `important' domestic schedule (as you see it) and I challenge you to live up to your nickname and complete the season,'' said the captain.

"If I were injury free I would attempt to play with five players, the umpire would have to cancel the match. Even then I would try to convince him otherwise, such is my competitive fire and club loyalty.'' Nationals have been dogged by problems all season, with Perinchief taking some of his players to task to months ago over their lack of commitment. For the past few weeks the team has been playing short while some key players have stopped for various reasons.

Disgruntled, the eight players who turned out on Sunday have now said they plan to quit also. They have publicly questioned Perinchief's own commitment to the team, suggesting he is more concerned with the Bermuda team than his own club.

"There seems to be some misunderstanding about my position as regards international and domestic cricket,'' said Perinchief.

"For the record, I view Bermuda's international and domestic cricket of equal importance. However, one takes precendence over the other depending upon the various developmental stages of each individual player and the country as a whole.

"The statement seems to indicate that I've watched three games, when in actual fact the club has only played two since my return. The first (with 10 men) was against Western Stars and I was extremely involved...talking to players, giving suggestions and even solving the crisis regarding who would carry the wicketkeeping duties.'' "After the game I remained at the ground and chatted with some players (as I've always done) in an effort to explain their responsibilities to the team.'' Perinchief is due to visit an orthopaedic doctor again at the end of the month to have the injury assessed. He also has tri-weekly physiotherapy in between.''