PHC 53 Even the rain came too late to save PHC from another crushing defeat in the Western Counties on Saturday as champions Southampton Rangers won the first round match by 129 runs at Southampton Oval.

A heavy downpour arrived five minutes after PHC were dismissed for just 53 runs, six short of the 59 they managed last year when they marked their debut in the competition with a 10-wicket defeat at the hands of Rangers.

This time Rangers needed just two bowlers -- Garry Williams and Clarkie Trott -- to get the job done. The task was completed in 15.5 overs after Trott got things rolling with three wickets in his second over on his way to five for 29 from 7.5 overs.

First to go was his Bailey's Bay team-mate, Ricky Hill, who fell to a catch behind which he disputed before walking off. That opening stand with Antoine Greene was worth 15 runs with Greene going on to score 11 which was the top score. Arthur Richards was the only other batsman in double figures with 10.

PHC quickly slumped to 19-5 in three overs as Williams removed Greene and captain Cal Waldron -- both hooking -- in successive balls in his fourth over.

After that it was always a question of whether PHC would manage to beat their total last year. It looked possible when Braxton Stowe and Kallan Johnston added 17 -- the team's biggest stand -- for the eighth wicket which brought up the 50.

Johnston was brilliantly run out going back for a second run and being beaten at the bowler's end by Williams' direct throw from the long leg boundary.

Stowe was then bowled by Williams when the ball came off his body as he hooked and hit the wicket.

Willims backed up Trott's five wickets with four of his own as he finished with four for 22.

Rangers' 182 after being sent in by PHC turned out to be much more than they needed as captain Olin Jones led a recovery from 43-3 with a top knock of 60 including five boundaries.

PHC were made to pay for dropped catches as Jones, who added 68 for the fourth wicket with Keith Wainwright, was put down by wicketkeeper Antoine Greene off Shoron Hunt before he had scored. He was dropped twice more while Wainwright, who contributed 32, was put down by Richards.

Guest player Hasan Durham led the PHC bowling with three for 44 from 10 overs while Neil Anglin took two for 34 on his debut. He and new ball partner, Hunt, set Rangers back after an opening stand of 35 between Dexter Smith (24) and Kwame Tucker (9) before they lost three wickets for eight runs. Hunt finished with one for 31 from 10 overs while captain Cal Waldron had 10 tight overs and gave up 23 with one wicket.

Rangers will meet Warwick in the second round on August 8.