players and their dream of promotion in tatters.

Against both Puerto Rico on Saturday and the US Virgin Islands yesterday, the Island team went down 2-1, as the gruelling week took its toll on top two players Ricky Mallory and Michael Way.

The unbeaten Puerto Ricans and host nation Trinidad fared best in the seven-nation tournament and will play in American Group III next year.

Bermuda, who got off to a flying start with successive victories against Barbados and the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States, finished with four straight defeats and will remain in Group IV.

Mallory battled through the pain barrier to beat Puerto Rican Edgardo Rivero 6-3, 7-6 on Saturday, as he struggled with a recurring bicep strain.

"That match took so much out of me, it practically tore my arm off,'' said Mallory.

Bermuda's number one, who won four of his five singles matches throughout the week, was in too much pain to play yesterday.

And Way, who had been rested on Friday for the tie against St. Lucia, struggled through two singles and one doubles match over the weekend as he suffered from a pulled stomach muscle and a tricep strain.

Team captain Steve Bean admitted that he had been forced to put too much pressure on the two 33-year-olds, Mallory and Way.

And Bean believed that if all the Island's best players had been available, Bermuda would have won promotion.

But he was delighted at the commitment of a team handicapped by the absence of James Collieson, who opted to play in an American college tournament, and Donald Evans, who had work commitments.

"I could not have asked for anything more from them, they gave everything,'' said Bean.

"When James Collieson dropped out two weeks before we came here, that left us without our best team, but I was still optimistic that we could gain promotion.

"We had no-one else at Ricky and Michael's level and they were two of the oldest players in the tournament, so I thought they might break down at some point.'' Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association spokesman David Lambert said: "Most teams had three singles players to rotate and one doubles player -- but we were rotating Ricky and Michael and we just about burnt them out.

"We are very proud of the way the team handled themselves in difficult conditions. When your two top players get injuries, it gets very tough.'' Mallory said: "We could see other teams had more depth, as we only had Michael and myself for singles, but I was happy with the level I played at.'' On Saturday, Way went down 6-4, 6-1 to the Puerto Rican number one Gabriel Montilla, who went unbeaten all week.

And Puerto Rico clinched victory in the tie in the doubles rubber, as Mallory and Jensen Bascome went down 6-0, 6-4 to Montilla and Ricardo Blanes.

Dean Mello played his first Davis Cup singles match for Bermuda yesterday, but was beaten 6-4, 6-2 by the Virgin Islands' Gregory Newton.

The ailing Way then went close to levelling the tie. After winning the first set 6-3 against Eugene Highfield, he reached game point at 4-4 in the second set but missed a simple volley and then lost the set 6-4.

After that, Way caved in as the strain of his injuries began to tell and he lost the third set 6-1.

Mello and Bascome did manage to gain a consolation victory in the doubles match, beating Newton and Lewis Taylor 7-5, 6-7, 6-1.

Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association honorary life vice-president Allan Simmons said: "Without James Collieson and Donald Evans, it was tough for the players, but we are satisfied with the team for the tremendous effort they put in. They could not have done much better.'' And Simmons was impressed with the experimental use of no-add scoring -- which meant the next point after deuce won the game.

"It shortened matches and that's what the ITF (International Tennis Federation) is trying to do at the moment. The players don't generally like changes, but tie-breaks were a change and no-one worries about playing them now.''