Cricket clubs Southampton Rangers and Somerset yesterday cashed in on their respective victories in this season?s Premier and First Division.

Sponsors Cingular Wireless handed out cheques for $1500 to both championship winning clubs while the runners-up and third and fourth placed teams in both divisions earned $750, $500 and $250 respectively.

St. David?s placed second in the Premier Division followed by Western Stars and Bailey?s Bay while Warwick WC were First Division runners-up followed by Devonshire Rec. and Willow Cuts.

In a ceremony at City Hall, Lionel Cann was also honoured as the Cingular Premier Player of the Year and Daniel Morgan, the national squad?s physiotherapist, the First Division Player of the Year.

Commenting on the season?s performances, Bermuda Cricket Board president Reggie Pearman said: ?We are pleased to highlight the consistently high level of play and the increased competition brought about by this competition and the incentives provided by Cingular Wireless.

?Both divisions showcased some memorable cricket and featured worthy champions who we celebrate today.

?I believe the benefits of this competition played a significant part in the recent qualification by Bermuda in the ICC Trophy when the national side secured one of the five places available in the Cricket World Cup in the West Indies in 2007.?

Cingular Wireless General Manager Cheryl Packwood noted: ?We are very pleased with the results and performance in the second year of this sponsorship arrangement. The level of cricket played was outstanding and we encourage the clubs to continue to strive towards further improvements.

?Not only is Cingular providing prize money for eight teams but we also recognised 14 Cingular Wireless Top Scorers of the Week, seven from each division, who each received a brand new cell phone and a month of free service.?

?The partnership between Cingular Wireless and Bermuda cricket is augmented by the close involvement of a number of our staff in clubs across the island.?