to victory in the final trial match at Wellington Oval on Saturday.

But while Smith's top knock of 62 won over the selectors to secure his first Cup Match appearance, veteran Clevie Wade was dropped from Cup Match for the second time in his career despite his brisk knock of 50.

The Cup Match champions made three changes from last year's team, with former captain Wendell Smith and Dale Fox ruling themselves out and Wade getting dropped for St. David's all-rounder Lionel Cann who is the other colt in the team. Spinner Eugene Foggo is the other change, returning to the team for the first time since 1990.

Team: Graham Fox (captain), Arnold Manders (vice-captain), Dexter Smith (colt), Clay Smith, Charlie Marshall, Noel Gibbons, Lionel Cann (colt), Kenny Phillips, Eugene Foggo, Dean Minors, David Adams. Reserves: Greg Foggo, Cleon Scotland.

"We figured this is the best all-round team we could come up with,'' said chairman of the St. George's selectors Gregory Foggo.

"Basically our wickets are spinners' wickets and that's why we carried the extra spinner.'' Upon hearing of the Somerset team, which was chosen first on Saturday night, Foggo expressed no real fear of the champions losing the cup. "If anything they have less bowlers than last year,'' he said.

"They dropped three and brought in two. I was surprised they dropped (Rodney) Fubler who has been one of their top bowlers in the last few years.'' Wade's dropping drew the biggest reaction. It was not totally unexpected, especially after his innings on Saturday, which included eight fours. He was widely tipped to lose his place after a modest season with both bat and ball.

Some thought he would earn a reprieve after his second 50 of the season, but the selectors may have taken into consideration the easy chance he gave to wicket-keeper Dean Minors when on four.

His replacement, Cann, was a clear-cut choice while Smith, who needed a good knock to secure his spot, produced just that as he and his former Western Stars captain Arnold Manders did enough in the first couple of hours of the rain-delayed start to convince the selectors to look no further for their opening batsmen.

The pair added 111 as Clay Smith, captain of the Vice-President's XI, used six bowlers in trying to dislodge the pair. Smith looked assured and confident in one of his best knocks of the season, hitting six fours and five sixes in his innings, which lasted from 11.25 a.m. to 2.20 p.m.

After the stand was finally broken when Kenny Phillips bowled Smith with a full toss that swung in the air and got an inside edge, captain Graham Fox reshuffled his batting line-up to allow Ricky Hodsoll to bat at number three and Wade at four. Hodsoll made just 11 before being trapped lbw by Herbie Bascome.

Manders was third out on 42 when the team score was 142 and though there were contributions of 16 not out and 15 by Charlie Marshall and Allan Douglas in the middle order to take the score past 200, Fox delayed his declaration until 4.45 p.m. on 229 for six from 70.1 overs.

Bascome and Clay Smith led the Vice-President's bowling with two for 46 from 15 overs and two for 47 from nine respectively.

The Vice-President's XI could only manage 162 in 38.4 overs in losing by 67 runs. It would have been even worst had Smith not played a true captain's innings to halt a slide, which saw them in deep trouble at 19 for five against some tight medium-pace bowling from Greg Foggo and Gary Brangman.

Brangman got the first when he took an easy return catch to dismiss his Western Stars team-mate Gregory Sampson for two when the score was 15. One run later Glenn Smith was trapped lbw by Foggo and Troy Hall, who dominated the early scoring with three fours in his 12, fell to a Hodsoll catch off Brangman as the President's team took early control.

Further wickets fell at 17 and 19 when Lewis Foggo and then Gibbons departed without scoring before Clay Smith and Lionel Cann set about repairing the early damage. They shared in a sixth wicket stand of 71 before Cann departed for 42, which included six fours and a six.

Ricky Hodsoll made sure of victory with the prized wicket of Smith for 70 to make it 150 for nine. Smith hit five fours and three sixes.

Spinner David Adams was the most expensive of the President's bowlers, giving up 50 in seven overs.

Brangman impressed in his 11-over spell, which earned him three for 14 while Foggo claimed two for 42 from nine overs, Manders two for 24 from 7.4 and Wade two for four.

There will be full training sessions for St. George's players today and tomorrow at 6 p.m.

IN AND OUT -- St. George's opted for the extra spinner in Eugene Foggo, left, at the expense of Clevie Wade.