Bermuda's men's tennis team won their second successive Davis Cup tie in Trinidad yesterday.

Singles triumphs by Ricky Mallory and Michael Way were enough to give the Island a 2-1 victory over the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States to add to their 3-0 whitewash of Barbados a day earlier.

Rain nearly spoiled the day, driving the players off court during Way's singles match and threatening to necessitate completion of the tie today.

But play continued into the night on the floodlit courts, with the Island team determined to finish off the tie and leave today -- their only scheduled rest day of an arduous week -- free.

Mallory had to shake off the effects of his injured right arm as he battled to a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Kristen Cable.

After taking the first set with ease, Mallory's biceps problem started to cause him difficulty with his serve, but his ground strokes were good enough to carry him through to victory.

Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association spokesman David Lambert, who is with the team in the Caribbean, said Mallory had been treated by a physiotherapist and was looking forward to resting up today.

Bermuda's 100 percent record this week looked set to continue when Michael Way's impressive returns earned him two breaks of serve against Jimmy Brown and left him 4-0 up in quick time.

At that point, the rain intervened, but the players were able to resume within the hour, allowing Way to complete a 6-0, 6-2 victory.

Doubles pair Jensen Bascome and Dean Mello lost their rubber 4-6, 6-3, 2-6 against Leyton Ashton and Cable, but the tie was won before they had gone on court.

Way, who also won a three-setter against Barbados, said: "I think that was the easiest Davis Cup match I've ever played. I got off to a great start and I never let it go.

"I quite liked the rain break, because it gave me a chance to catch my breath. I was starting to feel a little fatigued. We have a gruelling schedule and it'll be nice to have a day off.'' And he predicted that tomorrow's clash against host nation Trinidad and Saturday's tie against Puerto Rico, both of whom have also won two out of two, would be tougher affairs.

On Friday, Bermuda play St. Lucia and their final match on Sunday will be against the US Virgin Islands.

Lambert said a relaxing day off for the players was essential -- particularly for the injured Mallory.

"The captain Steve Bean has asked his players to sleep in and then relax and maybe take a swim -- basically to do nothing in preparation for four straight days of tennis,'' said Lambert.

The Island team have fared well so far, despite the loss of James Collieson, who opted to play in a major tournament for his North Carolina college rather than play Davis Cup.

Bermuda were demoted to Group IV last year after losing a relegation play-off 2-1 against Antigua and Barbuda in Bolivia.

Their goal this week is to bounce straight back into Group III, but the biggest obstacle in their path is expected to be the tough young Puerto Rico side.

Man of mettle: Ricky Mallory, who shook off the effects of an injured right arm to win a Davis Cup three-setter for Bermuda yesterday.