Bermuda's chances of Davis Cup promotion took a severe blow yesterday with a 2-1 defeat to host nation Trinidad in a tie which went to the final set of the last match.

Now the Island must win their three remaining ties to have a chance of being one of the two nations to gain promotion to American Group III.

Ricky Mallory got the Island off to a flying start with a win in the opening singles match, just as he had done in the victories over Barbados and the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States.

But Michael Way then suffered his first defeat of the week, in straight sets to big-serving Trinidadian number one Simon Evelyn.

In the decisive doubles rubber, Bermuda looked to be on their way to victory after Way and Dean Mello took the first set 7-5 against Evelyn and Nick Rose.

But they lost the second set 4-6 and the third 3-6, in front of a noisy home crowd.

Bermuda play St Lucia today and the US Virgin Islands on Sunday, but their biggest task comes tomorrow when they face Puerto Rico, the only country in the six-nation tournament with a 100 percent record so far.

Bermuda and Trinidad have both lost only once, but the Caribbean team have an advantage in that they no longer have to play the Puerto Ricans.

Teams get one point for each tie won and if level, they are separated on matches won.

Captain Steve Bean was in no mood for throwing in the towel, but could not disguise his disappointment at yesterday's narrow defeat.

"We had our chances and it is disappointing to lose by a service break in the third set of the last match,'' said Bean.

"The players' spirits are low -- they are top athletes who are used to winning -- but we will get everybody pumped up for the St Lucia tie. We are still in with a real chance.'' Bean said he had wanted Mallory to partner Way in the doubles, so the Island team had their top two competing in the crucial rubber.

But Bean had felt compelled to rest Mallory, who has been bothered by a recurring muscle injury in his right, serving arm, in a bid to keep him fit to play the next three ties.

Mallory, who overcame Ronald Greaves 6-3, 6-3, said: "It's a chronic injury and I've been to a physio, had it iced down and massaged. But I will be fit to carry on playing.

"It's my job to give the team a good start when I go on first and I'll be giving it my all to keep on doing that.'' The whole Island team had at some stage been affected by feelings of mild nausea, said Mallory and he added: "Maybe it's something that we're eating down here, because they say the water's safe.'' Way's defeat was down to Evelyn's ferocious and consistent service, which did not allow the Bermudian veteran to even get as far as a break point.

Evelyn broke Way's serve at 3-3 in the first set and at 4-4 in the second, to take the match.

Bean said: "Michael's got a great return of serve, but he never got a chance to get it going against a man with a bomb of a serve. It just took one break in each set for him to lose -- that's how tight it is at this level.'' Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association David Lambert praised 19-year-old Chris Watson, who has travelled with the team to give him a taste of the Davis Cup atmosphere in preparation for a probable future international tennis career.

Lambert said: "Chris has been working very hard hitting with all the players before they go on court and getting rackets strung and getting an idea of what is needed at this level.'' Jensen Bascome, in the Bermuda team this year, travelled with the team in a similar capacity to Watson last year.