Saturday has been strongly defended by skipper Dexter Basden, himself at the centre of controversy.

Basden was dropped as the West Enders' Cup Match captain last week and replaced by Albert Steede. And after he, his brother Richard Basden and Kevin Fubler failed to show for Saturday's trial there were suggestions that the Cuts trio had stayed away in protest.

But Dexter told The Royal Gazette yesterday the three players were simply committed to helping Willow Cuts organise Saturday's Western Counties Cup game between Southampton and Somerset Bridge.

And he denied claims by Somerset chairman Bernard Brangman that none of the three had given notice of their unavailability for the trial.

Basden said his brother Richard had notified Somerset that all three players would be involved with the Counties game.

His claim was supported by Reginald Outerbridge, president of the Western Counties.

"The chairman of Somerset's selection committee should know. He and committee member Charles Fubler have been a part of the Western Counties and they are both fully aware of the fact that during the competition the affiliates are not allowed to play (elsewhere). It says so in the constitution,'' said Basden.

"As you know the Western Counties are a little weak in terms of spectator support and we affiliated clubs have to support them. But on top of that we at Willow Cuts have been doing the lunches for them for the last 10 years and we are very much involved.'' The deposed Cup Match skipper said his brother told a club executive last Wednesday that no Willow Cuts players would be available for Saturday's trial.

Basden said he was startled to read that chairman Brangman had been concerned about their failure to show up for the trial, and he said he took strong exception to his remarks (in yesterday's Gazette .

"I can't understand why all this stuff is being stirred up. Even the president of the Counties will confirm our involvement. Willow Cuts should be left out of all of this nonsense, the absence of our players was justified,'' said Basden, who assured they had not boycotted the trial.

"Willow Cuts are not staying away from any trial matches or any training sessions. I told my boys to train as usual, so nobody is staying away, we deal with principles, we are not like Somerset.'' Outerbridge confirmed: "It's been our standing policy for some time. In fact, we insisted on it three years ago that during our games no affiliates should be participating in any other matches. We ask them to come out and support us.

"This procedure must be adhered to. If not some type of disciplinary action would be taken. The BCBC had given the Cup Match clubs their playing dates well in advance and Saturday was not one of them.'' Meanwhile, still upset with the manner in which he was replaced as skipper, Basden indicated he intended to skip Cup Match training and thus rule himself out of this year's game.

"I am questioned about that every day. But the truth of the matter is that they still haven't even approached me. I really believe that they don't want me, they are using this so-called dispute as an excuse. This is a way to keep me out.

"I would play for Albert, I don't have any problem with that, we are good buddies. But I am not going to go up there and train hard and then have them mess me around twice.'' Chairman Brangman suggested that all those vying for Cup Match places would have to train today and tomorrow.

But Basden insisted: "I'm training with Willow Cuts today and I will not go and train with Somerset without having some contact with the committee. I'm not calling them and I guarantee that they are not going to call me.''