test and has been declared fit and ready to captain Somerset Bridge in tomorrow's Western Counties Cup two-day final against champions Southampton Rangers at Southampton Oval.

Forced to sit out last Sunday's Premier Division game against Cleveland County because of a twisted ankle, Jones was hoping that the rest would help to hasten his return to the game. And, happily, after two training sessions this week, he reports that he is "ready and raring to go''.

"I went to the foot therapist and got a good report. I experienced no pain whatsoever during training this week and I'm excited about leading the team on Saturday. I feel 100 precent now, there is no pain at all'' he said.

Jones, who has skippered Bridge for two years, is thankful that he decided to take the advice of his club coach by not playing on Sunday. It was that decision to watch from the sidelines that enables him to recover for this weekend's game.

Before meeting to pick the team last night the skipper spoke confidently of his team's chances, predicting that the expected addition of Western Stars' players Arnold Manders and Jeff Richardson would boost their chances of regaining the cup they lost from Southampton last year.

"I want revenge badly after losing to them a year ago at White Hill,'' said Jones. "We won it last year from Willow Cuts, it was my first time as captain of Bridge in the Counties. But unfortunately I lost it in the very next round to Southampton, now I'm going to get it back.'' Southampton have already beaten Bridge twice this season, but Jones points out that the losses occured when his team were having lots of internal problems.

He claims that things are better now and that the Bridge will most definitely offer a spirited challenge to the very end in the two-day encounter.

Jones admits that he is one of the many players who haven't played well this season, but he attributes his decline in form to the burden he has endured as captain.

"I don't know where my form has disappeared, maybe I have been worrying about too many other things as captain. But I hope to get things together during this two-day game and win the cup back for my club,'' he said.

The skipper says that the inclusion of two guest players means that his team's batting will improve significantly. In addition to Manders and Richardson being counted on for support, Jones is also banking on runs from Brian Gibbons, O'Neil Virgil, Gladwin Ingham and himself.

The bowling, however, is an area where Bridge may fall short, but Jones feels that if everybody performs to the level of which they are capable, the Southampton batsmen shouldn't have much joy.

The pace will be provided by Gary Crofton, Eugene Burgess and Gibbons while there are capable spinners following in Manders, Sidney Simmons and Jones himself.

"We've chosen a good, strong team and we expect to do well in this final,'' concluded the Bridge skipper.