Devonshire Rec to become the most successful team in Camel Cup's brief existence this weekend.

Both will be looking to win the competition -- which began as the Premier Cup in 1987 -- for a record fourth time. But even though Bay will be missing four key players from last year, they are still installed as the firm favourites to retain their title.

Bay will be without the banned Noel Gibbons, Charlie Marshall and Terry Burgess as well as Glenn Smith who is playing cricket in England. All were in the team which lifted the cup for the first time last year with a win over then champions Western Stars. However, even a weakened Bay side should be too strong for their rivals this weekend.

First up will be Devonshire in tomorrow's semi-final at Nationals, while the other match will pit St. George's against debutants Cleveland at St. John's Field. The winners will meet in the final on Sunday at Somerset.

Bay and Devonshire have already met in the opening weeks of the season, with Bay coming out seven wicket winners in a match at Sea Breeze Oval after dismissing their opponents for just 113.

Devonshire appear only a shadow of their former selves with the loss of Albert Steede and Roger Trott, the latter having returned to Bay. Even though Bay are also now missing batsman Glenn Smith, now playing in the Northumberland League, they should be firm favourites over Rec. who won the cup in 1991 and 1992.

There have only been four winners of the Camel Cup with Western Stars being the other.

Experience in the competition should give St. George's the edge over Cleveland and thus book their first meeting in the final since the last of their triumphs in 1990. However, the East Enders can no longer lay claim to being the best limited overs team in Bermuda, and can expect to have their work cut out for them as they try to reach the final. Their ranks are severely depleted, making this their weakest Camel Cup team ever, as the club is clearly struggling to cope without the likes of Clay Smith, Dean Minors, Gregg Foggo, Kenny Phillips and Dexter Smith who is still on vacation.

Last weekend St. George's lost their proud unbeaten record in the league which stretched back to the middle of the 1992 season, when Willow Cuts beat them convincingly at Wellington Oval.

On the same day Cleveland were also suffering a bruising defeat, going down by eight wickets to PHC at Sea Breeze Oval in one of the day's biggest shocks.

Cleveland had a promising start when Curtis Jackson (67) and Albert Jenkins put on 81 for the first wicket.

But they could only manage 143 as James Pace marked his debut with five for 34 and Kallan Johnston took four for 29 for PHC.

Pace then led the PHC bowling with 71 not out as he and Allen Richardson (61 not out) carried PHC to their finest victory in the Premier Division by sharing in an unbroken third wicket stand of 118.

Just the week before Cleveland declared against Flatts and lost, so this has not been the best of build-ups to the Camel Cup. They were missing key players like Allan Douglas, Johnny Richardson and Aaron Adams. Douglas has not played so far this season and is also doubtful for this weekend, having been off the Island.

Glenn Smith