Southampton Rangers finally have something to shout about this season.

Last year?s league and Belco Cup champions had gone trophy-less this year ? even struggling in the early stages ? up until Saturday when they completely outplayed PHC to wrest the Western Counties title from the holders.

On home turf at Southampton Oval, Janeiro Tucker?s men produced the goods both batting and bowling to trounce their rivals by 111 runs. The captain led from the front, scoring 91 of his team?s 273 runs (for nine wickets) before snapping up four scalps for 34 runs as PHC were routed for 162 in 49.3 overs.

While fans would have tipped Rangers to overpower their guests, the manner in which PHC?s line-up collapsed was surprising with a constant stream of traffic to and from the pavilion as they plummeted to 49 for five and then further to 89 for eight.

Just when they appeared in danger of succumbing for double digits, wicketkeeper Ty Williams and Robert Bean united in a 59-run partnership. That ninth-wicket stand took the score to 148 before Bean hauled out to Stevie Lightbourne in the deep off Tucker for 27.

Williams added a futher 14 with last man, Neil Anglin, before he was bowled by Kwame Tucker off the third ball of the final over for a solid 47. Williams? knock was punctuated by six fours and two sixes.

Janeiro Tucker apart, strike bowler Gary Crofton took three for 22 off ten overs and Ramen Wijewardena, two for 31 from his ten overs.

Rangers, too, stumbled early in their innings and were 25 for two before a third-wicket stand of 87 between opener Keith Wainwright and Lightbourne stabilised matters. The latter contributed a brisk 47 (five fours, two sixes) from 42 balls before guest player Hasan Durham breached his defences. That was 112 for three and 12 runs later Durham preyed on Mukuddem, also bowled and for just two runs, to make the total 124 for four, with PHC looking to pull things back in their favour.

Normally, they might have had a chance but with Tucker entering the fray at number six, the cup holders might have suspected their work was just beginning ? and that it was. Suddenly, fielders were retrieving the white ball from all parts of the limited environs ? their searches often extending into nearby bushes or even across South Shore Road ? as the ferocious stroke-maker cut, drove and pulled imperiously.

At 91 and appearing set for another of his countless centuries, Tucker misjudged a Cal Waldron delivery only to see his stumps rattled. His 73-ball fireworks included seven fours and an equal number of sixes, propelling the home team?s cause to 245 for six. Wainwright, who anchored the innings, had fallen just before his skipper for a strong 78 (seven fours, four sixes).

The lower order edged along to 273 for nine in 50 overs ? a total many felt would demand the very best from PHC. Unfortunately, their best batting never came to the fore. Waldron took three for 47 from ten overs while Durham and Andre Manders bagged a pair each. Durham shone in his ten-over spell, surrendering just 29 runs and bowling two maidens.

?They batted well and we just didn?t get the start we needed in the batting. In the end, the runs required from the overs left made it hard,? admitted PHC?s vice-captain Waldron frankly as he and team-mates rued the loss.

Tucker complimented his players for delivering on all the hard work they put in for 2004, saying it?s rewarding to get a trophy for the club at last.

Having finally got their hands on some silverware, Rangers will now try and achieve what dethroned PHC failed to do; to retain the cup in the counties finale against Warwick.

?They will come out ready to play and work hard so we can?t take them for granted,? said Tucker, warning against complacency.