St. David's 124; Social Club 126-6.

Lionel Cann's return as player-coach of St. David's after a season with Southampton Rangers was spoiled yesterday at Lord's when visiting Social Club handed the eastenders a four-wicket defeat in their Premier Division opener for the season.

The players playing chief roles in Cann's rude awakening was Social Club's player-coach Charlie Marshall and Bermuda's World Cup strike bowler Kevin Hurdle who teamed up to take six wickets between them wh ile solid batting support was to follow these bowling feats featuring Marshall and opener Dano Outerb ridge.

Cann, a pivotal player during Bermuda's World Cup build-up campaign, is bound to be dissatisfied with his team's performance in this first appearance but being an eternal optimistic will undoubtedly be satisfied that many better days lie ahead for his young team with so much potential.

But this was Marshall's day who first inspired the bowling attack to lead to the quick demolishment of the home side in a game reduced to 35 overs because of early morning rain _ Marshall with his seam bowling snatching three for 10 off 3.1 overs while Hurdle claimed three for 12 off five overs. Jaymo Durham chipped in with two for 17 off seven overs while Jeffrey Tyrell took two for 33 off seven overs.

Hurdle and Durham were responsible for the miserable start for St. David's with the two having the first four bats back in the pavilion with a mere 21 runs scored.

O.J.Pitcher (14) added some resistance with a patient knock and teamed up with Arthur Pitcher (27) to take the score from 5-21 to 57 when the former was bowled by Tyrell.

The home side were to get two more players to contribute decent scores, Justin Pitcher with 21 and Mikkail Crockwell on 19, but when Marshall joined the attack it wasn't long before St. David's were all out.

In the chase after their winning target of 125 Social Club reached victory in 28.4 overs with Marshall top scorer on 37, helping the team recover from 51 for three after opener Outerbridge and Damon Rabain (4) and Detroy Smith (13) were dismissed.

The player-coach got valuab le support from Ricky Hoyt who was undefeated on 19 and Winston Simmons who hit 13.

Arthur Pitcher had the best bowling figures for the eastenders with two for 23 off six overs while O'Brien had two for 24 off seven overs.

Under-19 190; Cleveland 87.

Bermuda's youngsters got their season off to a glorious start with this 103-run victory over Cleveland at Wellington Oval with Bermuda World Cup bowler Malachi Jones leading the way with an impressive 73 before being run out. Charles Richardson led the Cleveland bowling with three for 32.

Cleveland's bats fizzled against the young bowlers with skipper Jason Simons top scoring on 18. Rodney Trott was the pick of the bowlers snatching three wickets without conceding a run from a mere two overs.