Isaiah O’Brien and Luke Horan enhanced their chances of playing in Cup Match for St George’s this year after impressing in the challengers’ first trial at Wellington Oval on Saturday.

O’Brien thumped a game-high 73, from 58 balls, which included four sixes and seven fours as the Light Blue scored 203 for six in 31 overs. The 17-year-old St David’s all-rounder also claimed one for 20 after sharing the new ball with Seth Campbell.

First-change bowler Horan produced an outstanding haul of four for 11 off nine overs, which included three maidens, as the Dark Blue were dismissed for just 122 in 31 overs after electing to bat.

Among the Warwick all-rounder’s victims were former St George’s captain Onias Bascome, who topped the Dark Blue batting with 30 from 22 balls that included four fours.

Horan featured in Cup Match as a reserve last year and took two excellent catches off the bat of Somerset’s star all-rounder Kamau Leverock and wicketkeeper Stephen Bremar Jr.

Marcus Scotland, a colt last year, also excelled in the trial after taking four catches behind the stumps as wicketkeeper.

Clay Smith, the St George’s coach and former Cup Match star, was encouraged by some of the performances he observed out in the middle.

“There were a few good performances,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“Batsmen have to make some adjustments batting on the track that we prepared and are preparing. Hence it was important to get out there and get a feel for the wicket.

“The trial overall was decent as we have a good crop of youth coming through that we wanted to have a good look at.”

Two notable absences from the St George’s trial were Zeri Tomlinson and Luke Fulton, who played as a colt last year.

Tomlinson, who has been a Cup Match reserve for St George’s in the last four years, has switched allegiances to Somerset in the belief that he can wrestle the wicketkeeper spot from Steven Bremar Jr.

Fast bowler Fulton, who was returning from England on Saturday, is believed to be struggling with a shoulder injury and is a doubt for the annual classic.

In the 50 Overs Premier Division on Sunday, Dion Stovell produced an outstanding display with bat and ball to guide unbeaten leaders Southampton Rangers to a convincing 169-run win over PHC at PHC Field on Sunday.

The experienced all-rounder stroked 54, from 61 balls, in a knock that included five fours as Rangers scored 211 all out in 33.3 overs after electing to bat.

Stovell then spun his way to brilliant figures of five for three off five overs as PHC were dismissed for 43 in 20.2 overs.

Opening batter Oronde Bascome and Donté Brangman were also among Rangers’ standout performers. Former St George’s captain Bascome topped the batting with 65 from 58 balls, lashing a six and eight fours, while Brangman took two for 13 from five overs.

Chris Douglas produced a good display in a losing cause for PHC after topping their batting with 20 from 34 balls and claiming three wickets for 42 runs.

Devonshire beat Somerset Bridge by six wickets at White Hill Field, while the contest involving Western Stars and Willow Cuts at Sea Breeze Oval was not played due to a shortage of umpires.