SOUTHAMPTON Rangers and St. David’s are tipped to reach their fourth Belco Cup final in five years this weekend.But they will have to be wary of two teams making their debuts in the tournament.

Flatts and Social Club are being led by two veteran players who have won the cup before — Dean Minors and Charlie Marshall — and both teams will be up for the challenge of beating defending champions Rangers and St. David’s in Saturday’s semi-finals.

These two teams have met in the last two finals — both won by Rangers — who are hoping to join St. George’s as the only other team to win the tournament three straight years. The east enders achieved that in 1988, ‘89 and ‘90 when the tournament was the Premier and then the Camel Cup.

The tournament has been under Belco sponsorship since 2003 and in that time Rangers and St. David’s have been the dominant teams — Rangers winning all three of their finals while St. David’s have lost in the last three finals. In this, the 20th anniversary of the tournament, the underdogs are hoping the tide will begin to change again.

“I think we have given Rangers something to think about by beating them by eight wickets,” said Minors, now retired as a national team player but no less ambitious.

Minors and James Celestine were instrumental in Flatts’s comfortable win over Rangers, sharing in an unbroken 146-run stand for the third wicket on May 20. Certainly that win over the league champions will give Flatts a psychological boost going into Saturday’s semi-final.

‘Our main goal is to play to Flatts’ strengths. What I want to bring to Flatts is a belief system that says ‘I can compete’, ‘I can play cricket’,” said Minors.“To be in the top four last year was a major accomplishment for Flatts, and here is our reward, playing in the Belco Cup. Now our next, huge, step is to win a major trophy in the Premier Division. Not only do we want to be in the Premier Division but also to be very competitive.”

Celestine followed up his 90 against Rangers with 75 against Somerset last weekend and the club will be banking on him to continue that fine form. Minors thinks he has it in him to become a Bermuda international.

“I think James underestimates himself, he’s an absolute quality player who has a lot to offer and has sound cricket knowledge,” said the player-coach. “Now he’s got the goal of representing Bermuda.”

Minors is doing at Flatts what Marshall and Clay Smith are doing at Social Club and Cleveland . . . spreading his vast knowledge. As a result unfancied teams are now getting more respect.

In the 1990s Western Stars, Bailey’s Bay and St. George’s were the top teams in this competition. Rangers and St. David’s have taken over in the last few years and before the decade is over another new champion could be crowned.

“Spreading the information is very important and a lot of teams are going through a development process,” said Minors.

‘At places like Flatts and Social Club, where they are developing, the information is new and exciting and because they have been taking licks for so long they can go out and play free cricket, whereas at places like Western Stars and St. George’s it’s like they have to win.

“Clubs like St. George’s have to set new heights because these other clubs are having a belief system about their cricket.”

While their teams will be novices in this tournament, Minors and Marshall have won titles before — Minors with St. George’s and Marshall with Bailey’s Bay and St. George’s. Social Club, the easy-beats of local cricket just a few years ago, have been transformed since Marshall arrived as player-coach and must feel they have it in them to pull off an upset when they meet St. David’s at Somerset. Lionel Cann, now back at St. David’s after a stint at Rangers, is capable of leading St. David’s to a big total.

The other semi-final at St. David’s is no less intriguing as the defending champions take on a Flatts team who recently scored a comfortable eight wicket victory over Rangers in league play. Flatts’ last major success was almost 30 years ago (1978) when they were the first winners of the Champion of Champions title as Eastern Counties representatives.

“I’m looking for good things over the course of the weekend but if it doesn’t pan out where we get into the final then that’s okay,” said Minors.

“What I learned at the World Cup and playing in the ICC Tournament is don’t hold onto that information, pass it on. Hopefully I can inject some sort of cricket spirit. I just want to play my part, whether it be at Flatts in trying to improve cricket in the Premier Division or coaching in the schools. At Flatts I’m just bringing a different perspective.”

He added: “I was fortunate enough where I was brought up in a team (St. George’s) where we won things and where there was a general discipline and work ethic and that’s what I’m trying to bring to Flatts. If we play good cricket (this weekend) it could actually change our season.”

The winner of Saturday’s semi-finals will meet in the final on Sunday at St. David’s. Last year Malachi Jones’ 78 not out in Southampton’s eight-wicket victory over St. David’s was the highest score in the tournament by a teenager. Jones will play for his club team this weekend instead of for the Under 19s in a rescheduled match on Saturday at Wellington Oval.

The Bermuda women’s team, aiming for World Cup qualification this summer, will make an appearance during the lunch interval of Sunday’s Belco Cup final. Proceeds from the $5 admission fee for the final Admission will be donated to STAR, a registered charity that provides support to AIDS patients and their families.

Underdogs hope for upsets