IT'S all too easy to be critical of Bermuda teams who are competing overseas.

And the youngsters currently representing the Island at the Americas Under-19 Cricket Championships in Toronto must have expected some harsh words after their crushing defeat by the Cayman Islands in the opening match this week.

So it was to their enormous credit that rather than hang their heads and make excuses for such a dismal performance, they immediately bounced back, restoring self pride with an emphatic win over the USA the very next day.

Whether the teenage Bermudians can fully compensate for Tuesday's embarrassing defeat, go on to win the tournament and thus qualify for the Under-19 World Cup remains to be seen.

But at least they have shown character and a determination which isn't always evident in Bermuda national teams, particularly junior squads, when things don't go their way.

Cricket, domestically, has endured its fair share of problems this season, both on and off the field, and nothing could give the sport a bigger lift than success in Canada.

Should they beat Argentina today it could all come down to tomorrow's clash against the hosts - the same team who dashed Bermuda's hopes in the final match of the same tournament when it was held on local soil two years ago. Nothing would be sweeter than a revenge victory.

TALKING of teenagers, character and determination, nobody has displayed those qualities this week more than golfer Jarryd Dillas, who at the time of writing, was sitting pretty among the leaders at the World Junior Golf Championships in California.

The annual tournament in San Diego attracts the very best of junior golf from around the globe - indeed among the former winners is none other than Tiger Woods.

As a 16-year-old, Dillas gave a glimpse of his potential last year with an eighth place finish in the same 15-17 age group event. A year later and a year wiser, with a Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay Championship title tucked under his belt, Jarryd is showing signs of fulfilling that potential.

Whatever the result this weekend - and it would be an enormous accomplishment should he be crowned junior world champion - it would appear the former Saltus student has every chance of following in the footsteps of Michael Sims and pursuing a career on the professional circuit.

This weekend and beyond, Bermuda will be monitoring his progress closely.

BERMUDA'S track and field squad heading for the Pan-Am Games in the Dominican Republic next month will consist of a team of four. Had Bermuda Track and Field Association had their way, it would have been five.

But, thankfully, Bermuda Olympic Association had the good sense to reject an appeal by the BTFA to include sprinter and long jumper Devon Bean.

No disrespect to Bean, but whenever a major Games appears on the horizon his name always seems to crop up on the BTFA list submitted for approval, despite the fact that he has continually failed to make the grade in international competition, and like so many of the BTFA's "leading performers", we hear virtually nothing of his progress or performances until something such as the Pan-Am or Olympic Games comes around.

As for the rest of the BTFA's Pan-Am squad, Ashley Couper - a gold medallist at the recent CAC Games - Tamika Williams and Xavier James have more than justified their selection.

But, sadly, the same can't be said for veteran triple jumper Brian Wellman. As much as Wellman would like to relive past glories, it would now seem that his best days are long gone.

As has been said in this column before, it would be magnificent if he could prove the critics wrong. But judging from his last place finish at the CAC, it's not likely to happen.

Wellman could perhaps best serve his country now by bowing out gracefully and using his vast international experience to help develop those who yearn to emulate his success.