St. George's Cup Match followers can breathe a sigh of relief after suffering a scare on Sunday when skipper Charlie Marshall was struck on the mouth by a rising delivery from Lionel Cann.

Marshall has rebounded quickly following a visit to hospital where he received stitches before being released.

And club president Neil Paynter yesterday erased any doubts about the skipper being fit for Saturday's last - and mandatory - trial match before the Cup Match squad is picked in the evening.

Marshall is expected to be officially named to captain the cup team.

Admitting that he was concerned when he learned of the Marshall injury, the president said he was relieved to hear that it was not nearly as serious as he first thought.

"I didn't see the incident but I understand that a Cann delivery popped up and hit him in the mouth. Basically he got six stitches in the upper lip and it's swollen. I saw him this morning, he seems to be alright and it's unlikely to prevent him from being involved in Saturday's final trial," said Paynter.

"I have no doubts about him being ready for the final trial. Then after that, if he is chosen he should be fully fit for the Cup Match."

Clay Smith, the opposing skipper in Sunday's encounter, said that it was simply an unfortunate incident that could have happened to anybody with the ball taking an unusual bounce.

Fielding in the slips at the time, Smith got a close look at the mishap and reckoned that while there was initially a lot of blood he never thought it would be severe enough to prevent Marshall from playing in the trials.

"Naturally being a close friend of Charlie I was concerned," said Smith. "I could see that it was bleeding a lot with his top lip being cut wide open and obviously in need of stitches. The wicket had a touch of moisture on it and Lionel got one to jump up after pitching it back a bit.

"It was the only ball during the entire game that took off like this. Otherwise the wicket played well.

"When he left the field and headed for hospital I knew that the injury wouldn't be that serious to keep him out of the weekend trials."

Meanwhile, St. George's were also pleased this week to have young St. David's all-rounder O.J. Pitcher return from England for Saturday's final trial game. He has been in the UK since early summer, playing with Pyford Cricket Club in the Fuller's Country First Division.