`If you want the trophy, come and get it' - that was Somerset Cricket Club coach Jeff Richardson's challenge yesterday to St. George's ahead of the annual Cup Match classic .

"We are not going down there to just hand the cup to (St.George's)," Richardson declared. "They need to come after us.

"First and foremost for us is not to lose the cup - and that's not to say that we aren't going to play positive cricket. But in all fairness, and to take a sensible approach, St.George's are going to have to dictate the pace of the match. If they want to win it , then it's up to them to come and get it."

Richardson, a former Western Stars and Somerset Cup Match right-handed batsman, currently shares the second highest ever third wicket stand of 134 runs with Albert Steede.

A long-time Somerset resident, Richardson took over the helm from the charismatic Winston Reid at the beginning of the season.

"I am very confident in the team that we had last year and those who are remaining this year. And I'm very confident with the guys who are vying for Cup match places and their ability," he added. "They maybe lack Cup Match experience, but, from a cricketing aspect, they are some of the best players on the Island. And whoever fills in from a talent aspect is going to be quite adequate."

Richardson said he wasn't too bothered by the fact that the champions have yet to stage a trial match.

"I've always told the guys to consider when they go out on to the field every Sunday as a trial match," he added. "For various reasons we haven't been able to squeeze these trial matches in, but that's just the way the ball bounced.

"But that doesn't concern me much because the nucleus of the team will remain the same and anybody who comes in will have leaders all around them in the Leverocks (Dwayne), Steedes (Albert) and Janeiro Tucker. These guys have been around a long time.

"They are maybe young in age, but they've been around for a long time. So anybody who comes into the team should do so without any disruptions or confusion whatsoever."

Not even having to defend the cup away from home on a newly laid batting surface at Wellington Oval seems to bother the rookie coach.

"It will be unknown to both teams," he reckoned. "Having played Cup Match . . . I don't have any nerves and I am very confident in Somerset's team.

"We are loaded with all-rounders. We have a guy (in Leverock) who will possibly bat at number eight who has already scored a century this year. And then we have guys like (Dennis) Pilgrim and Hassan (Durham) coming behind who are also quite capable with the bat as well.

"And if Jacobi (Robinson) comes in, he's no slouch with the bat either having scored 67 runs in Canada with the youth team last week."

Somerset, meanwhile, have yet to announce their Cup Match trial teams for Saturday's final trial match at Somerset Cricket Club. At present, Western Stars duo Saleem Mukuddem and Jermaine Postlethwaite, along with Somerset's Jacobi Robinson and Cleveland County's Del Hollis, are challenging for a spot on the champions team.

While Hollis has been somewhat quiet - by his own high standards - the remaining trio have enjoyed considerable success with either bat or ball this summer.

Robinson is coming off a solid tour of Canada last week, while Mukuddem has played a key role in Stars' resurgence to the fore since returning from vacation.

Postlethwaite, meanwhile, is perhaps the most consistent opening batsman on the Island. The Stars player has scored over 400 runs, including an even ton, and has also managed to grab a few wickets with the ball whenever called upon by his skipper.

Somerset were expected to announce their trial teams following last night's practice at the club.