League and Belco Cup cricket champions Southampton Rangers have acquired the much sought-after services of charismatic Western Stars bowler Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock.

Leverock, 33, an orthodox left-arm leg-break spinner, has decided to break ranks with his club of the last four years and take on a new challenge at Southampton Oval.

And the jovial giant?s presence will certainly be welcomed at Rangers who might have pulled off the biggest coup of any Premier team ahead of the start of the 2004 season.

Leverock, who has been a driving force behind Stars? success in recent years, has also been a pillar of strength for Somerset?s Cup Match team.

During what has already been a highly successful career, Leverock, who can also hold his own with the willow, has enjoyed playing stints at Devonshire Recreation Club, Police and Flatts.

Now, the top spinner, currently training with the national squad, could become the cornerstone of a three-pronged spin attack containing Olin Jones and Keith Wainwright and bolster the league champions? middle order which already boasts the explosive bat of Rangers skipper Janeiro Tucker.

?Sometimes you have to move on and I just feel now is the time. I think it?s time to move on and take on new challenges which lie ahead and also take my game to another level,? explained Leverock.

As a key Stars player, Leverock bagged 24 league wickets last season at a stingy average of 8.17 runs per wicket, returning best figures of 5-17. He also scored a valuable unbeaten century in the Central Counties Cup competition for Stars against Social Club at St.John?s Field.

?Janeiro (Tucker) and I have been friends for many years and he has always asked me if I could give him a couple of seasons,? Leverock continued. ?I hope I can benefit the team and basically that?s all I am looking forward to doing . . . helping the team and being a team player.

?Clevie (Wade, Rangers coach) says that I am the missing link to the puzzle and I just hope I can go there and fill the void.?

The player will also be eligible to represent Rangers in the Western Counties cup competition in another year?s time, enabling him to play in all three of the Island?s counties cup competitions. Leverock currently plays for Stars in the Central Counties and Flatts in the Eastern Counties.

?That?s something that I?ve always looked at. It?s another stepping stone in my career that I can look back on and say that I played all three counties.?