On the final day of last season?s Western Counties championship, a youthful Warwick side snatched the trophy from Southampton Rangers ? on Saturday they meekly handed it back.

Asked to get a mere 138 to retain their crown in this year?s opening round, inexperience told on the teenagers who surrendered for a paltry 89 runs in 22 overs, losing at White Hill Field by 49 runs.

Some of them looking just short of crying, Warwick witnessed their ruthless destruction by a seasoned pair of bowlers as Rangers veteran Olin Jones and guest player/colt Dennis Pilgrim ripped the heart out of the opposition line-up, sharing seven wickets.

Jones snapped up four for 13 from eight overs of spin while medium pacer Pilgrim bagged three for 23 from seven overs in his maiden outing in the competition. Ryan Belboda took the other wicket while evergreen Stevie Lightbourne ? showing remarkable agility in his twilight years ? added to the cup holders? misery with two run-outs, including that of last man Jade Darrell for one of five ducks in Warwick?s innings.

Only three players ? opener Chris Douglas (17), his cousin Allan Douglas Jr (22) and Clarkie Trott (an unbeaten 17) ? reached double figures with Warwick?s score being bolstered by 26 extras, including 19 wides.

?We had a good game in the field, bowling-wise, but we have to really work on our batting. The guys have to put their heads down and bat,? said losing skipper Kian Butterfield.

Himself guilty of a poor shot without a run to his name ? flicking to Malachi Jones in the covers off the latter?s father Olin ? he noted that small scores always give trouble.

?Low scores are always tough to get because the other team comes out fighting harder because they know what they are working with,? he reasoned.

However, Butterfield would have fancied his club?s chances of advancing to the second round against PHC on July 9 when they dismissed the mighty Rangers for only 138 in 41 overs.

Southampton suffered early setbacks with the loss of their three top batsmen Keith Wainwright, Dwayne (Streaker) Adams and Ramen Wijewardena for just 49 runs. A fifth-wicket partnership of 50 between interim captain Kwame Tucker (32) and promising all-rounder Malachi Jones (12) lifted them to 103. Thereafter, another slide ensued with the last five scalps tumbling for 35 runs.

Lamar Caines and the Douglas cousins took two wickets apiece while Lamar Richardson, Trott and Butterfield picked up one each for Warwick. As was the case last season, the young guns were haunted by indisciplined bowling which contributed 32 extras, including 23 wides, to Rangers? cause.

?It feels great to win the cup back, especially after losing it to Warwick last year. We?ve had a lot of support from fans and the coach has had us putting in some hard work. I?m very happy with how the guys played,? said a jubilant Tucker.

?We did get a small total but we fielded well, bowled well and took the catches and put the pressure back on them.?

Shouldering the captaincy in the absence of his cousin Janeiro Tucker, he noted his team-mates make his job easy and that, while he is at the helm, he is determined not to squander the opportunity for a title treble.

Having already laid claim to the Belco Cup, the stand-in skipper declared that Rangers are fully intent on securing the limited-overs trophy ? in which they are the frontrunners ? and on defending their honour in the Western Counties? remaining three rounds.

Coach Clevie Wade, who termed his team?s score ?schoolboy runs?, was pleased to see Rangers respond like men to their predicament.

?I felt those weren?t big runs considering the batting we have but my players bowled well ? good line and length ? and took their chances. They dug deep and they were rewarded with the result,? he said.

Amid celebrations, the veteran player/coach spared a compliment for the losing squad.

?I must give credit to Warwick. They have a young up and coming team. They just need to keep their heads high and play good cricket which they have been doing most of the season.

?Today, somebody had to win and somebody had to lose ? and the more experienced team won.?