David's as they finally broke the hex of three runners-up finishes to win the Benson and Hedges Champion of Champions title at White Hill field yesterday.

"It's great, it's really great,'' said a jubilant St. David's skipper Ken Pitcher after the match. "After losing on three occasions when we thought we should have won and now having come up here and actually winning, obviously it is a really great feeling.

"The guys put their heads together...and came away with the cup.'' Indeed no one put their head "together'' more than Steede, who lately has restrained his natural aggressive tendencies in order to occupy the crease until such time that he can get a good feel of the bowling and open things up.

"The difference between then and now is that I have matured,''said Steede, who wound up a double winner, capturing prizes for highest score and man of the match. "I play myself in first and from then on I can play my shots.'' From the outset the Islanders found runs hard to come by with Wendell Smith (10) and Allen Richardson (17) getting off to a slow start and the trend continuing following their dismissals and the introduction of Steede and Dean Pitcher. After 20 overs the score stood at 48, which computed to a scoring rate of less than three runs per over, well behind the 3.24 posted by Southampton.

The pair -- Steede and Pitcher -- finally began to take control with the introduction of Olin Jones to the attack as Pitcher drove him for two fours in his second over and Steede followed up in the next over, driving and hooking Janeiro Tucker for consecutive boundaries.

Tucker, bowling unchanged, gained a measure of revenge having Pitcher trapped lbw after scoring 11, just as it seemed the pair had settled in.

In fact, Tucker accounted for all of the St. David's wickets to fall including Richardson to a fine tumbling catch by Ricky Brangman fielding forward of square.

But there was no answer to Steede as he proceeded to light up the scoreboard, blasting six fours and three sixes, including a monster shot off Clevie Wade that landed near the surrounding fence on the western side. And fittingly it was Steede stroking the winning runs -- another boundary -- to signal the start of St. David's celebrations.

Hero of the previous day's semifinal, Lionel (Tit) Cann, added life to the proceedings coming in at number five, with the score 74. He and Steede put on a clinic running between the wicket, taking advantage of any lapses or fumbles by the fielding side.

Cann contributed 19 to an unbroken 76-run partnership and performed well in a supporting role.

Earlier in the day, Southampton's innings was undone by superb fielding on the part of St. David's and indecisive running between the wickets.

Herbie Bascome played a part in four dismissals, taking two splendid catches and running out both Kwame Tucker (nine) and captain Ricky Brangman (13). The catch to dismiss opener Keith Wainwright (27) was particularly impressive with Bascome taking the ball over his shoulder.

Ken Pitcher had already sent Wainwright's partner Jones (one) packing and after Bascome made his presence felt again, holding a chance given by Stevie Lightbourne (26), things began to fall apart for the Western Counties champions.

From 69 for three, wickets fell regularly, the remaining batsmen offering only token resistance as they were bundled out for 146.

There was controversy where Janeiro Tucker (13) felt that James Pace had exited the field in making an over-the-head catch. Tucker maintained his ground for several moments as umpire George Francis held up his finger before begrudgingly -- and ever so slowly -- making the march back to the clubhouse.

With one championship already under their belts, St. David's will now turn heir attention to the Eastern Counties and Bailey's Bay whom they face in the first round July 18.

Seamer Lionel Cann claimed a tournament-best eight for 16 from just seven overs as St. David's made easy work of Nationals in Saturday's semifinal.

Scores: St. David's 215-9, Nationals 61. The former Central Counties champions lasted just 18 overs in their chase for the St. David's total, never recovering from Winston Simmons' dismissal in the first over by Dale Fox.

And then when the other opener, Gary Knight, was run out when the score was 12, Cann set about his demolition work by taking the last eight wickets to fall, two bowled and six caught as tail-ender Jeff Pitcher hit a brisk 17 to top the batting against his former team. Jason Lewis (15) was the only other bat in double figures.

Earlier, Lewis' medium-pace bowling helped slow down the St. David's run rate after Wendell Smith (22) and Allen Richardson (38) shared in an opening stand of 63. Albert Steede supported with 34 before middle-order bat James Pace led the batting with 48.

Nationals captain Darrin Lewis was their best bowler with three for 29 from 10 overs while Chris Wright got two wickets in his second spell to finish with two for 54. Mark Ray had impressive figures of two for 27 from 10 overs while Jason Lewis, not normally used as a bowler, gave up just 30 runs in his 10 overs.

ALBERT STEEDE -- Hit an unbeaten 67 in yesterday's Benson and Hedges final.

LIONEL CANN -- Returned tournament-best figures of eight for 26 on Saturday for St. David's.