Club during both days of the Cup Match holiday.

But the scorching 90-degree heat did not stop Somerset and St. George's fans alike from sporting their team colours and rushing the field every time a wicket fell.

More than 3,700 people turned out to the cricket club on Thursday and Friday's attendance stood at over 6,160 -- which was up from Cup Match 1996 numbers, according to club secretary Rochelle Saunders.

The Somerset Cricket Club was yesterday awash with the cool light-and-dark-blue colours of St. George's and the red-hot hues of the Somerset team.

And Bermudians also showed their true colours during the annual two-day holiday with fans hitting the field decked out in the latest summertime fashions, huge hats and outrageous hairstyles. The loud fashion display was only matched by the manic fervour of true cricket fans.

But the slowly broiling spectators did find it necessary to use both brand-new and tried-and-true methods of beating the intense heat.

Bermudian Vivienne Roberts-Jones, revisiting the Island from her home in the US, chilled out in the visitor's stand laid on by the Tourism Department and enjoyed her first Cup Match in nine years.

But unlike most of her fellow visitors and local counterparts, Mrs.

Roberts-Jones remained unfazed by the blazing sunshine.

"It's so much cooler here in Bermuda -- I live in Texas,'' she laughed.

Tina Woods took a deep drink from a "yard of breezer'' in an attempt to beat the noontime heat.

"I'm having a wonderful time, and the Bacardi breezers are helping me keep cool, but Somerset's all out -- that's keeping me a little hot right now,'' she said.

St. George's fan Collingwood Bean found a different way of keeping the sun from getting the better of him.

He constructed an enormous hat made out of tape, wire and spray-painted traditional East End colours.

Mr. Bean, who made a similar hat promoting Skin Cancer Awareness Day, said he had lots of fun creating his St. George's Cup Match hat.

"It's fully air-conditioned -- there's a big air-hole right in the middle -- and I'm going to flaunt St. George's as big as I can,'' he said.

Die-hard St. George's fans Kenny Foggo and Walter Jackson echoed Mr. Bean's comments when they declared in unison: "My heart and soul is in St. George's -- and St. George's has the best spectators in the world!'' However Peggy Farren, a first-time Cup Match visitor from Boston, became an instant Somerset fan after spending much of her holiday in the West End.

"I have to admit, I'm leaning toward the Somerset team because I've enjoyed the Somerset area so much during this holiday,'' she said.

Local politicians, including Premier Pamela Gordon, Opposition MP Ottiwell Simmons, Finance Minister Grant Gibbons and Shadow Human Affairs Minister Ewart Brown were spotted at the field in both official and unofficial capacities.

Meanwhile, the Crown and Anchor tables were packed with gamblers expressing as much emotion over three dice on hearts as when their favourite team hit a six.

Bruce Simons ran a table in memory of his late father "Nobby'', the former owner of Casey's Bar.

Mr. Simons retired from the US Navy to return to his Bermuda roots, and said the Crown and Anchor table represented his family's efforts to "keep the legend alive''.

But perhaps Canadian resident Bud Bradley best expressed the sentiments of many non-cricket fans who managed to enjoy themselves despite the heat when he said: "I think I understand the game much better after a few beers!'' Photos by David Skinner LOCAL LOOT -- Crown and Anchor operator Bruce Simons (above) spreads a wad of cash to be won (or lost) during the only legal gambling holiday in Bermuda. At right, Kenny Foggo (in a St. George's-coloured wig) and Walter Jackson shows who they support as they stand draped behind two huge St. George's flags.