Southampton 188-2 Southampton Rangers wrapped up their first league title in 19 years with a comfortable eight wicket victory over St. David's at Southampton Oval. But the result was marred by some controversy as St. David's were very vocal in their displeasure with the handling of the match by stand-in umpire Colin Blades.

Blades, the Rangers captain when they won their last league title in 1980, was appointed to this game after another non-appearance by members of the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association.

And though he had another former Rangers player Wayne Raynor as his assistant, Blades, a BCBC official, was the main umpire at both ends and gave five lbw decisions amongst the last six St. David's wickets to fall.

One of those was St. David's captain Clay Smith who questioned his decision after being caught coming forward by a delivery from Janeiro Tucker.

And what upset St. David's even more was a confident appeal for caught behind by Smith against Michael Brangman off a Cann delivery which Blades turned down. They also had lbw appeals of their own ignored.

"Rangers were by far the better team today but it was just a matter of principle,'' said Cann, who criticised the umpiring...Blades in particular.

Rangers were well on their way to victory after Keith Wainwright and Kwame Tucker shared in an opening stand of 108 in 25 overs. After a cautious start, the pair were soon in their stride as St. David's used eight bowlers in trying to break the stand. Tucker was eventually dismissed for 52 when he pulled a short delivery from Smith straight to Cann at short mid-wicket. His innings contained seven fours and two hooked sixes off O.J. Pitcher in his one and only over.

Wainwright batted to the end, stroking 12 fours and two sixes and edged the winning four off Dale Fox to finish 90 not out. Janeiro Tucker lasted just one over before being bowled by Cann, but Michael Brangman added 74 for the unbroken third wicket with Wainwright.

After a 19-year wait victory was sweet for Rangers, previously the powers of local cricket.

The only blemish to their outstanding season came eight days ago when they lost to PHC in the Western Counties which denied them that trophy and also put them out of the running for the Champion of Champions.

"From the beginning to the end we had intentions of winning this league,'' said skipper Olin Jones afterwards.

Jones paid tribute to his brother-in-law Clevie Wade whose coaching this year helped turn the team into serious championship contenders.

Rangers haven't been beaten since the opening day of the season when they lost to Cleveland. Along the way they have beaten the top teams, Bailey's Bay, Western Stars, St. George's and now St. David's.

"We definitely have the talent but our efforts in training haven't really been top shelf,'' said Jones.

"But Clevie came in and really gave us some intense training, to pick up our level, especially in the fielding.'' Jones recalls being around the Rangers set-up when they were a power in the early 1980s, though those days he was more a reserve.

"It was a couple of us, myself, Michael (Brangman) and Keith (Wainwright) and we played here and there, so we've been around for a long time.

"Now we definitely have a good team, players like Janeiro (Tucker), Kwame Tucker, Clevie. We have about six or seven guys who have been around the international game, and when they changed back to overs it gave us an extra boost.'' More cricket, sailing -- Page 29