Yesterday's match at Wellington Oval between arch-rivals Somerset and St.

George's lived up to its billing as both teams went after the other with vigour and determination.

However, when all was said and done, St. George's emerged victorious against the league champions thanks to an early first-half strike from Melvin Simmons.

The wet and blustery conditions did not slow the pace as one would have expected. Instead, both sides constantly surged forward in attack realising that the lone goal on the afternoon could well hold up on the day.

Fortunately for St. George's, they were able to capatilise in the 15th minute of play. The goal resulted when Andre Todd threw the ball in from deep in the Trojan end to team-mate Melvin Simmons.

Simmons controlled the ball just inside the 18-yard box and turned the defender around allowing himself just enough space to get inside the penalty area. Simmons misfired his shot, but he got just enough on the ball to squeak a low, soft shot by outstretched Somerset goalkeeper Cordell Gilbert.

Somerset, on the other hand, struggled desperately to find any rhythm in their offence. Their midfield were able to control play and managed to feed balls to their frontline. However, that was as far as play developed as the St.

George's defence manifestly shut them down before they could launch any serious assaults on goal.

In the 39th minute, on one of their few opportunities on the afternoon, Somerset's Chris Sabir sent a hard and low shot straight at St. George's 'keeper Troy Hall after receiving a fine cross from Reggie Tucker on the right wing.

In the second half, both sides gave the partisan, but sparse crowd, a taste of what they had come to expect whenever the two sides clash -- hard-hitting, grind-it-out soccer played at a `breakneck' pace.

The longer the game dragged on, it became increasingly clear that the weather would disrupt any offensive creativity and wizardry by either side.

With time on their side, St. George's seemed content to get into an even more defensive mode to ensure that they did not give up a cheap goal.

Somerset, seeming to sense this shift in game strategy, began to push forward ever more daringly and were fortunate not to be caught out with some counter-attacks on long cleared balls by the St. George's defence.

Somerset, though few and far between, had their chances and if not for timely defensive play by St. George's and poor finishing on their part, they may have been able to pull back a point from this encounter.

The most exciting moment of the game came within five seconds of the final whistle.

Somerset, in their last-ditch attempt to score sent a long ball forward into the St. George's area, which 'keeper Hall rushed out to catch.

As Hall fell to the ground the ball popped out to the feet of Reggie Tucker who was on his way solo towards goal. However, Hall scrambled brilliantly and smothered the ball at Tucker's feet before he could get the shot off as the whistle sounded.

Somerset: C.Gilbert, L.Simmons, D.DeRoza, T.Dickinson, G.Cann, R.Tucker, C.Sabir, S.Arorash, K.Tucker, R.Bascome, L.Crofton.

St. George's: T.Hall, N.Paynter, F.Greaves, A.Todd, D.Bailey, J.Ceiters, K.Smith, D.Richardson, M.Simmons (C.Greaves, 73 mins), G.Foggo (D.Whitfield, 80 mins).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of the match: Franklyn Greaves (St. George's); Reggie Tucker (Somerset).