Devonshire Rec. on Saturday and the International Youth Squad on Sunday were called off because officials failed to show.

However, while Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association secretary Randy Butler admitted there was a problem with insufficient umpires available to cover First Division and Premier Division games, he said he personally went to White Hill Field -- albeit late -- and found neither team there nor the wicket prepared.

"The game could have been played but the teams did not hang around. Just because there was a shower there was no right to leave. In an open game you have to stick around because as long as you can get 50 overs in you can make a match.'' Butler said he then went to Devonshire Rec. just in case the game was being played there.

The problem is not confined to the First Division as two of Sunday's four Premier matches were also played with just one official...Butler at Wellington Oval and Mansfield Smith, struggling with a leg injury, at Sea Breeze Oval.

"Yes, there is a problem with numbers,'' Butler conceded, noting that some members of the association drive taxis for a living and others work regularly on Saturdays or Sundays or work overtime.

PHC skipper Cal Waldron, however, is now calling for more communication between the association and the clubs. "We don't know what's going on,'' he said.

"We have had four games where no umpires have shown up and we have had one game with just one umpire officiating. If there is a shortage of umpires then they should let us know. They could at least send one umpire to our games and we could arrange to have somebody assist him.'' Butler, who admitted he was also late on Sunday for his game in St. George's after making last minute adjustments to the appointments when some officials became unavailable, expects the problem to continue this weekend when six officials are required for Saturday for the two Knockout Cup semi-finals and a league make-up match. There is also a full slate of games on Sunday.

"We had a special meeting two weeks ago to address all these concerns about getting guys out,'' said the secretary. The matter of compensation for umpires has again surfaced. And that could be one of the reasons why some officials are working overtime rather than attending games.

"Even now some of the clubs are still delinquent in their payments. Some have not paid the association a penny,'' said Butler.

In league play on Sunday, Southampton Rangers, Devonshire Rec. and Flatts all picked up comfortable wins. Rangers stopped Somerset by 120 runs after tailender Carl Garzette scored 69 not out, Keith Wainwright 46 and Dwayne Steede 38 in the Rangers total of 265-8 declared. Garzette and Steede added 83 for the eighth wicket.

Charles Swan claimed three for 66 and Winston Reid two for 69 for Somerset, who were led by Shannon Warner's 37 and 27 from Troy Simons as they replied with 145. Ryan Belboda took four for 15 and Garzette three for 49.

Devonshire made short work of nine-man Warwick at Southampton Oval, dismissing them for 91 and then replying with 96-2. Captain Daniel Caines led the Warwick batting with 31 including five fours as Erskine (Choe) Smith took three for 24 and Anthony Amory two for 16. Opener Donald Norford was high man for Devonshire with 54 not out, hitting eight fours and a six. He and Toriano Henry (13) put on 56 for the unbroken third wicket.

A last wicket stand of 65 between Flatts pair Neil Speight (34 not out) and Gordon Hollis (24) proved crucial in their win over Somerset Bridge.

Batting first, Flatts scored 191, with Speight and Hollis coming together when the score was 126. Troy Dean (33) and Gershon Gibbons (20) added 51 for the first wicket for Flatts while Aaron Woolridge chipped in with 27 in the middle order before Flatts slumped from 111-4 to 126 for nine.

Brian Gibbons took five for 59 and David Jones three for 28. Bridge, who had only nine men, replied with 127 as opener Jones batted through their innings for 76 not out. Hollis took three for 25 and Mike Smith two for 12.