Southampton Rangers have made a habit of raising the bar in the Belco Cup.

With victory over Social Club in last weekend's final the South Shore club became the first to win the competition five years straight.

Rangers have also won the competition more times (six) than any other club and their recent 10-wicket drubbing of Social Club was the widest margin of victory in a final.

But perhaps making this year's success all the more sweeter was the fact Rangers prevailed in the absence of several leading cast members such as all-rounder Malachi Jones and wicketkeeper/batsman Kwame Tucker, forcing player/coach Janeiro Tucker to rely instead on younger blood to get the job done.

"Basically at Rangers we are trying to introduce younger players in every game because we have to start looking at the future," commented Tucker, shortly after receiving $1,500 in prize earnings from competition sponsors Bermuda Electric Light Company yesterday.

"We senior players are not going to be playing forever and so we have to look at the younger players to carry on in the future."

Tucker now hopes his team's latest crowning glory will be a catalyst for even bigger and better things to come.

"It's a start . . . anytime you win a trophy early in the season it motivates the players and helps lure others to training," he added. "The guys are very enthusiastic now and want to go out there and win more games."

As for having his club's name inscribed on the new Belco Cup (the previous trophy was given to Rangers last year for winning four straight), Tucker, smiled: "It's nice to be the first to do everything. And obviously we are going to try to continue winning the Belco Cup."

Meanwhile, Belco Cup runners-up, Social Club, pocketed $1,000 with semi-finalists Cleveland and Police receiving $500 each.

Rangers spinner, Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock, who claimed four for 15 against Social Club, received $300 after being chosen Man of the Match in the final.

A total of $2,959, raised from the sale of tee shirts, gate proceeds, donated umpires' fees and a further $3,000 handout from sponsors Belco, was presented to registered charity 'No Child Goes Without'.