Cup Match challengers Somerset Cricket Club withstood a late coup by rivals St.George's to lure in-form Chris Douglas to their ranks.

Uncertainty had surrounded Douglas' allegiance heading into Saturday's final trial match after it was learned the 18-year old all-rounder had contemplated switching ends of the island.

According to sources at St.George's, the promising youngster was involved in behind-the-scenes discussions with officials at the East End club and was among those in attendance at a team function hosted by Aspen, sponsors of the Cup Match champions, less than 24 hours after training with Somerset.

However, after much consideration, Douglas turned up at Somerset for Saturday's trial with fellow St.David's islanders Sammy Robinson and Del Hollis to finally put all doubts over which team he would represent in the annual mid-summer cricket spectacle to rest.

By his own high standards, Douglas didn't enjoy one of his better performances with the bat in the final trial. Still, it was always going to be difficult for the Somerset selectors to ignore the player's remarkable average of 67.4 runs in 50-overs cricket this season.

And despite misfiring at the crease, he did give a reminder of how economic he can be with the ball, claiming one for 19 off seven overs with three maidens of off-spin to help restrict the Vice President's XI to 254 for nine.

Douglas is one of three colts Somerset have pinned their hopes upon ahead of the 106th classic to be played on their home turf later this week and a player much admired by Andre Manders, the Somerset coach.

"Chris is definitely one of the best all-rounders on the Island and I think everyone would agree. He has so much potential and is a player everyone would love to have him in their team because he can bat, bowl and field and loves the game. He just has so much to offer," the ex-Somerset Cup Match skipper said.

Douglas was one of the key members of Bermuda's Under-19 national team that competed in the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia earlier this year and since returning home has remained consistent with the bat, compiling scores of 122, 93 not out and more recently a blistering knock of 130.

Others set to make their entrance in the classic this year are wicketkeeper/batsman Ricardo Brangman and Douglas' Under-19 team-mate Jordan DeSilva, while among those earning recalls were all-rounder Sammy Robinson, opening batsman Dion Stovell and off spinner Del Hollis.

Fast bowler Kevin Hurdle failed to convince the selectors he has fully recovered from injury to keep his spot in the team while wicketkeeper/batsman Kwame Tucker failed in his bid to earn a recall.

Surprisingly, teenage all-rounder Duente Darrell, who stole the spotlight on Saturday by smashing 75 runs in a losing cause for the President's XI, was left out of the squad and was instead chosen as a reserve.

Meanwhile, team deliberations also spilled over into the early hours of yesterday morning at Wellington Oval where champions St. George's were forced to make significant changes in the absence of key players who will represent Bermuda in ICC Twenty/20 World Cup qualifiers in Ireland next week.

As anticipated, in-form wicketkeeper/batsman Fiqre Crockwell was named as a colt. But the inclusion of promising teenage leg spinner Tre Govia, who gave up 100 runs in a 12-over spell, during the champions final trial match, might have come as surprise.

Among those recalled to the champions' team were wicketkeeper/batsman Jason Anderson, seamer Ryan Steede who returned outstanding figures of four for 17 and hit a brisk 28 in a losing cause for the President's XI at Wellington Oval. Also back following a two-year hiatus are left-arm fast bowler Gregg Foggo and stylish left handed batsman Glenn Blakeney.

Despite taking five for 16 for the Vice President's XI, seamer Justin Pitcher was chosen as a reserve while 45-year-old wrist spinner David (Chick) Adams was overlooked for selection.

Lewis Foggo, chairman of St.George's selectors, reckoned his team are more than equipped to maintain their tight grip on the cup.

"We have basically picked a well rounded team that has batting depth," he said. "Despite losing six players we still have a deep batting order, which is something you must have in order to hold onto the cup."