Challengers Warwick will bid to dethrone champions Southampton Rangers when the third round of the Western Counties cup competition gets underway today at White Hill Field.

Warwick will be without key all-rounder Sammy Robinson who walks down the aisle today to tie the knot with fiance Nakita Dill. But in his absence the challengers have called on Somerset Cup Match skipper Jacobi Robinson and former club player Steven Bremar Jr as guest players, while colt Jamal Woodley is set to make his first appearance in the competition.

It's been a few years since Warwick last held the cup and they will have to dig deep if they are to reap any success against a Rangers outfit that contains on form all-rounder Janeiro Tucker who stood out amongst the crowd during last week's Cup Match classic.

The Belco Cup champions easily got past Willow Cuts and PHC in the previous rounds and are now favoured to advance to the final round where the eventual winner of today's contest will meet Somerset Bridge. But their task may not be as smooth as some predict as Warwick have assembled what on paper appears to be a well balanced unit led by skipper Kian Butterfield.

Much of Warwick's cup hopes rests on the shoulders of Cup Match debutant Chris Douglas, Robinson and seasoned batsman Daniel Morgan who is confident his team can rise to meet the challenge in the absence of groom to be Robinson.

"Obviously someone of Sammy's calibre is going to be missed. He is a big miss but obviously family comes first and we will be okay in his absence," the former national team batsman said.

Elsewhere in domestic cricket today, Devonshire take on St.David's at Devonshire Recreation Club and St.George's host defending league champs Social Club at Wellington Oval in two Premier Division 50 overs matches. Flatts take on Bailey's Bay in today's only First Division 50 overs contest at Lords.

The National Sports Centre (Bermuda v USA), Police Field (Canada v Cayman Island) and Sea Breeze Oval (Bermuda Development XI v Bahamas ) will play host to the final round of ICC Americas Region Under-15 Championships matches.

Cricket action then continues tomorrow with a full slate of Open League fixtures.

At Lords, St.David's meet Bailey's Bay in a repeat of this year's Eastern Counties first round clash, St.George's host Social Club at nearby Wellington Oval while Southampton Rangers are at home against Willow Cuts.

Devonshire take on Western Stars in an all Central Counties battle at Devonshire Recreation Club, Police host Somerset Bridge at Police Field, Somerset meet leg Trappers at Somerset Cricket Club while PHC meet Warwick at White Hill Field.

n Bermuda national team's miserable tour of Europe continued yesterday as they were thrashed by the Netherlands in a game reduced to 40 overs a side in Amsterdam.

Chasing a revised target of 174 to win, the hosts won by four wickets and with nearly four overs to spare.

Stefan Kelly took 3-36 from his eight overs, but was unable to stop the Dutch scoring freely from his team-mates.

Eric Szwarczynski (55) and Ryan ten Doeschate (47) put on 81 runs for the second wicket as the Netherlands ran out easy winners.

Ten Doeschate also stared with the ball taking 3-35 as Bermuda were restricted to 165-7 in their innings.

Irving Romaine (46) and Chris Foggo (38) top-scored for Bermuda, but in truth their total was never likely to be enough.