Hearts broken, Rangers close in on silverware

RANGERS took a major step towards ending their trophy drought by sweeping aside Hearts to book a place in the CIS Insurance Cup final at Hampden last night.

Skipper Barry Ferguson and Jean-Claude Darcheville were both on the scoresheet to set up a clash with Aberdeen or Dundee United at the same venue on March 16.

The occasion provides Walter Smith with his first final since returning to the Ibrox helm a year ago, and Rangers with the chance to claim their first silverware since a dramatic final day championship triumph in May 2005.