St. George's 127-8 St. George's captain Clay Smith batted for three hours to deny Willow Cuts a second win over the weekend at Wellington Oval and knock them out of first place in the Premier Division Open Competition on Sunday.

The clash between the first and second placed teams ended in a draw, but by taking all 10 Cuts wickets, St. George's were able to break the two-way tie and take over top spot by one point. It earned them some revenge after being dethroned as Knockout Cup champions a day earlier.

Set 171 to win, St. George's enjoyed a good start when Eugene Foggo (15) and Dean Minors (21) put on 32 for the first wicket. However, they soon slumped to 69-4 as Cuts seized the upper hand.

But there always remained some hope for the home side as long as their skipper was at the crease. In fact, when the final 20 overs began they were 80-4 and still very much in with a chance of victory.

They made a brief chase for the 91 needed in the last 20 overs but the loss of three more wickets in the space of 24 runs forced Smith to put on the brakes in fading light and settle for the draw. Smith ended unbeaten on 63 in exactly three hours, the only other batsman in double figures besides openers Foggo and Minors.

Brothers Rodney and Kevin Fubler did the bowling damage for Cuts, Rodney taking four for 59 from 22 overs and Kevin three for 21 from 12.

Earlier, Cuts captain Dexter Smith hit his second consecutive half-century when he scored 61. After an opening stand of 40 in 12 overs between Dwight Basden (22) and Jermaine Warner (16), Cuts lost three wickets in three overs to be 42-3, before Dexter Basden and Andre Hendrickson (17) put on 39 for the fourth wicket.

After St. George's had them struggling again at 102-6, Basden was part of another 39-run stand, this time for the seventh wicket with Cordell Gilbert (21).

Herbie Bascome returned his best figures of the season, claiming seven for 60 from 23 overs after sharing the new ball with spinner David Adams.

St. David's 144 Bailey's Bay 145-3 For the second straight day Bailey's Bay lost two quick wickets in chasing a modest total before a third wicket stand lifted them out of early trouble at Sea Breeze Oval.

This time they were the only team among the top four in the standings to pick up a victory as they claimed maximum points against St. David's. The 16 points put them on 46, two behind Willow Cuts and three behind St. George's. In chasing 145 for victory, Bay lost Ricky Hill in the second over when Scott Minors knocked back his middle stump and Glenn Blakeney in Minors' next over when veteran Oliver Pitcher took a good catch at slip.

The score then was 29-2 but when they celebrated their next wicket Bay were on the verge of victory at 114-3 thanks to a third wicket stand of 85 in 82 minutes between captain Charlie Marshall and vice captain Roger Trott.

Trott scored an even 50 with seven fours and a six and Marshall carried his bat to the end to finish on 71 not out with seven fours and four sixes. Minors was the most successful of the St. David's bowlers, claiming two for 39 off just four overs.

Bay were frustrated by the St. David's tailend as schoolboy Landro Minors hung around for 52 minutes to help add 65 for the last two wickets. First the young left-hander added 25 for the ninth wicket with Reginald Pitcher (24). Then he put on 40 for the last wicket -- the team's biggest stand -- with Scott Minors as he contributed 20 before being last out, trapped lbw by Corey Hill.

Another schoolboy, Chris Foggo, also scored 24 while Scott Minors was 14 not out. Marshall finished with three for 21 from 10 overs while Corey Hill and Dennis Pilgrim both took two apiece.

Southampton 215 Western Stars 145-8 With key batsman Albert Steede forced leave the match early to assist his pregnant wife at the hospital, Western Stars were forced to fight hard for this draw at St. John's Field.

With defeat staring them in the face, the last two batsmen, Anthony Manders and Dale Fox, had to play the final nine balls to save the game -- and they managed to pull it off.

Southampton scored a formidable total thanks to Janeiro Tucker who struck 76 and Keith Wainwright who scored 35.

Fox led Stars in bowling with three for 21 off 14 overs and six maidens while Justin Robinson had three for 42 off 12.3 overs and Hasan Durham three for 82 off 25 overs, including six maidens.

Stars openers Treadwell Gibbons (21) and Durham (28) put on 52 in a good partnership, but the team never looked capable of pulling off victory. Skipper Arnold Manders scored 27, Ricky Brangman Jr. 23 and Anthony Manders 16 not out.

David Saltus took two for seven off six overs including three maidens to lead Southampton bowlers. Carl Gazette had two for 41 and Janeiro Tucker two for 40.

Police 246-7 PHC 81 Fine batting by Ferdinand Thorne and Dwayne Leverock combined with a fierce spell of bowling by Roger Blades helped Police to this emphatic win at White Hill Field.

Thorne struck 76 and Leverock 50 not out to lead Police in batting. Cal Waldron returned three for 80 for PHC.

Kevin Dill was high scorer for PHC with 26 while Blades snatched five for 10 off 13 overs, including six maidens. Peter Philpott and Tyrone Smith each took two wickets