St. George's 111 Western Stars wrapped up the Open and Overs League double with this surprisingly easy 97-run win at Wellington Oval on Saturday, leaving no doubt about the best team of the 1996 season.

And just as they had in Cup Match last month, the pair of Albert Steede and Treadwell Gibbons haunted the East Enders, with Steede's 97 being the margin by which Stars completed their unbeaten streak in the Overs League, finishing with six wins and a tie in their seven matches.

St.George's had high expectations when, after winning the toss and deciding to bat, Stars lost the wicket of Gregory Sampson on the first ball of the match, caught at slip by Clay Smith off Herbie Bascome.

However, a second wicket stand of 72 in 59 minutes enabled Stars to get back into the match. When that stand was broken in the 22nd over another wicket followed in the next over to make it 73-3, Gibbons going for 14 and Andre Manders behind him for one.

But another useful stand lasting almost an hour, this time between Steede and Jeff Richardson, produced 69 in 55 minutes before Richardson fell for a patient 37.

Steede was next out on 184, caught on the long-on boundary by Clevie Wade as he went for the six that would bring up his century. He hit 10 fours and three sixes in his 170 minutes at the crease.

With just seven overs remaining the final five wickets went pretty cheaply as Bascome, who dismissed Steede in his first over back, collected three more to finish with five for 40 from 10 overs.

Gregg Foggo, the eighth bowler used, had two for nine from 3.4 overs while Wade's tight bowling prevented Stars from improving their run rate.

The medium pacer had five maidens in six overs between his third and eighth overs to finish with figures of one for 16 from 10 overs, while David Adams returned one for 27 from 10.

Despite an opening stand of 22 between Dexter Smith and Eugene Foggo in eight overs, St. George's quickly lost their way after Smith's departure for 10.

By the 11th over they had also lost captain Clay Smith and Ricky Hodsoll, both for ducks to good catches at cover by Jeff Richardson, and at 28-3 the match was already swinging Stars' way.

A stand of 32 between Foggo and Dean Minors in 10 overs gave St.George's some hope of a fightback but Minors' dismissal in the 21st over for 21 and that of Wade in the 32nd for 15 put Stars firmly back in control.

After that wickets fell regularly, including Foggo for a top score of 42 in 124 minutes, as St.George's threw in the towel.

Their last six wickets fell in the 32nd, 34th, 36th, 37th, 38th and 39th overs -- in the space of 22 runs -- as Gibbons snatched a wicket in each of his four overs to finish with four for 13.

Wayne Richardson claimed three for 34 and Gary Brangman two for 15 while Manders conceded just 11 runs in seven overs with two maidens.

"It was a decent target (to defend),'' said Stars captain Arnold Manders afterwards.

"The wicket wasn't playing consistent. One minute the ball was stopping and the next it was coming through quick. They (St. George's) needed their number four or five batsmen to get stuck in, and plus most of their batsmen hadn't had knocks in a while while most of our top six had.'' Manders admitted he expected a closer contest as, in the end, Stars were hardly celebrating as victory was wrapped up.

"I was surprised, I thought they would have made a challenge,'' said the skipper. "Gary (Brangman) bowled well and Spike (Wayne Richardson) and I contained them to put them behind the run rate.'' St. David's 187-8 Police 191-2 St. David's were sent tumbling to the First Division after failing in this do-or-die Premier Division Overs battle against Police at Lord's on Saturday.

Aiding the Islanders on their downward spiral was the Police tandem of captain Dennis Archer and former skipper Ferdinand Thorne, as well as a rather dubious looking decision by umpire Ronald O'Hara.

Archer struck a brutal century, taking no prisoners as he battered the home side's attack for an unbeaten 102. Included were 11 fours and four massive heaves beyond the ropes.

Meanwhile, Thorne, who miraculously survived an appeal for what appeared a clear cut catch at second slip off slow bowler Kameron Fox when on 13, aided in posting 49 runs of his own.

However, he was thwarted in his bid for a half century as outgoing St. David's player Allen Richardson bowled a deliberate wide ball four to end the game, leaving Thorne stranded.

St.David's, Cleveland relegated From Page 19 Nevertheless, the pair tallied 152 together and the last laughs were indeed those of the visitors, who confirmed their status as members of the Premier Division for next season with a fifth place finish in the eight-team league.

Earlier the home side owed their total mostly to the exploits of all-rounder Lionel Cann.

Thrust up the order to an opening spot Cann responded in kind, stroking a team high 79, with seven fours and three sixes in typical rapid fire fashion.

However, no-one who followed managed to duplicate the lead shown by Cann, the middle and late order crumbling under the wrath of Police's medium pace attack.

Rudell Pitcher (14), Richardson (19), Desmond Crockwell (15) and Phillip Pitcher (26) were the others in double figures, but their efforts, ultimately, proved futile.

Willow Cuts 164 Cleveland 136 Joining St.David's down the chute to the First Division were Cleveland as they again failed in a must-win situation.

At Sea Breeze Oval they succumbed to Willow Cuts by 28 runs in a vital contest that started an hour and five minutes late after the scheduled officials failed to appear.

The game finally got underway when Mansfield Smith answered an urgent telephone call at Wellington Oval while Leroy Wilson happened to show up from his forfeited game at Devonshire and offered to assist.

But these circumstances did little to assist Cleveland who mysteriously fielded a only a mediocre team in what was probably their most important game of the season.

They started well enough by managing to restrict Willow Cuts to just 164 runs, dismissing them in 35.5 overs. But their success ended there. Jermaine Warner led Cuts with 62 while Rodney Fubler followed with 24 and skipper Dexter Basden 21.

Spinner Johnny Richardson spearheaded the Cleveland attack with five for 18 off nine overs while Andre Smith took three for 41 off 8.5 overs and Del Hollis two for 42 off nine overs.

Cleveland's batting appeared just as brittle as their opponents, however, and Cuts quickly secured victory. Opener and skippper Aaron Adams and number nine batsman Andrew Smith offered some resistance with spirited knocks of 32 each while Curtis Jackson followed with 11. Ossie Hinds did the bowling damage with four for 26 off nine overs while Richard Basden had three for 30 and Vance Gilbert two for 34.