St. George's 174 A fine all-round performance by player-coach Arnold Manders kept Western Stars in the thick of the Premier League title race yesterday.

And it helped his team hand visiting St. George's their first league loss of the season, Stars winning by 75 runs.

Manders and top batsman Albert Steede feasted off the St. George's attack, Manders finishing with 85 and Steede 87 as Stars reached a formidable total.

Jermaine Postlethwaite scored 14 and Andre Manders 11.

The dependable Steede and Postlethwaite got Stars off to a flying start with an opening stand of 65 and despite losing two quick wickets within the span of two runs, Stars recovered to dominate the bowling -- thanks to Steede and Manders.

Steede faced just 63 balls and struck five fours and two sixes during his 75-minute stay at the wicket, while Manders was more aggressive when he arrived -- striking three fours and eight sixes in less than an hour's batting.

Skipper Herbie Bascome was the best bowler for the east enders with three for 42 off 9.5 overs while Eugene Foggo had three for 52 off 10 overs.

With Manders, Diallo Sharieff and Hasan Durham combining for eight wickets St.

George's fell well short of their target.

An inspired knock of 64 by opener Dexter Smith lifted the hopes of the east enders during the early stages but when he was caught behind off Justin Robinson with the score 119-3 it was the start of what was to be their slow demise. Mark Ray, the other opener, hit 21 as did Jason Lewis but too many others contributed too little.

Manders finished with three for 34 off 10 overs while Sharieff had three for 36 off seven overs. Durham had two for 25 off 7.4 overs as Stars raced home with six overs to spare.

Police 108-9 Willow Cuts 113-1 Everybody seems to be beating Police these days.

They succumbed to their fifth league loss when they were comprehensively beaten by Willow Cuts by nine wickets at Somerset. Police paid the penalty for fielding just nine players and were dismissed for a paltry 108.

Manders boosts Stars From Page 27 Stevie Lightbourne was top bat with 43 while Daniel Reece hit 19, Freston Hurdle 15 and Terry Thomas 11.

Police lost skipper Dennis Archer (0) and Nyon Steede (0) with just one run on the board and it was an uphill struggle from then on.

Trevor Dickinson led Cuts' attack with three for 21 off just 3.5 overs while young Linje Woods had two for 46 off seven overs, including a maiden.

Police had something to celebrate when they captured the prize wicket of skipper Dexter Basden (0) without a run scored, but their joy was soon drowned by Dwayne and Richardson Basden who put on 113 for the second wicket. Dwayne struck 32 not out and Richard 69 not out, Cuts racing to victory off just 22.1 overs.

PHC 151 Flatts 155-5 Derek Wright snatched four wicekts for 29 and Phillip Burgess struck 51 not out as Flatts defeated PHC by five wickets at Devonshire.

Wright got his haul off just 5.4 overs while Nelson Bascome took three for 47 off 10 overs while Derek Hurdle had two for 59 off nine overs.

James Pace was top bat for PHC with 28 while Kevin Dill hit 26, Sheridan Ming 19 and Ed Bean 14.

While it was largely through Burgess' fine knock that Flatts reached their winning target, also among the runs were Gershon Gibbons with 24, Dwayne Leverock 19, Ronald Gibbons 18 and Wright 17 not out.

Pace had two for 23 off 5.1 overs and two maidens while Arthur Richards had two for 42 off eight overs.